The Jewel Merchants | Page 9

the cross turned, and turned, and turned. I
know this was a public holiday; the shopkeepers took holiday to watch
him die, the boy who fetched me a wren's nest from yonder maple. And
I know that you are Eglamore, who ordered these things done.
GUIDO I gave orders for the Marquis of Cibo's execution, as was the
duty of my office. I did not devise the manner of his punishment. The
punishment for Cibo's crime was long ago fixed by our laws. All who

attack the Duke's person must die thus.
GRACIOSA (_Waves his excuses aside._) And then you plan this
masquerade. You plan to make me care for you so greatly that even
when I know you to be Count Eglamore I must still care for you. You
plan to marry me, so as to placate Tebaldeo's kinsmen, so as to leave
them--in your huckster's phrase--no longer unbought. It was a fine bold
stroke of policy, I know, to use me as a stepping-stone to safety. But
was it fair to me?
GUIDO Graciosa ... you shame me--
GRACIOSA Look you, Count Eglamore, I was only a child, playing
here, alone, and not unhappy. Oh, was it fair, was it worth while to
match your skill against my ignorance?
THE DUKE Fie, Donna Graciosa, you must not be too harsh with
Eglamore--
GRACIOSA Think how unhappy I would be if even now I loved you,
and how I would loathe myself!
THE DUKE It is his nature to scheme, and he weaves his plots as
inevitably as the spider does her web--
GRACIOSA But I am getting angry over nothing. Nothing has
happened except that I have dreamed--of a Guido. And there is no
Guido. There is only an Eglamore, a lackey in attendance upon his
master.
THE DUKE Believe me, it is wiser to forget this clever lackey--as I
do--except when there is need of his services. I think that you have no
more need to consider him--
_He takes the girl's hand. GRACIOSA now looks at him as though
seeing him for the first time. She is vaguely frightened by this
predatory beast, but in the main her emotion is as yet bewilderment._
THE DUKE For you are very beautiful, Graciosa. You are as slim as a
lily, and more white. Your eyes are two purple mirrors in each of which
I see a tiny image of Duke Alessandro. (_GUIDO takes a step forward,
and the DUKE now addresses him affably._) Those nuns they are
fetching me are big high-colored wenches with cheeks like apples. It is
not desirable that women should be so large. Such women do not
inspire a poet. Women should be little creatures that fear you. They
should have thin plaintive voices, and in shrinking from you should be
as slight to the touch as a cobweb. It is not possible to draw inspiration

from a woman's beauty unless you comprehend how easy it would be to
murder her.
GUIDO (_Softly, without expression._) God, God!
_The DUKE looks with delight at GRACIOSA, who stands bewildered
and childlike._
THE DUKE You fear me, do you not, Graciosa? Your hand is soft and
cold as the skin of a viper. When I touch it you shudder. I am very tired
of women who love me, of women who are infatuated by my beauty.
You, I can see, are not infatuated. To you my touch will always be a
martyrdom, you will always loathe me. And therefore I shall not weary
of you for a long while, because the misery and the helplessness of my
lovely victim will incite me to make very lovely verses.
_He draws her to the bench, sitting beside her._
THE DUKE Yes, Graciosa, you will inspire me. Your father shall have
all the wealth and state that even his greedy imaginings can devise, so
long as you can contrive to loathe me. We will find you a suitable
husband--say, in Eglamore here. You shall have flattery and titles, gold
and fine glass, soft stuffs and superb palaces and many lovely jewels--
_The DUKE glances down at the pedler's pack._
THE DUKE But Eglamore also has been wooing you with jewels. You
must see mine, dear Graciosa.
GRACIOSA (_Without expression._) Count Eglamore said that I must.
THE DUKE (_Raises the necklace, and lets it drop contemptuously._)
Oh, not such trumpery as this. I have in Florence gems which have not
their fellows anywhere, gems which have not even a name, and the
value of which is incalculable. I have jewels engendered by the thunder,
jewels taken from the heart of the Arabian deer. I have jewels cut from
the brain of a toad, and from the eyes of serpents. I have jewels which
are authentically known to have fallen from the moon. Well,