The Collected Works of Oscar Wilde: 250+ Titles in One Edition. Оскар Уайльд

Without the slayer’s danger; nay, if brought

       Into the presence of the tribunal,

       Must with dumb lips and silence reverent

       Listen unto his well-deserved doom,

       Nor has the privilege of open speech.

      DUCHESS

       I thank thee, my Lord Justice, heartily;

       I like your law: and now I pray dispatch

       This public outlaw to his righteous doom;

       What is there more?

      LORD JUSTICE

       Ay, there is more, your Grace.

       This man being alien born, not Paduan,

       Nor by allegiance bound unto the Duke,

       Save such as common nature doth lay down,

       Hath, though accused of treasons manifold,

       Whose slightest penalty is certain death,

       Yet still the right of public utterance

       Before the people and the open court;

       Nay, shall be much entreated by the Court,

       To make some formal pleading for his life,

       Lest his own city, righteously incensed,

       Should with an unjust trial tax our state,

       And wars spring up against the commonwealth:

       So merciful are the laws of Padua

       Unto the stranger living in her gates.

      DUCHESS

       Being of my Lord’s household, is he stranger here?

      LORD JUSTICE

       Ay, until seven years of service spent

       He cannot be a Paduan citizen.

      GUIDO

       I thank thee, my Lord Justice, heartily;

       I like your law.

      SECOND CITIZEN

       I like no law at all:

       Were there no law there’d be no law-breakers,

       So all men would be virtuous.

      FIRST CITIZEN

       So they would;

       ‘Tis a wise saying that, and brings you far.

      TIPSTAFF

       Ay! to the gallows, knave.

      DUCHESS

       Is this the law?

      LORD JUSTICE

       It is the law most certainly, my liege.

      DUCHESS

       Show me the book: ‘tis written in blood-red.

      JEPPO

       Look at the Duchess.

      DUCHESS

       Thou accursed law,

       I would that I could tear thee from the state

       As easy as I tear thee from this book.

       [Tears out the page.]

       Come here, Count Bardi: are you honourable?

       Get a horse ready for me at my house,

       For I must ride to Venice instantly.

      BARDI

       To Venice, Madam?

      DUCHESS

       Not a word of this,

       Go, go at once. [Exit COUNT BARDI.]

       A moment, my Lord Justice.

       If, as thou sayest it, this is the law -

       Nay, nay, I doubt not that thou sayest right,

       Though right be wrong in such a case as this -

       May I not by the virtue of mine office

       Adjourn this court until another day?

      LORD JUSTICE

       Madam, you cannot stay a trial for blood.

      DUCHESS

       I will not tarry then to hear this man

       Rail with rude tongue against our sacred person.

       Come, gentlemen.

      LORD JUSTICE

       My liege,

       You cannot leave this court until the prisoner

       Be purged or guilty of this dread offence.

      DUCHESS

       Cannot, Lord Justice? By what right do you

       Set barriers in my path where I should go?

       Am I not Duchess here in Padua,

       And the state’s regent?

      LORD JUSTICE

       For that reason, Madam,

       Being the fountain-head of life and death

       Whence, like a mighty river, justice flows,

       Without thy presence justice is dried up

       And fails of purpose: thou must tarry here.

      DUCHESS

       What, wilt thou keep me here against my will?

      LORD JUSTICE

       We pray thy will be not against the law.

      DUCHESS

       What if I force my way out of the court?

      LORD JUSTICE

       Thou canst not force the Court to give thee way.

      DUCHESS

       I will not tarry. [Rises from her seat.]

      LORD JUSTICE

       Is the usher here?

       Let him stand forth. [Usher comes forward.]

       Thou knowest thy business, sir.

       [The Usher closes the doors of the court, which are L., and when the DUCHESS and her retinue approach, kneels down.]

      USHER

       In all humility I beseech your Grace

       Turn not my duty to discourtesy,

       Nor make my unwelcome office an offence.

      DUCHESS

       Is there no gentleman amongst you all

       To prick this prating fellow from our way?

      MAFFIO

       [drawing his sword]

       Ay! that will I.

      LORD JUSTICE

       Count Maffio, have a care,

       And you, sir. [To JEPPO.]

       The first man who draws his sword

       Upon the meanest officer of this Court,

       Dies before nightfall.

      DUCHESS

       Sirs, put up your swords:

       It is most meet that I should hear this man.

       [Goes back to throne.]

      MORANZONE

       Now hast thou got thy enemy in thy hand.

      LORD JUSTICE

       [taking the time-glass up]

       Guido Ferranti, while the crumbling sand

       Falls through this time-glass, thou hast leave to speak.

       This and no more.

      GUIDO

       It is enough,