Complete Plays. Оскар Уайльд

Complete Plays - Оскар Уайльд


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CITIZEN

       Why, he that is accused of the Duke’s murder.

      MORANZONE

       I mean, what is his name?

      SECOND CITIZEN

       Faith, the same which his godfathers gave him: what else should it be?

      TIPSTAFF

       Guido Ferranti is his name, my lord.

      MORANZONE

       I almost knew thine answer ere you gave it.

       [Aside.]

       Yet it is strange he should have killed the Duke,

       Seeing he left me in such different mood.

       It is most likely when he saw the man,

       This devil who had sold his father’s life,

       That passion from their seat within his heart

       Thrust all his boyish theories of love,

       And in their place set vengeance; yet I marvel

       That he escaped not.

       [Turning again to the crowd.]

       How was he taken? Tell me.

      THIRD CITIZEN

       Marry, sir, he was taken by the heels.

      MORANZONE

       But who seized him?

      THIRD CITIZEN

       Why, those that did lay hold of him.

      MORANZONE

       How was the alarm given?

      THIRD CITIZEN

       That I cannot tell you, sir.

      MISTRESS LUCY

       It was the Duchess herself who pointed him out.

      MORANZONE

       [aside]

       The Duchess! There is something strange in this.

      MISTRESS LUCY

       Ay! And the dagger was in his hand - the Duchess’s own dagger.

      MORANZONE

       What did you say?

      MISTRESS LUCY

       Why, marry, that it was with the Duchess’s dagger that the Duke was killed.

      MORANZONE

       [aside]

       There is some mystery about this: I cannot understand it.

      SECOND CITIZEN

       They be very long a-coming,

      FIRST CITIZEN

       I warrant they will come soon enough for the prisoner.

      TIPSTAFF

       Silence in the Court!

      FIRST CITIZEN

       Thou dost break silence in bidding us keep it, Master Tipstaff.

       [Enter the LORD JUSTICE and the other Judges.]

      SECOND CITIZEN

       Who is he in scarlet? Is he the headsman?

      THIRD CITIZEN

       Nay, he is the Lord Justice.

       [Enter GUIDO guarded.]

      SECOND CITIZEN

       There be the prisoner surely.

      THIRD CITIZEN

       He looks honest.

      FIRST CITIZEN That be his villany: knaves nowadays do look so honest that honest folk are forced to look like knaves so as to be different.

       [Enter the Headman, who takes his stand behind GUIDO.]

      SECOND CITIZEN

       Yon be the headsman then! O Lord! Is the axe sharp, think you?

      FIRST CITIZEN

       Ay! sharper than thy wits are; but the edge is not towards him, mark you.

      SECOND CITIZEN

       [scratching his neck]

       I’ faith, I like it not so near.

      FIRST CITIZEN

       Tut, thou need’st not be afraid; they never cut the heads of common folk: they do but hang us.

       [Trumpets outside.]

      THIRD CITIZEN

       What are the trumpets for? Is the trial over?

      FIRST CITIZEN

       Nay, ‘tis for the Duchess.

       [Enter the DUCHESS in black velvet; her train of flowered black velvet is carried by two pages in violet; with her is the CARDINAL in scarlet, and the gentlemen of the Court in black; she takes her seat on the throne above the Judges, who rise and take their caps off as she enters; the CARDINAL sits next to her a little lower; the Courtiers group themselves about the throne.]

      SECOND CITIZEN

       O poor lady, how pale she is! Will she sit there?

      FIRST CITIZEN

       Ay! she is in the Duke’s place now.

      SECOND CITIZEN

       That is a good thing for Padua; the Duchess is a very kind and merciful Duchess; why, she cured my child of the ague once.

      THIRD CITIZEN

       Ay, and has given us bread: do not forget the bread.

      A SOLDIER

       Stand back, good people.

      SECOND CITIZEN

       If we be good, why should we stand back?

      TIPSTAFF

       Silence in the Court!

      LORD JUSTICE

       May it please your Grace,

       Is it your pleasure we proceed to trial

       Of the Duke’s murder? [DUCHESS bows.]

       Set the prisoner forth.

       What is thy name?

      GUIDO

       It matters not, my lord.

      LORD JUSTICE

       Guido Ferranti is thy name in Padua.

      GUIDO

       A man may die as well under that name as any other.

      LORD JUSTICE

       Thou art not ignorant

       What dreadful charge men lay against thee here,

       Namely, the treacherous murder of thy Lord,

       Simone Gesso, Duke of Padua;

       What dost thou say in answer?

      GUIDO

       I say nothing.

      LORD JUSTICE

       [rising]

       Guido Ferranti -

      MORANZONE

       [stepping from the crowd]

       Tarry, my Lord Justice.

      LORD JUSTICE

       Who art thou that bid’st justice tarry, sir?

      MORANZONE

       So be it justice it can go its way;

       But if it be not justice -

      LORD JUSTICE

       Who is this?

      COUNT BARDI

       A very noble gentleman, and well known

       To the late Duke.

      LORD


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