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 will not fetch me one cup of water To quench this fire?
GUIDO
O God!
DUCHESS
You did not tell me There was a drought in Italy, and no water:
Nothing but fire.
GUIDO
O Love!
DUCHESS
Send for a leech, Not him who stanched my husband, but another We have no time: send for a leech, I say:
There is an antidote against each poison, And he will sell it if we give him money.
Tell him that I will give him Padua, For one short hour of life: I will not die.
Oh, I am sick to death; no, do not touch me, This poison gnaws my heart: I did not know It was such pain to die: I thought that life Had taken all the agonies to itself;
It seems it is not so.
GUIDO
O damned stars Quench your vile cresset-lights in tears, and bid The moon, your mistress, shine no more to-night.
DUCHESS
Guido, why are we here? I think this room Is poorly furnished for a marriage chamber.
Let us get hence at once. Where are the horses?
We should be on our way to Venice now.
How cold the night is! We must ride faster.
[The Monks begin to chant outside.]
Music! It should be merrier; but grief Is of the fashion now - I know not why.
You must not weep: do we not love each other? -
That is enough. Death, what do you here?
You were not bidden to this table, sir;
Away, we have no need of you: I tell you It was in wine I pledged you, not in poison.
They lied who told you that I drank your poison.
It was spilt upon the ground, like my Lord's blood;
You came too late.
GUIDO
Sweet, there is nothing there:
These things are only unreal shadows.
DUCHESS
Death, Why do you tarry, get to the upper chamber;
The cold meats of my husband's funeral feast Are set for you; this is a wedding feast.
You are out of place, sir; and, besides, 'tis summer.
We do not need these heavy fires now, You scorch us.
Oh, I am burned up, Can you do nothing? Water, give me water, Or else more poison. No: I feel no pain - Is it not curious I should feel no pain? - And Death has gone away, I am glad of that.
I thought he meant to part us. Tell me, Guido, Are you not sorry that you ever saw me?
GUIDO
I swear I would not have lived otherwise.
Why, in this dull and common world of ours Men have died looking for such moments as this And have not found them.
DUCHESS
Then you are not sorry?
How strange that seems.
GUIDO
What, Beatrice, have I not Stood face to face with beauty? That is enough For one man's life. Why, love, I could be merry;
I have been often sadder at a feast, But who were sad at such a feast as this When Love and Death are both our cup-bearers?
We love and die together.
DUCHESS
Oh, I have been Guilty beyond all women, and indeed Beyond all women punished. Do you think - No, that could not be - Oh, do you think that love Can wipe the bloody stain from off my hands, Pour balm into my wounds, heal up my hurts, And wash my scarlet sins as white as snow? - For I have sinned.
GUIDO
They do not sin at all Who sin for love.
DUCHESS
No, I have sinned, and yet Perchance my sin will be forgiven me.
I have loved much [They kiss each other now for the first time in this Act, when suddenly the DUCHESS leaps up in the dreadful spasm of death, tears in agony at her dress, and finally, with face twisted and distorted with pain, falls back dead in a chair. GUIDO seizing her dagger from her belt, kills himself; and, as he falls across her knees, clutches at the cloak which is on the back of the chair, and throws it entirely over her. There is a little pause. Then down the passage comes the tramp of Soldiers; the door is opened, and the LORD JUSTICE, the Headsman, and the Guard enter and see this figure shrouded in black, and GUIDO lying dead across her. The LORD
JUSTICE rushes forward and drags the cloak off the DUCHESS, whose face is now the marble image of peace, the sign of God's forgiveness.]
Tableau CURTAIN