FullReads

O Mary, Mother!
Thou, in whose breast all women’s thoughts have moved,
All woman’s passions heaved. Lo! I adore!
Sweet Mother, hold my hands, rejoice with me:
My bridegroom cometh!

[During this invocation the Countess Fulvia has
crept in, a stiletto in her hand. She leans
over the Regent and stabs her twice in the breast.]

FULVIA.
Then with that!–and that!
Go meet him!

REGENT
(turns, looks up, and falls on her face).
Oh! I am slain!

FULVIA.
And I am worse!
But there’s my flower, my red flower, on your breast.–
Go, meet your lord and show it!

[She passes down the steps as Lucetta runs in.]

LUCETTA.
Madam! Madam!
The Duke is at the gate–Madam!–
Christ! she is murdered! Murder! Murder!

REGENT.
Fie,
Lucetta! peace! What word to greet the Duke
For his home-coming! Lift me … Quick, my robe–
My Crown! Call no one. O, but hasten!

LUCETTA
(helpless, wringing her hands).

Madam!

REGENT.
I need your strength, and must I steady you?
Lucetta, years ago you disarrayed me
Upon my bridal night. I would you’d whisper
The rogueries your tongue invented then.
I have few moments, girl … I’d have them wanton.
Make jest this mantle hides the maid I was.
I’ll have no priest, no doctor–Fetch Tonino!
I must present his son–
[Lucetta runs out.
All’s acted quick:
Bride-bed, conception, birth–and death! But he
Shall sum it in one moment death not takes …
What noise of trumpets!… Is the wound not covered?

[She wraps herself carefully in her mantle as the
courtiers pour in. The child Tonino runs to
her and stands by her side. Lucio, Cesario,
all the Court, group themselves round her as
the Duke enters. He rushes in eagerly; but
she sets her teeth on her anguish, and receives
him with a low reverence.]

Welcome my lord!

DUKE.
Ottilia!

REGENT.
Good my lord,
Welcome! This day is bright restores you to
Your loyal Duchy.

DUKE
(impatient).

Wife! Ottilia!

REGENT
(she lifts a hand to keep him at distance).

There must be forms, my lord–some forms! Cesario,
Render the Duke his sceptre. As bar to socket,
When the gate closes on a town secure,
So locks this rod back to his manly clutch–
Cry all, ‘Long live the Duke!’

ALL.
Long live the Duke!

DUKE.
Wife, make an end with forms!

LUCIO
(to Cesario).

And so say I!
A man would think my sister had no blood
In her body.

CESARIO
(watching the Regent).

Peace, man: something
there’s amiss.

REGENT.
Yet here is he that sceptre shall inherit.
Lucetta, lead his first-born to the Duke.
His first-born!–Nay but look on him how straight
Of limb, how set and shoulder-square, tho’ slender!
He’ll sit a horse, in time, and toss a lance
Even with his father.

DUKE.
There’s my blessing, boy!
But stand aside. Look in my face, Ottilia–
Hearken me, all! One thing these seven years
My life hath lacked, which wanting, all your cannon,
Your banners, vivas, bells that rock the roofs,
Throng’d windows, craning faces–all–all–all
Were phantasms, were noise.–

LUCIO
(exclaims).
Why look, here’s blood!
Here, on the boy’s hand!

REGENT.
Ay! a scratch, no worse,
Here, when I pinned my robe.

DUKE
(continuing).