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. Farewell then all the joy and light of life, All dear recorded memories, farewell, Farewell all love! Could I with bloody hands Fondle and paddle with her innocent hands? Could I with lips fresh from this butchery Play with her lips? Could I with murderous eyes Look in those violet eyes, whose purity Would strike men blind, and make each eyeball reel In night perpetual? No, murder has set A barrier between us far too high For us to kiss across it. DUCHESS Guido! GUIDO Beatrice, You must forget that name, and banish me Out of your life for ever. DUCHESS [_going towards him_] O dear love! GUIDO [_stepping back_] There lies a barrier between us two We dare not pass. DUCHESS I dare do anything So that you are beside me. GUIDO