I confess That with the purport of a just revenge, A most just vengeance on a man of blood, I entered the Duke’s household, served his will, Sat at his board, drank of his wine, and was His intimate: so much I will confess, And this too, that I waited till he grew To give the fondest secrets of his life Into my keeping, till he fawned on me, And trusted me in every private matter Even as my noble father trusted him; That for this thing I waited. [_To the Headsman_.] Thou man of blood! Turn not thine axe on me before the time: Who knows if it be time for me to die? Is there no other neck in court but mine? LORD JUSTICE The sand within the time-glass flows apace. Come quickly to the murder of the Duke. GUIDO I will be brief: Last night at twelve o’ the clock, By a strong rope I scaled the palace wall, With purport to revenge my father’s murder— Ay! with that purport I confess, my lord. This much I will acknowledge, and this also, That as with stealthy feet I climbed the stair Which led unto the chamber of the Duke, And reached my hand out for the scarlet cloth Which shook and shivered in the gusty door, Lo! the white moon that sailed in the great heaven Flooded with silver light the darkened room, Night lit her candles for me, and I saw The man I hated, cursing in his sleep; And thinking of a most dear father murdered, Sold to the scaffold, bartered to the block, I smote the treacherous villain to the heart With this same dagger, which by chance I found Within the chamber. DUCHESS [_rising from her seat_] Oh! GUIDO [_hurriedly_] I killed the Duke. Now, my Lord Justice, if I may crave a boon, Suffer me not to see another sun Light up the misery of this loathsome world. LORD JUSTICE Thy boon is granted, thou shalt die to-night. Lead him away. Come, Madam [GUIDO _is led off_; _as he goes the_ DUCHESS _stretches out her arms and rushes down the stage_.] DUCHESS Guido! Guido! [_Faints_.] _Tableau_ END OF ACT IV. * * * * * ACT V SCENE _A dungeon in the public prison of Padua_; _Guido lies asleep on a pallet_ (_L.C._); _a table with a goblet on it is set_ (_L.C._); _five soldiers are drinking and playing dice in the corner on a stone table_; _one of them has a lantern hung to his halbert_; _a torch is set in the wall over Guido’s head_. _Two grated windows behind_, _one on each side of the door which is_ (_C._), _look out into the passage_; _the stage is rather dark_. FIRST SOLDIER [_throws dice_] Sixes again! good Pietro. SECOND SOLDIER I’ faith, lieutenant, I will play with thee no more. I will lose everything. THIRD SOLDIER