Oscar Wilde: The Complete Works. Knowledge house
the tongue that says so! Give him back.
moranzone
Madam, I tell you you will never see him,
Neither to-night, nor any other night.
duchess
What is your name?
·78· moranzone
My name? Revenge!
[Exit.]
duchess
Revenge!
I think I never harmed a little child.
What should Revenge do coming to my door?
It matters not, for Death is there already,
Waiting with his dim torch to light my way.
’Tis true men hate thee, Death, and yet I think
Thou wilt be kinder to me than my lover,
And so dispatch the messengers at once,
Hurry the lazy steeds of lingering day,
And let the night, thy sister, come instead,
And drape the world in mourning; let the owl,
Who is thy minister, scream from his tower
And wake the toad with hooting, and the bat,
That is the slave of dim Persephone,
Wheel through the sombre air on wandering wing!
Tear up the shrieking mandrakes from the earth
And bid them make us music, and tell the mole
To dig deep down thy cold and narrow bed,
For I shall lie within thine arms to-night.
End of Act II.
·79· Act III.
·81· SCENE—A large corridor in the Ducal Palace: a window (L.C.) looks out on a view of Padua by moonlight: a staircase (R.C.) leads up to a door with a portière of crimson velvet, with the Duke’s arms embroidered in gold on it: on the lowest step of the staircase a figure draped in black is sitting: the hall is lit by an iron cresset filled with burning tow: thunder and lightning outside: the time is night.
[Enter Guido through the window.]
guido
The wind is rising: how my ladder shook!
I thought that every gust would break the cords!
[Looks out at the city.]
Christ! What a night:
Great thunder in the heavens, and wild lightnings
Striking from pinnacle to pinnacle
Across the city, till the dim houses seem
To shudder and to shake as each new glare
Dashes adown the street.
[Passes across the stage to foot of staircase.]
·82· Ah! who art thou
That sittest on the stair, like unto Death
Waiting a guilty soul? [A pause.]
Canst thou not speak?
Or has this storm laid palsy on thy tongue,
And chilled thy utterance?
[The figure rises and takes off his mask.]
moranzone
Guido Ferranti,
Thy murdered father laughs for joy to-night.
guido [confusedly]
What, art thou here?
moranzone
Ay, waiting for your coming.
guido [looking away from him]
I did not think to see you, but am glad,
That you may know the thing I mean to do.
moranzone
First, I would have you know my well-laid plans;
Listen: I have set horses at the gate
Which leads to Parma: when you have done your business
We will ride hence, and by to-morrow night——
·83· guido
It cannot be.
moranzone
Nay, but it shall.
guido
Listen, Lord Moranzone,
I am resolved not to kill this man.
moranzone
Surely my ears are traitors, speak again:
It cannot be but age has dulled my powers,
I am an old man now: what did you say?
You said that with that dagger in your belt
You would avenge your father’s bloody murder;
Did you not say that?
guido
No, my lord, I said
I was resolved not to kill the Duke.
moranzone
You said not that; it is my senses mock me;
Or else this midnight air o’ercharged with storm
Alters your message in the giving it.
guido
Nay, you heard rightly; I’ll not kill this man.
·84· moranzone
What of thine oath, thou traitor, what of thine oath?
guido
I am resolved not to keep that oath.
moranzone
What of thy murdered father?
guido
Dost thou think
My father would be glad to see me coming,
This old man’s blood still hot upon mine hands?
moranzone
Ay! he would laugh for joy.
guido
I do not think so,
There is better knowledge in the other world;
Vengeance is God’s, let God himself revenge.
moranzone
Thou art God’s minister of vengeance.
guido
No!
God hath no minister but his own hand.
I will not kill this man.
·85· moranzone
Why are you here,
If not to kill him, then?
guido
Lord Moranzone,
I purpose to ascend to the Duke’s chamber,
And as he lies asleep lay on his breast
The dagger and this writing; when he awakes