The Duchess of Padua | Page 6

pages in scarlet, the DUCHESS OF PADUA comes down the steps; as she passes across their eyes meet for a moment, and as she leaves the stage she looks back at GUIDO, and the dagger falls from his hand.] Oh! who is that?
A CITIZEN
The Duchess of Padua!
END OF ACT I.

ACT II

SCENE
A state room in the Ducal Palace, hung with tapestries representing the Masque of Venus; a large door in the centre opens into a corridor of red marble, through which one can see a view of Padua; a large canopy is set (R.C.) with three thrones, one a little lower than the others; the ceiling is made of long gilded beams; furniture of the period, chairs covered with gilt leather, and buffets set with gold and silver plate, and chests painted with mythological scenes. A number of the courtiers is out on the corridor looking from it down into the street below; from the street comes the roar of a mob and cries of 'Death to the Duke': after a little interval enter the Duke very calmly; he is leaning on the arm of Guido Ferranti; with him enters also the Lord Cardinal; the mob still shouting.
DUKE
No, my Lord Cardinal, I weary of her! Why, she is worse than ugly, she is good.
MAFFIO
[excitedly] Your Grace, there are two thousand people there Who every moment grow more clamorous.
DUKE
Tut, man, they waste their strength upon their lungs! People who shout so loud, my lords, do nothing; The only men I fear are silent men. [A yell from the people.] You see, Lord Cardinal, how my people love me. [Another yell.] Go, Petrucci, And tell the captain of the guard below To clear the square. Do you not hear me, sir? Do what I bid you.
[Exit PETRUCCI.]
CARDINAL
I beseech your Grace To listen to their grievances.
DUKE
[sitting on his throne] Ay! the peaches Are not so big this year as they were last. I crave your pardon, my lord Cardinal, I thought you spake of peaches. [A cheer from the people.] What is that?
GUIDO
[rushes to the window] The Duchess has gone forth into the square, And stands between the people and the guard, And will not let them shoot.
DUKE
The devil take her!
GUIDO
[still at the window] And followed by a dozen of the citizens Has come into the Palace.
DUKE
[starting up] By Saint James, Our Duchess waxes bold!
BARDI
Here comes the Duchess.
DUKE
Shut that door there; this morning air is cold. [They close the door on the corridor.] [Enter the Duchess followed by a crowd of meanly dressed Citizens.]
DUCHESS
[flinging herself upon her knees] I do beseech your Grace to give us audience.
DUKE
What are these grievances?
DUCHESS
Alas, my Lord, Such common things as neither you nor I, Nor any of these noble gentlemen, Have ever need at all to think about; They say the bread, the very bread they eat, Is made of sorry chaff.
FIRST CITIZEN
Ay! so it is, Nothing but chaff.
DUKE
And very good food too, I give it to my horses.
DUCHESS
[restraining herself] They say the water, Set in the public cisterns for their use, [Has, through the breaking of the aqueduct,] To stagnant pools and muddy puddles turned.
DUKE
They should drink wine; water is quite unwholesome.
SECOND CITIZEN
Alack, your Grace, the taxes which the customs Take at the city gate are grown so high We cannot buy wine.
DUKE
Then you should bless the taxes Which make you temperate.
DUCHESS
Think, while we sit In gorgeous pomp and state, gaunt poverty Creeps through their sunless lanes, and with sharp knives Cuts the warm throats of children stealthily And no word said.
THIRD CITIZEN
Ay! marry, that is true, My little son died yesternight from hunger; He was but six years old; I am so poor, I cannot bury him.
DUKE
If you are poor, Are you not blessed in that? Why, poverty Is one of the Christian virtues, [Turns to the CARDINAL.] Is it not? I know, Lord Cardinal, you have great revenues, Rich abbey-lands, and tithes, and large estates For preaching voluntary poverty.
DUCHESS
Nay but, my lord the Duke, be generous; While we sit here within a noble house [With shaded porticoes against the sun, And walls and roofs to keep the winter out], There are many citizens of Padua Who in vile tenements live so full of holes, That the chill rain, the snow, and the rude blast, Are tenants also with them; others sleep Under the arches of the public bridges All through the autumn nights, till the wet mist Stiffens their limbs, and fevers come, and so -
DUKE
And so they go to Abraham's bosom, Madam. They should thank me for sending them to Heaven, If they are wretched here. [To the CARDINAL.] Is it not said Somewhere in Holy Writ, that every man Should be contented with that state of life God calls him to? Why should I change their state, Or meddle with an all-wise providence,