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CITIZEN

       Yon be the headsman then! O Lord! Is the axe sharp, think you?

      FIRST CITIZEN

       Ay! sharper than thy wits are; but the edge is not towards him, mark you.

      SECOND CITIZEN

       [scratching his neck]

       I’ faith, I like it not so near.

      FIRST CITIZEN

       Tut, thou need’st not be afraid; they never cut the heads of common folk: they do but hang us.

       [Trumpets outside.]

      THIRD CITIZEN

       What are the trumpets for? Is the trial over?

      FIRST CITIZEN

       Nay, ‘tis for the Duchess.

       [Enter the DUCHESS in black velvet; her train of flowered black velvet is carried by two pages in violet; with her is the CARDINAL in scarlet, and the gentlemen of the Court in black; she takes her seat on the throne above the Judges, who rise and take their caps off as she enters; the CARDINAL sits next to her a little lower; the Courtiers group themselves about the throne.]

      SECOND CITIZEN

       O poor lady, how pale she is! Will she sit there?

      FIRST CITIZEN

       Ay! she is in the Duke’s place now.

      SECOND CITIZEN

       That is a good thing for Padua; the Duchess is a very kind and merciful Duchess; why, she cured my child of the ague once.

      THIRD CITIZEN

       Ay, and has given us bread: do not forget the bread.

      A SOLDIER

       Stand back, good people.

      SECOND CITIZEN

       If we be good, why should we stand back?

      TIPSTAFF

       Silence in the Court!

      LORD JUSTICE

       May it please your Grace,

       Is it your pleasure we proceed to trial

       Of the Duke’s murder? [DUCHESS bows.]

       Set the prisoner forth.

       What is thy name?

      GUIDO

       It matters not, my lord.

      LORD JUSTICE

       Guido Ferranti is thy name in Padua.

      GUIDO

       A man may die as well under that name as any other.

      LORD JUSTICE

       Thou art not ignorant

       What dreadful charge men lay against thee here,

       Namely, the treacherous murder of thy Lord,

       Simone Gesso, Duke of Padua;

       What dost thou say in answer?

      GUIDO

       I say nothing.

      LORD JUSTICE

       [rising]

       Guido Ferranti -

      MORANZONE

       [stepping from the crowd]

       Tarry, my Lord Justice.

      LORD JUSTICE

       Who art thou that bid’st justice tarry, sir?

      MORANZONE

       So be it justice it can go its way;

       But if it be not justice -

      LORD JUSTICE

       Who is this?

      COUNT BARDI

       A very noble gentleman, and well known

       To the late Duke.

      LORD JUSTICE

       Sir, thou art come in time

       To see the murder of the Duke avenged.

       There stands the man who did this heinous thing.

      MORANZONE

       My lord,

       I ask again what proof have ye?

      LORD JUSTICE

       [holding up the dagger]

       This dagger,

       Which from his bloodstained hands, itself all blood,

       Last night the soldiers seized: what further proof

       Need we indeed?

      MORANZONE

       [takes the danger and approaches the DUCHESS]

       Saw I not such a dagger

       Hang from your Grace’s girdle yesterday?

       [The DUCHESS shudders and makes no answer.]

       Ah! my Lord Justice, may I speak a moment

       With this young man, who in such peril stands?

      LORD JUSTICE

       Ay, willingly, my lord, and may you turn him

       To make a full avowal of his guilt.

       [LORD MORANZONE goes over to GUIDO, who stands R. and clutches him by the hand.]

      MORANZONE

       [in a low voice]

       She did it! Nay, I saw it in her eyes.

       Boy, dost thou think I’ll let thy father’s son

       Be by this woman butchered to his death?

       Her husband sold your father, and the wife

       Would sell the son in turn.

      GUIDO

       Lord Moranzone,

       I alone did this thing: be satisfied,

       My father is avenged.

      LORD JUSTICE

       Doth he confess?

      GUIDO

       My lord, I do confess

       That foul unnatural murder has been done.

      FIRST CITIZEN

       Why, look at that: he has a pitiful heart, and does not like murder; they will let him go for that.

      LORD JUSTICE

       Say you no more?

      GUIDO

       My lord, I say this also,

       That to spill human blood is deadly sin.

      SECOND CITIZEN

       Marry, he should tell that to the headsman: ‘tis a good sentiment.

      GUIDO

       Lastly, my lord, I do entreat the Court

       To give me leave to utter openly

       The dreadful secret of this mystery,

       And to point out the very guilty one

       Who with this dagger last night slew the Duke.

      LORD JUSTICE

       Thou hast leave to speak.

      DUCHESS [rising]

       I say he shall not speak:

       What need have we of further evidence?

       Was he not taken in the house at night

       In Guilt’s own bloody livery?

      LORD JUSTICE [showing her the statute]

       Your Grace

       Can read the law.

      DUCHESS [waiving book

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