GUIDO

What, love?

DUCHESS

Methought I saw a face with eyes of flame Look at us through the doorway.

GUIDO

Nay, ’twas nothing: The passing shadow of the man on guard. [The DUCHESS still stands looking at the window.] ’Twas nothing, sweet.

DUCHESS

Ay! what can harm us now, Who are in Love’s hand? I do not think I’d care Though the vile world should with its lackey Slander Trample and tread upon my life; why should I? They say the common field-flowers of the field Have sweeter scent when they are trodden on Than when they bloom alone, and that some herbs Which have no perfume, on being bruiséd die With all Arabia round them; so it is With the young lives this dull world seeks to crush, It does but bring the sweetness out of them, And makes them lovelier often. And besides, While we have love we have the best of life: Is it not so?

GUIDO

Dear, shall we play or sing? I think that I could sing now.

DUCHESS

Do not speak, For there are times when all existences Seem narrowed to one single ecstasy, And Passion sets a seal upon the lips.

GUIDO

Oh, with mine own lips let me break that seal! You love me, Beatrice?

DUCHESS

Ay! is it not strange I should so love mine enemy?

GUIDO

Who is he?

DUCHESS

Why, you: that with your shaft did pierce my heart! Poor heart, that lived its little lonely life Until it met your arrow.

GUIDO

Ah, dear love, I am so wounded by that bolt myself That with untended wounds I lie a-dying, Unless you cure me, dear Physician.

DUCHESS

I would not have you cured; for I am sick With the same malady.

GUIDO

Oh, how I love you! See, I must steal the cuckoo’s voice, and tell The one tale over.

DUCHESS

Tell no other tale! For, if that is the little cuckoo’s song, The nightingale is hoarse, and the loud lark Has lost its music.

GUIDO

Kiss me, Beatrice! [She takes his face in her hands and bends down and kisses him; a loud knocking then comes at the door, and GUIDO leaps up; enter a Servant.]

SERVANT

A package for you, sir.

GUIDO

[carelessly] Ah! give it to me. [Servant hands package wrapped in vermilion silk, and exit; as GUIDO is about to open it the DUCHESS comes up behind, and in sport takes it from him.]

DUCHESS

[laughing] Now I will wager it is from some girl Who would have you wear her favour; I am so jealous I will not give up the least part in you, But like a miser keep you to myself, And spoil you perhaps in keeping.

GUIDO

It is nothing.

DUCHESS

Nay, it is from some girl.

GUIDO

You know ’tis not.

DUCHESS

[turns her back and opens it] Now, traitor, tell me what does this sign mean, A dagger with two leopards wrought in steel?

GUIDO

[taking it from her] O God!

DUCHESS

I’ll from the window look, and try If I can’t see the porter’s livery Who left it at the gate! I will not rest Till I have learned your secret. [Runs laughing into the corridor.]

GUIDO

Oh, horrible! Had I so soon forgot my father’s death, Did I so soon let love into my heart, And must I banish love, and let in murder That beats and clamours at the outer gate? Ay, that I must! Have I not sworn an oath? Yet not to-night; nay, it must be to-night.