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

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СКАЧАТЬ That stops my life on this side of the grave,

       But on the other we shall meet again.

      DUCHESS

      No, no, ‘tis not too late: you must get hence;

       The horse is by the bridge, there is still time.

       Away, away, you must not tarry here!

       [Noise of Soldiers in the passage.]

      A VOICE OUTSIDE

      Room for the Lord Justice of Padua!

       [The LORD JUSTICE is seen through the grated window passing down the corridor preceded by men bearing torches.]

      DUCHESS

      It is too late.

      A VOICE OUTSIDE

      Room for the headsman.

      DUCHESS

      [sinks down]

       Oh!

       [The Headsman with his axe on his shoulder is seen passing the corridor, followed by Monks bearing candles.]

      GUIDO

      Farewell, dear love, for I must drink this poison.

       I do not fear the headsman, but I would die

       Not on the lonely scaffold.

       But here,

       Here in thine arms, kissing thy mouth: farewell!

       [Goes to the table and takes the goblet up.] What, art thou empty?

       [Throws it to the ground.]

       O thou churlish gaoler,

       Even of poisons niggard!

      DUCHESS

      [faintly]

       Blame him not.

      GUIDO

      O God! you have not drunk it, Beatrice?

       Tell me you have not?

      DUCHESS

      Were I to deny it,

       There is a fire eating at my heart

       Which would find utterance.

      GUIDO

      O treacherous love,

       Why have you not left a drop for me?

      DUCHESS

      No, no, it held but death enough for one.

      GUIDO

      Is there no poison still upon your lips,

       That I may draw it from them?

      DUCHESS

      Why should you die?

       You have not spilt blood, and so need not die:

       I have spilt blood, and therefore I must die.

       Was it not said blood should be spilt for blood?

       Who said that? I forget.

      GUIDO

      Tarry for me,

       Our souls will go together.

      DUCHESS

      Nay, you must live.

       There are many other women in the world

       Who will love you, and not murder for your sake.

      GUIDO

      I love you only.

      DUCHESS

      You need not die for that.

      GUIDO

      Ah, if we die together, love, why then

       Can we not lie together in one grave?

      DUCHESS

      A grave is but a narrow wedding-bed.

      GUIDO

      It is enough for us

      DUCHESS

      And they will strew it

       With a stark winding-sheet, and bitter herbs:

       I think there are no roses in the grave,

       Or if there are, they all are withered now

       Since my Lord went there.

      GUIDO

      Ah! dear Beatrice,

       Your lips are roses that death cannot wither.

      DUCHESS

      Nay, if we lie together, will not my lips

       Fall into dust, and your enamoured eyes

       Shrivel to sightless sockets, and the worms,

       Which are our groomsmen, eat away your heart?

      GUIDO

      I do not care: Death has no power on love.

       And so by Love’s immortal sovereignty

       I will die with you.

      DUCHESS

      But the grave is black,

       And the pit black, so I must go before

       To light the candles for your coming hither.

       No, no, I will not die, I will not die.

       Love, you are strong, and young, and very brave;

       Stand between me and the angel of death,

       And wrestle with him for me.

       [Thrusts GUIDO in front of her with his back to the audience.]

       СКАЧАТЬ