The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde: 150+ Titles in One Edition. Oscar Wilde

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СКАЧАТЬ With nothing in them make a sorry show.

       If you would have the lion’s share of life

       You must wear the fox’s skin. Oh, it will fit you;

       It is a coat which fitteth every man.

      GUIDO

      Your Grace, I shall remember.

      DUKE

      That is well, boy, well.

       I would not have about me shallow fools,

       Who with mean scruples weigh the gold of life,

       And faltering, paltering, end by failure; failure,

       The only crime which I have not committed:

       I would have men about me. As for conscience,

       Conscience is but the name which cowardice

       Fleeing from battle scrawls upon its shield.

       You understand me, boy?

      GUIDO

      I do, your Grace,

       And will in all things carry out the creed

       Which you have taught me.

      MAFFIO

      I never heard your Grace

       So much in the vein for preaching; let the Cardinal

       Look to his laurels, sir.

      DUKE

      The Cardinal!

       Men follow my creed, and they gabble his.

       I do not think much of the Cardinal;

       Although he is a holy churchman, and

       I quite admit his dulness. Well, sir, from now

       We count you of our household

       [He holds out his hand for GUIDO to kiss. GUIDO starts back in horror, but at a gesture from COUNT MORANZONE, kneels and kisses it.]

       We will see

       That you are furnished with such equipage

       As doth befit your honour and our state.

      GUIDO

      I thank your Grace most heartily.

      DUKE

      Tell me again

       What is your name?

      GUIDO

      Guido Ferranti, sir.

      DUKE

      And you are Mantuan? Look to your wives, my lords,

       When such a gallant comes to Padua.

       Thou dost well to laugh, Count Bardi; I have noted

       How merry is that husband by whose hearth

       Sits an uncomely wife.

      MAFFIO

      May it please your Grace,

       The wives of Padua are above suspicion.

      DUKE

      What, are they so ill-favoured! Let us go,

       This Cardinal detains our pious Duchess;

       His sermon and his beard want cutting both:

       Will you come with us, sir, and hear a text

       From holy Jerome?

      MORANZONE

      [bowing]

       My liege, there are some matters -

      DUKE

      [interrupting]

       Thou need’st make no excuse for missing mass.

       Come, gentlemen.

       [Exit with his suite into Cathedral.]

      GUIDO

      [after a pause]

       So the Duke sold my father;

       I kissed his hand.

      MORANZONE

      Thou shalt do that many times.

      GUIDO

      Must it be so?

      MORANZONE

      Ay! thou hast sworn an oath.

      GUIDO

      That oath shall make me marble.

      MORANZONE

      Farewell, boy,

       Thou wilt not see me till the time is ripe.

      GUIDO

      I pray thou comest quickly.

      MORANZONE

      I will come

       When it is time; be ready.

      GUIDO

      Fear me not.

      MORANZONE

      Here is your friend; see that you banish him

       Both from your heart and Padua.

      GUIDO

      From Padua,

       Not from my heart.

      MORANZONE

      Nay, from thy heart as well,

       I will not leave thee till I see thee do it.

      GUIDO

      Can I have no friend?

      MORANZONE

      Revenge shall be thy friend;

       СКАЧАТЬ