University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

CASTEL-NUOVO. Durazzo. Rupert. Giovanna. Agnes.
Durazzo.
Upon my knees I do entreat of you
To hear me. In sincerity, the crown
(Now mine) was forced upon me.

Giovanna.
Carlo! Carlo!
Know you what crowns are made of?

Durazzo
(rising).
I must wear one,
However fitly or unfitly made.

Giovanna.
The ermine is outside, the metal burns
Into the brain.

Durazzo.
Its duties, its conditions,
Are not unknown to me, nor its sad cares.

Giovanna.
'Tis well Maria my sweet sister lives not
To see this day.

Durazzo.
But Margarita lives,
Her beauteous daughter, my beloved wife.
She thinks you very kind who let her go
And join me, when strange rumours flew abroad
And liars call'd me traitor.

Giovanna.
With my blessing
She went, nor heard (I hope) that hateful name.

Durazzo
(negligently).
My cousin Agnes! not one word from you?

Agnes.
Charles of Durazzo! God abandons thee
To thy own will: can any gulph lie lower!

Durazzo.
'Twas not my will.

Agnes.
No!

Durazzo.
What I did, I did
To satisfy the people.

Agnes.
Satisfy
Ocean and Fire.

Durazzo.
The Church too.

Agnes.
Fire and Ocean
Shall lie together, and shall both pant gorged,
Before the Church be satisfied, if Church
Be that proud purple shapeless thing we see.

Durazzo
(to Rupert)
Show the pope's charter of investiture.

Rupert.
'Tis this. May it please our lady that I read it.

Giovanna
(to Durazzo).
Reasons where there are wrongs but make them heavier.

Durazzo
(to Agnes).
When the whole nation cries in agony
Against the sway of Germans, should I halt?

Agnes.
No German rules this country; one defends
And comforts and adorns it: may he long!
The bravest of his race, the most humane.

Durazzo.
Quell'd, fugitive, nor Germany nor France
Afford him aid against us.

Giovanna.
Sir! he hoped
No aid from France.

Agnes.
Does any? What is France?
One flaring lie, reddening the face of Europe.

Durazzo.
French is Provenza.

Agnes.
There our arts prevail,
Our race: no lair of tigers is Provenza.
I call that France where mind and soul are French.

Durazzo.
Sooner would he have graspt at German arms.

Giovanna.
God hold them both from Italy for ever!

Durazzo.
She shall want neither. The religious call
Blessings upon us in long-drawn processions.

Agnes.
Who are the men you please to call religious?
Sword-cutlers to all Majesties on earth,
Drums at the door of every theatre
Where tragedies are acted: that friar knows it.

Rupert.
Such is the fruit of letters sown in courts!
Peaches with nettle leaves and thistle crowns!
Upon my faith! kings are unsafe near them.

Durazzo
(to Agnes).
May-be we scarcely have your sanction, lady?
Am I one?

Agnes.
No.

Durazzo.
What am I?

Agnes.
What! an ingrate.

Durazzo
(scoffingly).
Is that to be no king? You may rave on,
Fair cousin Agnes: she who might complain
Absolves me.

Agnes.
Does the child she fed? the orphan?
The outcast? does he, can he, to himself,
And before us?

Durazzo.
I, the king, need it not.

Agnes.
All other blind men know that they are blind,
All other helpless feel their helplessness.