The Duke of Gandia | Page 3

loved and feared and died for God, Than I and thou who know him not? We know This life is ours, and sweet, if shame and fear Make us not less than man: and less were they Who crawled and writhed and cowered and called on God To save them from him. Here I stand as he, God, or God's very figure wrought in flesh, More godlike than was Jesus. Dare I fear Whipping and hanging? Thou, my cardinal, Canst think not to be scourged and crucified - Ha?
CAESAR
Nay: there lurks no God in me. And thou, Father, dost thou fear?
ALEXANDER
I? Nought less than God. But if we take him lightly on our lips Too light his name will sound in all men's ears Till earth and air, when man says God, respond Laughter. Forbear him.
CAESAR
Wisdom lives in thee, And cries not out along the streets as when None of God's folk that heard regarded her, As all that hear thy word regard--or die, Being not outside God's eyeshot. Dost thou sleep Here in his special keeping--here--to-night, Brother?
FRANCESCO
What bids thee care to know?
CAESAR
They say These holy streets of heaven's most holiest choice Lie dangerous now in darkness if a man Walk not on holiest errands. Thou, they say, Wert scarce a Christlike sacrifice if slain. Too many dead flow down the Tiber's flow Nightly. They say it.
FRANCESCO
I never called thee yet Fool.
CAESAR
Ah, my lord and brother, didst thou now, Were this not thankless? God--our father's God - Guide thee! [Exit FRANCESCO. He goes, and thanks me not. Our sire, What says the God that lives upon thy lips And withers in thy silence?
LUCREZIA
Vex him not, Caesar. Thou seest he is weary.
ALEXANDER
Yea. Come ye With me. Bethink thee, Caesar. Vex me not.
Exeunt ALEXANDER, VANNOZZA, and LUCREZIA.
CAESAR
Thou wilt not bid me this, I think, again, Father.
Enter MICHELOTTO
Thou art swift of speed at need. I bade thee Abide my bidding.
MICHELOTTO
Till my lord were left Alone.
CAESAR
Thou knewest it?
MICHELOTTO
Where my lord may be And what beseems his thrall to know of him I were not worthy, knew I not, to know.
CAESAR
I do not ask thee where my brother sleeps. And where to-morrow sees him yet asleep -
MICHELOTTO
Ask of the fishers' nets on Tiber.
CAESAR
Nay - Not I but Rome shall ask it. Pass in peace. The benediction of my sire be thine. [Exeunt.

SCENE II

A narrow street opening on the Tiber
Enter MICHELOTTO and ASSASSINS
MICHELOTTO
Ye know the lordlier harlot's house--there?
FIRST ASSASSIN
Ay, Surely.
MICHELOTTO
The first whose foot comes forth is he.
SECOND ASSASSIN
How know we this?
MICHELOTTO
I know it. Ye need but slay. [Exit.
Enter FRANCESCO
FRANCESCO (singing)
Love and night are life and light; Sleep and wine and song Speed and slay the halting day Ere it live too long.
FIRST ASSASSIN
That shalt not thou. Sing, whosoe'er thou be, Thy next of songs to Satan. [They stab him.
FRANCESCO
Dogs! Ye dare? God! Pity me! God! [Dies.
SECOND ASSASSIN
God receive his soul! This was a Christian: many a man I have slain Died with all hell between his lips.
FIRST ASSASSIN
Be thine Dumb. Lift his feet as I the head.
SECOND ASSASSIN
A boy! And fair of face as angels
FIRST ASSASSIN
If the nets Snare not this fish betimes ere others feed, None that shall heave it airward for the sun To mock and mar shall say so. Bring him down. Tiber hath fed on choicer fare than we May think to feed his throat with ere we die. [Exeunt with the body.

SCENE III

The Vatican
ALEXANDER and LUCREZIA
ALEXANDER
The day burns high. Thou hast not seen them--thou?
LUCREZIA
My brethren, sire? Nay, not since yesternight.
ALEXANDER
The night is newly dead. Since yestereven?
LUCREZIA
Nor then. I saw them when we parted here Last.
ALEXANDER
I believe thou liest not. Girl, the day Looks pale before thy glory. Brow, cheek, eye, Lips, throat, and bosom, thou dost overshine All womanhood man ever worshipped. Once I held thy mother fairest born of all That ever turned old Rome to heaven. Thou hast read Her golden Horace?
LUCREZIA
Else were I cast out From all their choir who serve the Muses.
ALEXANDER
Ay. 'Fair mother's fairer daughter,' dost thou deem That praise was ever merited as by thee? I cannot.
LUCREZIA
I concern myself no whit If so it were or were not.
ALEXANDER
Thou dost well. Thou hast not seen, thou sayest, Francesco?
LUCREZIA
Nay - Give me some reliquary to swear it on - Some rosary--crucifix or amulet, Sorcerous or sacred.
ALEXANDER
Never twins were born More like than thou and he--nor lovelier: yet No twins were ye.
LUCREZIA
What ails thy Holiness?
ALEXANDER
I am ill at ease: my heart is sick. Last night No revel here was held, and yet the day Strikes heavier on me wearier, body and soul, Than though we had rioted out with raging mirth The lifelong length of darkness.
LUCREZIA
Evil hours Fret somewhiles all folk living; none sees why: No child sleeps always all night long.
ALEXANDER
Wast thou Wakeful? No trouble clung about thee? Nought Made the air of night heavier with presage