LUCRETIA: I mixed an opiate with his drink: _30 He sleeps so soundly... BEATRICE: That his death will be But as a change of sin-chastising dreams, A dark continuance of the Hell within him, Which God extinguish! But ye are resolved? Ye know it is a high and holy deed? _35 OLIMPIO: We are resolved. MARZIO: As to the how this act Be warranted, it rests with you. BEATRICE: Well, follow! OLIMPIO: Hush! Hark! What noise is that? MARZIO: Ha! some one comes! BEATRICE: Ye conscience-stricken cravens, rock to rest Your baby hearts. It is the iron gate, _40 Which ye left open, swinging to the wind, That enters whistling as in scorn. Come, follow! And be your steps like mine, light, quick and bold. [EXEUNT.] SCENE 4.3: AN APARTMENT IN THE CASTLE. ENTER BEATRICE AND LUCRETIA. LUCRETIA: They are about it now. BEATRICE: Nay, it is done. LUCRETIA: I have not heard him groan. BEATRICE: He will not groan. LUCRETIA: What sound is that? BEATRICE: List! 'tis the tread of feet About his bed. LUCRETIA: My God! If he be now a cold, stiff corpse... BEATRICE: O, fear not _5 What may be done, but what is left undone: The act seals all. [ENTER OLIMPIO AND MARZIO.] Is it accomplished? MARZIO: What? OLIMPIO: Did you not call? BEATRICE: When? OLIMPIO: Now. BEATRICE: I ask if all is over? OLIMPIO: We dare not kill an old and sleeping man; His thin gray hair, his stern and reverend brow, _10 His veined hands crossed on his heaving breast, And the calm innocent sleep in which he lay, Quelled me. Indeed, indeed, I cannot do it. NOTE: _10 reverend]reverent all editions. MARZIO: But I was bolder; for I chid Olimpio, And bade him bear his wrongs to his own grave _15 And leave me the reward. And now my knife Touched the loose wrinkled throat, when the old man Stirred in his sleep, and said, 'God! hear, O, hear, A father's curse! What, art Thou not our Father?' And then he laughed. I knew it was the ghost _20 Of my dead father speaking through his lips, And could not kill him. BEATRICE: Miserable slaves! Where, if ye dare not kill a sleeping man, Found ye the boldness to return to me With such a deed undone? Base palterers! _25 Cowards and traitors! Why, the very conscience Which ye would sell for gold and for revenge Is an equivocation: it sleeps over A thousand daily acts disgracing men; And when a deed where mercy insults Heaven... _30 Why do I talk? [SNATCHING A DAGGER FROM ONE OF THEM, AND RAISING IT.] Hadst thou a tongue to say, 'She murdered her own father!'--I must do it! But never dream ye shall outlive him long! OLIMPIO: Stop, for God's sake! MARZIO: I will go back and kill him. OLIMPIO: Give me the weapon, we must do thy will. _35