Complete Plays. Оскар Уайльд

Complete Plays - Оскар Уайльд


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Nay, nay, nay,

       ‘Twas but the passionflower of your love

       That in one moment leapt to terrible life,

       And in one moment bare this gory fruit,

       Which I had plucked in thought a thousand times.

       My soul was murderous, but my hand refused;

       Your hand wrought murder, but your soul was pure.

       And so I love you, Beatrice, and let him

       Who has no mercy for your stricken head,

       Lack mercy up in heaven! Kiss me, sweet.

       [Tries to kiss her.]

      DUCHESS

       No, no, your lips are pure, and mine are soiled,

       For Guilt has been my paramour, and Sin

       Lain in my bed: O Guido, if you love me

       Get hence, for every moment is a worm

       Which gnaws your life away: nay, sweet, get hence,

       And if in after time you think of me,

       Think of me as of one who loved you more

       Than anything on earth; think of me, Guido,

       As of a woman merely, one who tried

       To make her life a sacrifice to love,

       And slew love in the trial: Oh, what is that?

       The bell has stopped from ringing, and I hear

       The feet of armed men upon the stair.

      GUIDO

       [aside]

       That is the signal for the guard to come.

      DUCHESS

       Why has the bell stopped ringing?

      GUIDO

       If you must know,

       That stops my life on this side of the grave,

       But on the other we shall meet again.

      DUCHESS

       No, no, ‘tis not too late: you must get hence;

       The horse is by the bridge, there is still time.

       Away, away, you must not tarry here!

       [Noise of Soldiers in the passage.]

      A VOICE OUTSIDE

       Room for the Lord Justice of Padua!

       [The LORD JUSTICE is seen through the grated window passing down the corridor preceded by men bearing torches.]

      DUCHESS

       It is too late.

      A VOICE OUTSIDE

       Room for the headsman.

      DUCHESS

       [sinks down]

       Oh!

       [The Headsman with his axe on his shoulder is seen passing the corridor, followed by Monks bearing candles.]

      GUIDO

       Farewell, dear love, for I must drink this poison.

       I do not fear the headsman, but I would die

       Not on the lonely scaffold.

       But here,

       Here in thine arms, kissing thy mouth: farewell!

       [Goes to the table and takes the goblet up.] What, art thou empty?

       [Throws it to the ground.]

       O thou churlish gaoler,

       Even of poisons niggard!

      DUCHESS

       [faintly]

       Blame him not.

      GUIDO

       O God! you have not drunk it, Beatrice?

       Tell me you have not?

      DUCHESS

       Were I to deny it,

       There is a fire eating at my heart

       Which would find utterance.

      GUIDO

       O treacherous love,

       Why have you not left a drop for me?

      DUCHESS

       No, no, it held but death enough for one.

      GUIDO

       Is there no poison still upon your lips,

       That I may draw it from them?

      DUCHESS

       Why should you die?

       You have not spilt blood, and so need not die:

       I have spilt blood, and therefore I must die.

       Was it not said blood should be spilt for blood?

       Who said that? I forget.

      GUIDO

       Tarry for me,

       Our souls will go together.

      DUCHESS

       Nay, you must live.

       There are many other women in the world

       Who will love you, and not murder for your sake.

      GUIDO

       I love you only.

      DUCHESS

       You need not die for that.

      GUIDO

       Ah, if we die together, love, why then

       Can we not lie together in one grave?

      DUCHESS

       A grave is but a narrow wedding-bed.

      GUIDO

       It is enough for us

      DUCHESS

       And they will strew it

       With a stark winding-sheet, and bitter herbs:

       I think there are no roses in the grave,

       Or if there are, they all are withered now

       Since my Lord went there.

      GUIDO

       Ah! dear Beatrice,

       Your lips are roses that death cannot wither.

      DUCHESS

       Nay, if we lie together, will not my lips

       Fall into dust, and your enamoured eyes

       Shrivel to sightless sockets, and the worms,

       Which are our groomsmen, eat away your heart?

      GUIDO

       I do not care: Death has no power on love.

       And so by Love’s immortal sovereignty

       I will die with you.

      DUCHESS

       But the grave is black,

       And the pit black, so I must go before

       To light the candles for your coming hither.

       No, no, I will not die, I will not die.

       Love, you are strong, and young, and very brave;

       Stand between me and the angel of death,

       And wrestle with him for me.

       [Thrusts GUIDO in front of her with his back to the audience.]

       I will kiss you,

       When you have thrown him. Oh, have you no cordial,

       To stay the workings of this poison in me?

       Are there no rivers left in Italy

       That you


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