MISTRESS LUCY: It was the Duchess herself who pointed him out.

MORANZONE (aside): The Duchess! There is something strange in this.

MISTRESS LUCY: Ay! And the dagger was in his hand – the Duchess’s own dagger.

MORANZONE: What did you say?

MISTRESS LUCY: Why, marry, that it was with the Duchess’s dagger that the Duke was killed.

MORANZONE (aside): There is some mystery about this: I cannot understand it.

SECOND CITIZEN: They be very long a-coming.

FIRST CITIZEN: I warrant they will come soon enough for the prisoner.

TIPSTAFF: Silence in the Court!

FIRST CITIZEN: Thou dost break silence in bidding us keep it, Master Tipstaff.

Enter the LORD JUSTICE and the other Judges.

SECOND CITIZEN: Who is he in scarlet? Is he the headsman?

THIRD CITIZEN: Nay, he is the Lord Justice.

Enter GUIDO guarded.

SECOND CITIZEN: There be the prisoner surely.

THIRD CITIZEN: He looks honest.

FIRST CITIZEN: That be his villainy: knaves nowadays do look so honest that honest folk are forced to look like knaves so as to be different.

Enter the Headsman, who takes his stand behind GUIDO.

SECOND CITIZEN: Yon be the headsman then! O Lord! Is the axe sharp, think you?

FIRST CITIZEN: Ay! Sharper than thy wits are; but the edge is not towards him, mark you.

SECOND CITIZEN (scratching his neck): I’ faith, I like it not so near.

FIRST CITIZEN: Tut, thou need’st not be afraid; they never cut the heads of common folk: they do but hang us.

Trumpets outside.

THIRD CITIZEN: What are the trumpets for? Is the trial over?

FIRST CITIZEN: Nay, ‘tis for the Duchess.

Enter the DUCHESS in black velvet; her train of flowered black velvet is carried by two pages in violet; with her is the CARDINAL in scarlet, and the gentlemen of the Court in black; she takes her seat on the throne above the Judges, who rise and take their caps off as she enters; the CARDINAL sits next to her a little lower; the Courtiers group themselves about the throne.

SECOND CITIZEN: O poor lady, how pale she is! Will she sit there?

FIRST CITIZEN: Ay! She is in the Duke’s place now.

SECOND CITIZEN: That is a good thing for Padua; the Duchess is a very kind and merciful Duchess; why, she cured my child of the ague once.

THIRD CITIZEN: Ay, and has given us bread: do not forget the bread.

A SOLDIER: Stand back, good people.

SECOND CITIZEN: If we be good, why should we stand back?

TIPSTAFF: Silence in the Court!

LORD JUSTICE: May it please your Grace, Is it your pleasure we proceed to trial of the Duke’s murder?


DUCHESS bows.

Set the prisoner forth.
What is thy name?

GUIDO: It matters not, my lord.

LORD JUSTICE: Guido Ferranti is thy name in Padua.

GUIDO: A man may die as well under that name as any other.