The Duchess of Padua. Wilde Oscar

he will lighten the taxes!

      Second Citizen

      Or a dole of bread, think you, for each man?

      Duke

      That, on next Sunday, the Lord Cardinal

      Shall, after Holy Mass, preach you a sermon

      Upon the Beauty of Obedience.

      [Citizens murmur.]

      First Citizen

      I’ faith, that will not fill our stomachs!

      Second Citizen

      A sermon is but a sorry sauce, when

      You have nothing to eat with it.

      Duchess

      Poor people,

      You see I have no power with the Duke,

      But if you go into the court without,

      My almoner shall from my private purse,

      Divide a hundred ducats ’mongst you all.

      First Citizen

      God save the Duchess, say I.

      Second Citizen

      God save her.

      Duchess

      And every Monday morn shall bread be set

      For those who lack it.

      [Citizens applaud and go out.]

      First Citizen [going out]

      Why, God save the Duchess again!

      Duke [calling him back]

      Come hither, fellow! what is your name?

      First Citizen

      Dominick, sir.

      Duke

      A good name!  Why were you called Dominick?

      First Citizen [scratching his head]

      Marry, because I was born on St. George’s day.

      Duke

      A good reason! here is a ducat for you!

      Will you not cry for me God save the Duke?

      First Citizen [feebly]

      God save the Duke.

      Duke

      Nay! louder, fellow, louder.

      First Citizen [a little louder]

      God save the Duke!

      Duke

      More lustily, fellow, put more heart in it!

      Here is another ducat for you.

      First Citizen [enthusiastically]

      God save the Duke!

      Duke [mockingly]

      Why, gentlemen, this simple fellow’s love

      Touches me much.  [To the Citizen, harshly.]

      Go!  [Exit Citizen, bowing.]

      This is the way, my lords,

      You can buy popularity nowadays.

      Oh, we are nothing if not democratic!

      [To the Duchess.]

      Well, Madam,

      You spread rebellion ’midst our citizens.

      Duchess

      My Lord, the poor have rights you cannot touch,

      The right to pity, and the right to mercy.

      Duke

      So, so, you argue with me?  This is she,

      The gentle Duchess for whose hand I yielded

      Three of the fairest towns in Italy,

      Pisa, and Genoa, and Orvieto.

      Duchess

      Promised, my Lord, not yielded: in that matter

      Brake you your word as ever.

      Duke

      You wrong us, Madam,

      There were state reasons.

      Duchess

      What state reasons are there

      For breaking holy promises to a state?

      Duke

      There are wild boars at Pisa in a forest

      Close to the city: when I promised Pisa

      Unto your noble and most trusting father,

      I had forgotten there was hunting there.

      At Genoa they say,

      Indeed I doubt them not, that the red mullet

      Runs larger in the harbour of that town

      Than anywhere in Italy.

      [Turning to one of the Court.]

      You, my lord,

      Whose gluttonous appetite is your only god,

      Could satisfy our Duchess on that point.

      Duchess

      And Orvieto?

      Duke [yawning]

      I cannot now recall

      Why I did not surrender Orvieto

      According to the word of my contract.

      Maybe it was because I did not choose.

      [Goes over to the Duchess.]

      Why look you, Madam, you are here alone;

      ’Tis many a dusty league to your grey France,

      And even there your father barely keeps

      A hundred ragged squires for his Court.

      What hope have you, I say?  Which of these lords

      And noble gentlemen of Padua

      Stands by your side.

      Duchess

      There is not one.

      [Guido starts, but restrains himself.]

      Duke

      Nor shall be,

      While I am Duke in Padua: listen, Madam,

      Being mine own, you shall do as I will,

      And if it be my will you keep the house,

      Why then, this palace shall your prison be;

      And if it be my will you walk abroad,

      Why, you shall take the air from morn to night.

      Duchess

      Sir, by what right – ?

      Duke

      Madam, my second Duchess