How peacefully here he sleeps,
Like a young schoolboy tired out with play:
I would that I could sleep so peacefully,
But I have dreams.

Bending over him.

Poor boy: what if I kissed him?
No, no, my lips would burn him like a fire.
He has had enough of Love. Still that white neck
Will ‘scape the headsman: I have seen to that:
He will get hence from Padua to-night,
And that is well. You are very wise. Lord Justices,
And yet you are not half so wise as I am,
And that is well.

O God! how I have loved you,
And what a bloody flower did Love bear!

Comes back to the table.

What if I drank these juices, and so ceased?
Were it not better than to wait till Death
Come to my bed with all his serving men,
Remorse, disease, old age, and misery?
I wonder does one suffer much: I think
That I am very young to die like this,
But so it must be. Why, why should I die?
He will escape to-night, and so his blood
Will not be on my head. No, I must die:
I have been guilty, therefore I must die:
He loves me not, and therefore I must die:
I would die happier if he would kiss me,
But he will not do that. I did not know him,
I thought he meant to sell me to the judge;
That is not strange; we women never know
Our lovers till they leave us.

Bell begins to toll.

Thou vile bell,
That like a bloodhound from thy brazen throat
Call’st for this man’s life, cease! Thou shalt not get it.
He stirs – I must be quick:

Takes up cup.

O Love, Love, Love,
I did not think that I would pledge thee thus!

Drinks poison, and sets the cup down on the table behind her: the noise wakens GUIDO, who starts up, and does not see what she has done. There is silence for a minute, each looking at the other.