A Double-Edged Sword. Brenda E. Novack

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СКАЧАТЬ and many a friendly house in Florence looks with favouring eyes on these matters.

      1st citizen: ‘Tis hard indeed for my credulence to grant this strange news; my fancy revolts to figure these peaceful streets made a bloody battlefield.

      2nd citizen: Amen! [to 3rd citizen] And in what manner has the Duke welcomed the news?

      3rd citizen: ‘Tis not yet known. But he’s our only hope. Let’s pray that he will prevent this coming woe, that these foul rumours may seem the idle inventions of overwrought brains, with no more substance of truth than a dream. Exeunt

      [Enter Oddo, Lambertuccio, and Rinieri]

      Lamb. [to Oddo]:

      Of thy new broil, which adds one more to the

      Quick-swelling number of thy foolish deed

      I’m well informed, and Florence echoes it;

      What’s graver yet, that thou art minded

      Of bitter strife and bloody commerce,

      And wouldst not espouse fair Peace.

      Oddo:

      Fair Peace!

      ‘Twere fair indeed wedded to downcast-eyed

      Disgrace! Thy words fall on my startled ear

      Like sounds from some strange land; that, thou should’st know

      Being of D’Ameidei’s blood, as I; but ‘tis not strange

      To thee since they’re thy lips that are guilty.

      Peace, how dearly bought, when purchased with

      The coins of shame!

      Rinieri:

      Disgrace there’s naught; for it

      Dwells not with valour, whose right arm thou art;

      Rather ‘twill be made known that ‘tis but through

      Disdain to strike and not through fear that thou

      Returnest not Valentio’s blows with like [after a pause]

      Though even if thou didst truly fear to rouse

      His kin, whose name makes half of Florence

      Tremble, thy valour’s sheen would not be dulled.

      Lamb.:

      Most wisely said; and yet, thou wrongest us

      By doubt; were our cause just, naught could make us

      Decline the field though all the powers of Hell

      Were to oppose us. But with Valentio

      Doth justice abide, and to him Justice

      Shall be administered. Then is not Peace

      The least we can offer?

      Oddo:

      Name not again

      That hateful word which falls like to the screech

      Of night’s foul bird on my enraged ear,

      And makes my blood seethe in my throbbing veins.

      Lamb.:

      Thou speakest not words by sober reason tamed;

      O wilt then have Florence aflame with war?

      (Thou canst not be ignorant how it unloosens

      The chained might of Evil, marring

      The beauty of the world with blood and fire,

      Making of it a Hell, where it should be

      A human Paradise) and shall we fight

      Betwixt ourselves and let the envious foes

      Of happy Florence be merry at her woe?

      This incident is of light consequence:

      Leave it to time, ‘twill heal both wounds alike.

      Oddo:

      Bid me forget all things dear to my heart,

      And all the joys of life, yea life itself,

      And lie in a cold tomb and rot; but not

      That bold outrage that left the eloquent mark

      Of its mockery on my revolting frame

      An everlasting stain, exposed to scorn,

      Traced by pointing fingers, which when point not

      Eyes cry: “Behold the white-cheeked coward”!

      Rinieri [aside, reflecting on Oddo’s last words]

      Poor Honour, how I pity thee, since thou

      Hast naught save wavering opinion

      To nourish thee, and thou art swayed by the

      Caprice of mere men, and by every blast

      Of various thought; aye, thou art miserable!

      I would not have thee in my company. [to Lamb. and Oddo]

      Let’s to the Duke, since you’re at variance;

      Whose sound and noble mind hath earned him fame

      Like Israel’s old sceptered sage; for their Justice

      His mild domain unfurls.

      Oddo [aside]:

      To that old fool! [in a loud voice]

      Aye, to demand justice, denied me here,

      But if I find it not, I’ll seek it elsewhere. Exeunt. [Oddo stays behind, muttering between his teeth]:

      Thou shalt escape me not, for all their words. [Exit Oddo]

      [Enter Duke of Florence, attended by his retinue, Flourish.]

      Duke [aside]:

      O most unhappy Florence; how soon the somber

      Shadows of dire destruction threaten

      To fall again on thy life’s sunny way

      And bleach the rosy cheeks with pallid fear,

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