DUCHESS: Ay!
What was it? There are times it seems a dream,
An evil dream sent by an evil god,
And then I see the dead face in the coffin
And know it is no dream, but that my hand
Is red with blood, and that my desperate soul
Striving to find some haven for its love
From the wild tempest of this raging world,
Has wrecked its bark upon the rocks of sin.
What was it, said you? – murder merely? Nothing
But murder, horrible murder.

GUIDO: Nay, nay, nay,
’Twas but the passion-flower of your love
That in one moment leapt to terrible life,
And in one moment bare this gory fruit,
Which I had plucked in thought a thousand times.
My soul was murderous, but my hand refused;
Your hand wrought murder, but your soul was pure.
And so I love you, Beatrice, and let him
Who has no mercy for your stricken head,
Lack mercy up in heaven! Kiss me, sweet.

Tries to kiss her.

DUCHESS: No, no, your lips are pure, and mine are soiled,
For Guilt has been my paramour, and Sin
Lain in my bed: O Guido, if you love me
Get hence, for every moment is a worm
Which gnaws your life away: nay, sweet, get hence,
And if in after time you think of me,
Think of me as of one who loved you more
Than anything on earth; think of me, Guido,
As of a woman merely, one who tried
To make her life a sacrifice to love,
And slew love in the trial: Oh, what is that?
The bell has stopped from ringing, and I hear
The feet of armed men upon the stair.

GUIDO (aside): That is the signal for the guard to come.

DUCHESS: Why has the bell stopped ringing?

GUIDO: If you must know,
That stops my life on this side of the grave,
But on the other we shall meet again.

DUCHESS: No, no, ‘tis not too late: you must get hence;
The horse is by the bridge, there is still time.
Away, away, you must not tarry here!

Noise of SOLDIERS in the passage.

A VOICE OUTSIDE: Room for the Lord Justice of Padua!

The LORD JUSTICE is seen through the grated window passing down the corridor preceded by men bearing torches.

DUCHESS: It is too late.

A VOICE OUTSIDE: Room for the headsman.

DUCHESS (sinks down): Oh!

The HEADSMAN with his axe on his shoulder is seen passing the corridor, followed by Monks bearing candles.

GUIDO: Farewell, dear love, for I must drink this poison.
I do not fear the headsman, but I would die
Not on the lonely scaffold.

DUCHESS: Oh!

GUIDO: But here,
Here in thine arms, kissing thy mouth: farewell!

Goes to the table and takes the goblet up.

What, art thou empty?

Throws it to the ground.

O thou churlish gaoler,
Even of poisons niggard!

DUCHESS (faintly): Blame him not.