University of Virginia Library

SCENE III

An apartment next to the Borgia Tower, which is reached by a passage on which the door gives. Don Michelotto Corella stands in the centre, the door being open. Suddenly Duke Cesare de Valentinois della Romagna comes to him in a blaze of passion.
CESARE.
Eigh, Michelotto, shall a vermin kill?
Conceive! Alfonso flicked me with an arrow,
Shot from the chamber where Lucrezia watches.

MICHELOTTO.
The Duchess did not see?

CESARE.
It makes no matter,
It is of no account .... Swift, Michelotto,
A rope .... Conceive! This little pipe of breath,
This spawn, this Naples sought the overthrow
Of my large destinies ... and his kind Duchess
Simmers the pipkin that he may not die
Of poisoned food! Not even the sharp vendetta
Of the Sanseverini fallen upon him
A month ago has mangled him to death;
He keeps his tower, mending his wounds apace.
But, swish!—an arrow flies to end me .... Ecco!
She is hard by, the silky wife grown fulsome,
Dragged on a husband's chain. Swift, Michelotto, swift!

MICHELOTTO.
The poignard or the little rope? I serve you
Close as my bone to flesh.

CESARE.
So God in silence
Contracts with San Michele. Die for me—
You were not such a fool! I choose who dies.
Fetch me your instruments—the steel, the rope.
Quick, and return!
[Exit Michelotto.
I wait a thousand years!
Aha, Carlotta, little Sancia too!
Ay, and Lucrezia ... she can watch so much,
I doubt not she was watching when he shot:
She would not warn me—she has seen so much,
And never stirred in tongue or eye .... But listen!
[He bends his ear toward the door.
I hear the cooing voice; she sings to him.

[Lucrezia's voice is heard from the Borgia Tower.
Sweetest Mother,
Thy suit is won:
Flowers for thee,
Flowers for thy Son,
Flowers at thy knee
For the Trinity!

[CESARE.]
She is soothing him with little, airy notes,
Like the rustle of the leaves.
[Re-enter Michelotto. Cesare opens his hands for the dagger and cord.
O Michelotto,
These jewels
Have never shone so bright—steel, steel, and necklets
Twisted and coiled so deftly round the throat
The breath heaves up—then plumb back to its void.
Conceal yourself .... I drag the women out ....

MICHELOTTO.
My lord, I cannot warrant
Some little noise may lucklessly escape.

CESARE.
Myself I will be present if you palter,
Will watch his features crying for the air.
Swift, swift—

[He goes into the Borgia Tower.
MICHELOTTO.
His fangs drip blood!
But she shall not suspect.
To the dark with me.

[He thrusts the door wide open into the passage and hides behind it.
Duke Cesare re-enters, his right arm round Donna Lucrezia Borgia d'Aragon, while his left hand grips Donna Sancia Borgia, Princess of Squillace. The door is fastened behind them by Michelotto.
SANCIA.
Loose, loose! It bites my wrist.
Why do you bring us here?

LUCREZIA.
You said that we must come.

SANCIA.
Let loose; loose, Cesare!

CESARE.
[To Lucrezia.]
Sit there ....
[To Sancia.]
You writhing viper.
I fling you off!

[He pushes her away. She is at the door, trying the handle.
LUCREZIA.
What is it?

CESARE.
What?—White eyes, who shot the arrow?

LUCREZIA.
Alfonso—

CESARE.
In your sight!

LUCREZIA.
[Stroking him.]
Your brow, your cheeks, your hands.
No blood .... Alfonso—

CESARE.
Do you plead for him?

LUCREZIA.
You are safe ....

CESARE.
You sang to him. Is that your triumph?

LUCREZIA.
That you were safe ....
The little song .... I sang it to myself.
I sang ....

[A cry is heard.
CESARE.
Fool Michelotto!

SANCIA.
[Breaking from the door, and crying to Lucrezia.
Can you not hear? Do you not understand?
Are you of flesh or stone? They are killing him,
As they killed Giovanni ....
[To Cesare.]
Murderer! For I know,
Ah, now I know you are his murderer.
You did the deed—you, you!
She can forgive a brother's death: I cannot!
I am blood of Naples, and will be avenged.

LUCREZIA.
Alfonso!

[She sits motionless.
SANCIA.
Ay, Alfonso! He is murdered.
I will be heard!
[She beats on the door.
Lucrece, Lucrece! She could divorce one husband:
Oh, she can sever! ... Cold as death her eyes
Beat on me. O Lucrezia, do you hear?
[She mutters.
They are murdering my brother—he is murdered.
Now all is gone to silence ....

[She sinks down in her sobs.
CESARE.
[To Lucrezia.]
Star, you fade!
[Lucrezia, who has been looking up into Cesare's face, falls into a swoon.
Donna Angela Borgia and Donna Catilena de Valence rush in, pressing the bolt aside: there is blood on the skirt of one of them. Awed by Cesare's aspect, they remain without speaking. Sancia springs through the open door with a cry.
[Cesare sways Lucrezia toward the Maids of Honour.
There, take her, Angela—she clings ....

LUCREZIA.
[Coming to herself and looking round.]
Alfonso?

CESARE.
Cesar ... but weep your tears, your destined tears.

[He goes toward the door.
LUCREZIA.
[Moving from Angela and following Cesare, with a cry.
Alfonso!

ANGELA.
Has she lost her wits?

CESARE.
[Arrested.]
How wondrous
She is! And she is wailing for a ghost!

LUCREZIA.
[With the same cry.]
Alfonso!

[He turns away as she almost touches him and quickly leaves her.
ANGELA.
[With a gesture after Cesare.]
Gone! . . .
Look at her, look! She rises like a nymph
In a cloud of water—look!

CATILENA.
She is parted from us ....

LUCREZIA.
[Suddenly falling from her height full length on the ground.
Jesu miserere!