A Double-Edged Sword. Brenda E. Novack

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A Double-Edged Sword - Brenda E. Novack


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      Not so, my Lord,

      ‘Tis I, not he who needs should suffer Thy wrath.

      Valentio:

      Nay, heed him not, my Lord; he speaks

      Thus, driven by a generous nature.

      Duke [to Valentio and Uberto]:

      Verrily

      I marvel greatly at your words: I have

      Not seen before this day men enamoured

      So much to punishment! I do commend

      Your noble friendship, but yet I demand

      To know who the offender is.

      Valentio:

      ‘Tis I.

      Uberto:

      Nay, ‘tis I.

      Duke [reflecting]:

      Since each of you would fain

      So firmly bear the charge and doth abide

      Unshaken in his judgment, it meseems

      Well to devise some other way to extricate

      Us from this difficulty. [to Lamb.] A daughter fair

      Hast thou, if I am well informed: a maid

      More fair than heaven’s sun, but not a whit

      Less scorching, whom I did behold one day

      Happier than any in my life, and so

      Surpassing fair was she that amorous Time,

      Wounded by the darts of Love fled with haste

      Lest he be wounded more, that I knew not how;

      And she made ma sore rune my palsied age

      And envy most bold youth.

      Lamb. [bowing low]:

      My Lord, you flood

      My humble self with all this generous praise,

      Beyond all hope of thanks I abide

      In debt.

      Duke:

      She’s called Beatrice, is it not so?

      Uberto [aside, with his hand on his heart]:

      Hush, fond heart,

      Thou makest me believe it was her name I heard!

      Oddo [aside, impatiently]:

      The devil, the Duke turned out a doting lover!

      Duke:

      Most becoming name for one who doth

      Have eyes that make the jealous Queen of Night

      To quit with shame and heaven’s lights burn out

      Themselves with spite.

      Uberto [aside]:

      Of her he must be speaking, since to whom

      Other than her can this description fit.

      But yet I fear my ears do play me false,

      Or I awake in an idle dream

      With semblance of reality.

      Duke:

      She is

      A virgin rose but newly blown from the bud.

      ‘Tis seemly that the amorous butterflies

      Should woo her from her maiden dreams.

      Lamb.:

      Mean you

      My Lord: that she should marry?

      Duke:

      Aye, that I meant.

      Uberto [aside]:

      O joy! What glorious hope doth swell from out the dark

      Deeps of my heart, like as the glorious break of day

      After a weary night; and yet I dare not

      Cherish it for long, and feed it with my

      Slumbering dreams lest its life’s span

      Be brief even as it is glorious.

      Lamb.:

      To whom,

      My Lord

      Duke:

      Why, to Valentio;

      And the gall of hatred will pass away

      Like as a summer cloud.

      Oddo [aside, angrily]:

      By Beelzebub!

      A lunatic would not utter such a damned outrage! [aloud]

      My Lord, surely you are but jesting, though

      I must avow it doth amuse me not.

      Uberto [aside]:

      Great heavens! heard you all this? No, No,

      It cannot be! What man would steal my Love

      From me; no not my friend! My wrought fancy

      Is fooling me. Aye, ‘tis my fancy.

      [tries to laugh, but it sounds hollow, and he starts]

      But wherefore

      My laugh sounds so, and wherefore do I start?

      Duke [to Oddo]:

      Why dost thou marvel; ‘tis very simple. [to Valentio] What

      Sayst thou?

      Valentio:

      My thanks to Your Highness for your

      Most generous offer; but whether I do

      Espouse a maiden fair or else a colder Fate

      ‘Tis one to me; nay, if any of the gentlemen

      Doth wish, by reason of aught whate’er,

      To th’ contrary of what Your Highness

      Did propose, ‘tis my desire to bear your wrath

      And punishment than be mistook

      For some wife-sheltered coward.

      Duke [turning to Lamb. and Oddo]:

      What say you?

      Lamb.:

      I’m of your mind, Your Highness.

      Oddo:

      I’m not—you’re murdering Justice!

      Lamb.:

      Nay, it is

      My private right to grant consent, or to

      Refrain. [to Rinieri]

      What thinkest thou?

      Rinieri:

      ‘Tis proper that

      He doth espouse thy daughter.

      [in an undertone] He seems

      A worthy gentleman.

      Valentio:

      My Lord, I . . . .

      Duke [interrupting him]:

      No more protests!

      Oddo:

      You band yourselves

      ‘Gainst me. I shall abide it no more. [aside, looking at Buondelmonte with flaming eyes and clenched fist]

      Thou hast again escaped me: and with


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