University of Virginia Library

SCENE II

A narrow street opening on the Tiber
Enter Michelotto and Assassins
MICHELOTTO
Ye know the lordlier harlot's house—there?

FIRST ASSASSIN
Ay,
Surely.

MICHELOTTO
The first whose foot comes forth is he.

SECOND ASSASSIN
How know we this?

MICHELOTTO
I know it. Ye need but slay.

[Exit.
Enter Francesco
FRANCESCO
(singing)
Love and night are life and light;
Sleep and wine and song
Speed and slay the halting day
Ere it live too long.

FIRST ASSASSIN
That shalt not thou. Sing, whosoe'er thou be,
Thy next of songs to Satan.

[They stab him.
FRANCESCO
Dogs! Ye dare?
God! Pity me! God!

[Dies.
SECOND ASSASSIN
God receive his soul!
This was a Christian: many a man I have slain
Died with all hell between his lips.

FIRST ASSASSIN
Be thine
Dumb. Lift his feet as I the head.

SECOND ASSASSIN
A boy!
And fair of face as angels.

FIRST ASSASSIN
If the nets
Snare not this fish betimes ere others feed,
None that shall heave it airward for the sun
To mock and mar shall say so. Bring him down.
Tiber hath fed on choicer fare than we
May think to feed his throat with ere we die.

[Exeunt with the body.