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

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СКАЧАТЬ Dashes adown the street.

       [Passes across the stage to foot of staircase.]

       Ah! who art thou

       That sittest on the stair, like unto Death

       Waiting a guilty soul? [A pause.]

       Canst thou not speak?

       Or has this storm laid palsy on thy tongue,

       And chilled thy utterance?

       [The figure rises and takes off his mask.]

      MORANZONE

      Guido Ferranti,

       Thy murdered father laughs for joy tonight.

      GUIDO

      [confusedly]

       What, art thou here?

      MORANZONE

      Ay, waiting for your coming.

      GUIDO

      [looking away from him]

       I did not think to see you, but am glad,

       That you may know the thing I mean to do.

      MORANZONE

      First, I would have you know my well-laid plans;

       Listen: I have set horses at the gate

       Which leads to Parma: when you have done your business

       We will ride hence, and by tomorrow night -

      GUIDO

      It cannot be.

      MORANZONE

      Nay, but it shall.

      GUIDO

      Listen, Lord Moranzone,

       I am resolved not to kill this man.

      MORANZONE

      Surely my ears are traitors, speak again:

       It cannot be but age has dulled my powers,

       I am an old man now: what did you say?

       You said that with that dagger in your belt

       You would avenge your father’s bloody murder;

       Did you not say that?

      GUIDO

      No, my lord, I said

       I was resolved not to kill the Duke.

      MORANZONE

      You said not that; it is my senses mock me;

       Or else this midnight air o’ercharged with storm

       Alters your message in the giving it.

      GUIDO

      Nay, you heard rightly; I’ll not kill this man.

      MORANZONE

      What of thine oath, thou traitor, what of thine oath?

      GUIDO

      I am resolved not to keep that oath.

      MORANZONE

      What of thy murdered father?

      GUIDO

      Dost thou think

       My father would be glad to see me coming,

       This old man’s blood still hot upon mine hands?

      MORANZONE

      Ay! he would laugh for joy.

      GUIDO

      I do not think so,

       There is better knowledge in the other world;

       Vengeance is God’s, let God himself revenge.

      MORANZONE

      Thou art God’s minister of vengeance.

      GUIDO

      No!

       God hath no minister but his own hand.

       I will not kill this man.

      MORANZONE

      Why are you here,

       If not to kill him, then?

      GUIDO

      Lord Moranzone,

       I purpose to ascend to the Duke’s chamber,

       And as he lies asleep lay on his breast

       The dagger and this writing; when he awakes

       Then he will know who held him in his power

       And slew him not: this is the noblest vengeance

       Which I can take.

      MORANZONE

      You will not slay him?

      GUIDO

      No.

      MORANZONE

      Ignoble son of a noble father,

       Who sufferest this man who sold that father

       To live an hour.

      GUIDO

      ‘Twas thou that hindered me;

       I would have killed him in the open square,

       The day I saw him first.

      MORANZONE

      It was not yet time;

       Now it is time, and, like some green-faced girl,

       Thou pratest of forgiveness.

      GUIDO

      No! СКАЧАТЬ