Wilt tell me, Beatrice?
Mrs.Nardi
Speak, Beatrice! Throw yourself upon your knees
before his Highness,the Duke, he will be mercifull He will
spare your life, if you I know yourself upon your knees to him
and implore his clemency.
Beatrice
If it were but forthat,I should not speak a word!
Turns to the dead body and looks long at it.)
Duke
Wert thou not but a child, Beatrice,
Who played with a trown because it glittered, –
With a poets soul, because it was mysterious to you,-
Witha young man's heart, just because he gave it
We are all too severe and
To you?
Will not tolerate it,and none of us wished to be the
Plaything--the only plaything--no,more!
The whole world. So we called thy deeds
Decoit and crime--and you were but a child,
Mrs.Nardi
Beatrice,kneel down to the Duke and beg for mrey.
Duke
I give your daughter to you,she is free,
And you Beatrice,banish all fear!
Beatrice
To the body)
That is past! And were it only this.
That drove me along the fearful path
From lie to lie, insult to insult,and I
Here near you( to the dead) begging
The other to ombrace me,-what suffering I bore,
That thy corps räceived fieree curses,--
And all because Itfeared,to lie there
With you. Now I am tired, so tired,
More so I think than any on this earth-
Why is all this my lot, tell me?
Why must I stand here gazed upon by all,
To bring suffering to so many,and know the while:
I meanttno harm! I am astonished,
That I am, the cause of all this,
And this unacc deustoned astronishment makes me so tired,
That there is nothing left to me but longing,
To lie here as you do, and be at rost!
I pray you, take my life! A danger strust,and a 11
Be ended for me (to Duke) I pray you,good Mylord,
To grant my wish!