SCENE IV

_A corner of the chapel in the feudal castle._

_The walls are draped in black in sign of mourning. The tall, dust-laden windows of coloured glass admit a feeble, softly tinted light. On a black dais, in a massive black coffin, lies the body of LORENZO, Duke of Spadaro. At each corner of the coffin is a huge wax candle. On the dais at the head of the coffin, in the soft glow of the candles, stands DUKE LORENZO, dressed entirely in black, his hand resting on the bier._

_From the courtyard of the castle comes at intervals the whining and barking of hunting-dogs. Now and then a prolonged and mournful blare of trumpets carries abroad the sad news of the death of the Duke of Spadaro. In the intervals of silence the solemn notes of an organ and the voice of a priest can be heard at one side beyond the glass doors leading to the other half of the chapel. Mass is being conducted there uninterruptedly._

LORENZO. [_To the one lying in the coffin_] The whole neighbourhood has by now been informed of your death, Duke Lorenzo, and in tears is calling for vengeance on your murderer. Lie still, Signor. Those who loved you are now coming to pay their respects to your dust. The peasants will come, and your servants, and your inconsolable widow, Donna Francesca. But I beseech you, Lorenzo, lie quiet. I have already had the honour of running my sword through your unworthy heart, but if you stir, if you dare to speak or cry out, I will tear your heart clean from your breast and throw it to your hunting-dogs. In the name of our former friendship, I beseech you, Lorenzo, lie quiet. [_He arranges the shroud with tender solicitude and kisses the corpse on the forehead. At this moment in the corner of the chapel, in the folds of the black drapery, is heard a deep sigh and the plaintive tinkling of bells_] Who’s there? Oh, is that you, my little Ecco, hidden in the corner and softly tinkling your little bells? Who let you in?

ECCO. Why did you die, Lorenzo? Foolish Lorenzo! Why did you die?

LORENZO. I had to die, Ecco.

ECCO. Then I shall die with you, Lorenzo. Your servants use me ill. Your dogs’ teeth are sharp. All day I lay hid in the tower, waiting for the door of the chapel to open. Do not drive me away, Lorenzo.

LORENZO. You shall stay here, jester.

ECCO. What a long, white nose you have, Lorenzo. It must be embarrassing to have such a nose and to be compelled to hold it up like that. I would laugh if it were not so frightful.

LORENZO. That is death, Ecco. But hide yourself, some one is coming.

_ECCO conceals himself. Several PEASANTS enter and bow low at a little distance from the coffin, not venturing to come nearer._

LORENZO. [_Impressively_] Duke Lorenzo, open your heart and return to life for a moment. Your good peasants have come to bid you farewell. Come nearer, my friends. Duke Lorenzo in his lifetime was a kind master, and now that he is dead he will not harm you. Draw nearer.

_The PEASANTS approach, though it is apparent that they are still afraid._

FIRST PEASANT. God forgive you, Duke Lorenzo, as I forgive you. Many a time you and your hunters have trampled down my fields of grain, and what the hoofs of your horses left untouched your kind overseer took for himself, depriving me and my family of bread. Yet you were a good master, and I pray God to forgive you your sins.

LORENZO. [_To the one lying in the coffin_] Quiet, sir, quiet. I understand how it is with you: you cannot hear unmoved this bitter truth about your evil deeds. But do not forget that you are dead. Lie quiet, sir, lie quiet.

A PEASANT WOMAN. May God forgive you, Duke Lorenzo, as I forgive you. You took my little daughter from me for your ducal pleasure, and she was ruined. But you were young and handsome, and you were a good master to us. I pray God to forgive you your sins. [_She weeps._

LORENZO. [_To the one lying in the coffin_] Quiet, sir, quiet. I remember how you loved the blue corn-flowers amid the ripened grain. Does not this remind you of some one’s blue eyes, of some one’s golden hair?

SECOND PEASANT. On the very eve of your departure for Palestine, Duke Lorenzo, to deliver the Holy Sepulchre, my son was killed in your service. A poor service you rendered to the Lord, Duke Lorenzo, and you shall have no forgiveness either on earth or in heaven.

LORENZO. [_Setting his teeth_] Did you hear, sir? [_To the PEASANTS_] Return in peace to your homes, my friends. Duke Lorenzo has heard you, and he will humbly bear your every word to the throne of the Almighty.

_The PEASANTS withdraw._

LORENZO. [_To the one lying in the coffin_] Lorenzo, insane Lorenzo, what have you done to me?

_Enter SIGNOR CRISTOFORO, slightly tipsy. He kneels unsteadily and for some time is silent. ECCO peeps from his hiding-place, then conceals himself again._

LORENZO. He is listening, Signor Cristoforo.

CRISTOFORO. [_Swaying to and fro_] Duke di Spadaro! Lorenzo! Boy! How lonely I am without you. Forgive me, my poor boy. When your noble father and I returned from Palestine and you were born—and a little, red chap you were—I swore to your father that I would always protect you. And I have protected your wines. Pardon me, Lorenzo, but they drink like camels. To-day, however, having opened all the cellars, I knocked out the heads of the casks and slit all the skins and said: “Drink, you camels, you asses, you accursed sponges. I shall gird on my sword and go seek the murderer of my boy, of my dear Lorenzo.”

[_He wipes his eyes with his fist and staggers to his feet._

LORENZO. [_With dignity_] The Duke thanks you, Cristoforo. You are drunk, my old friend, but at your words the lips of his wound have opened and two crimson drops have welled up from the depths of his heart. They are yours, Cristoforo. Go.

_CRISTOFORO withdraws. ECCO creeps out, tinkling his bells._

ECCO. Have you nothing for me, Lorenzo? Give me at least one little drop of blood from your heart. I am tired of being ill-tempered and deformed.

LORENZO. I will give you more than that, Ecco. Come and kiss me.

ECCO. I am afraid.

LORENZO. He loved you, little coward.

ECCO. If you were alive, Lorenzo, I should be glad to kiss you, but I am afraid of corpses. Why did you die, Lorenzo? It was unkind of you. [_He seats himself on the floor, curling his legs under him as if getting ready for a long and interesting conversation_] You see, Lorenzo, we must go away. You look upon me as a jester and do not take me seriously, but once when you were playing with me you touched me with your sword, and now I am just as much a knight as you are, Lorenzo. So listen to me. Cease being dead, take your sword, and we will go away together like two knights.

LORENZO. [_Smiling_] Whither, my doughty knight?

ECCO. To the Lord God! [_With growing animation_] He knows you, Lorenzo, and, as for me, you will tell him that I am your brother, a little hunchback. And when he has sanctified our swords— Oh, oh, Lorenzo, there come your ruffians! I am afraid; I will hide myself.

_He conceals himself. A band of drunken, boisterous SERVANTS come in, reeling and jostling one another. Several keep their hats on._

LORENZO. [_Angrily_] Off with your hats, you villains! Lie quiet, sir, lie quiet.

PIETRO. Bah! He’s already beginning to stink. Whoever wishes can go and kiss his hand. I won’t.

MARIO. I’d rather kiss Donna Francesca. Of all the ladies I have seen, she pleases me best. You see, gentlemen, the inclination is inherited; my uncle kissed Duke Lorenzo’s mother, so I want to kiss his wife.

_Laughter._

LORENZO. I implore you, sir, be quiet. I see how the black blood surges in your wound, but it is another’s blood, Lorenzo.

MANUCCI. Pietro, you have stolen one of my golden spurs. To-morrow I shall flay you for it.

PIETRO. And I’ll lop off your nose.

LORENZO. Away with you, you villains; be off!

_He half draws his sword. The SERVANTS look about in fright._

PIETRO. Did you say that, Mario?

MARIO. Sh! I heard the voice of the dead Duke, old Henry. Let’s be off.

MANUCCI. I’ll have the hide of you yet.

MARIO. Come, let’s be off.

_They go out._

LORENZO. [_To the one lying in the coffin, contemptuously_] And these, sir, are your servants, to whom you intrusted your castle, your treasures, and your wife, the beautiful Donna Francesca. Let us have no charges of disloyalty or treason, unhappy Duke. Do not insult me with lying evasions nor stain your honourable grave with sin. [_Greatly agitated_] Be calm, sir, be calm. I hear Donna Francesca coming. I recognise her step, and I implore you, sir, in the name of God, lie quiet. Summon your strength, sir.

_Silence. The mournful notes of the requiem from behind the wall grow louder. LORENZO, bending forward and laying his hand upon his heart, awaits the appearance of DONNA FRANCESCA. She enters alone, clad in deep mourning. She kneels. Silence. During the following scene ECCO comes partly out from the black drapery and weeps bitterly, softly tinkling his bells._

LORENZO. [_Unable to control himself_] I love you, Francesca.

FRANCESCA. [_In a low voice_] I love you, Lorenzo.

LORENZO. [_Sadly_] But you see that I am dead, Francesca.

FRANCESCA. To me, Lorenzo, you will always be alive.

LORENZO. [_Sadly_] You will forget me, Donna Francesca.

FRANCESCA. I shall never forget you, Lorenzo.

LORENZO. [_Sadly_] You are young, Donna Francesca.

FRANCESCA. In a single night my heart has grown old, Lorenzo.

LORENZO. [_Sadly_] Your face is beautiful, Donna Francesca. [_Gently reproachful_] Bitter tears have not dulled the bright gleam of your eyes, O Donna Francesca! Bitter tears have not washed the delicate roses from your cheeks, O Donna Francesca! Your black mourning does not conceal the grace and beauty of your form, O Donna Francesca, O Donna Francesca!

FRANCESCA. The light has gone out of my eyes, Lorenzo. My face has withered as a leaf withers at the cruel touch of the sirocco, and my form is bowed to the earth in bitter and overwhelming grief.

LORENZO. That is not true, Francesca.

FRANCESCA. I swear it, Lorenzo.

LORENZO. [_His voice trembling_] Lie still, sir, lie still. I see how your heart heaves, Lorenzo. I see how your tortured heart quivers at the pitiless words of love, and I pity you, Lorenzo. Go, Donna Francesca. Leave me with my dead friend. Your beautiful grief tears at our hearts, and I implore you in the name of God to leave us.

_DONNA FRANCESCA weeps._

LORENZO. [_In an agony of grief_] O Donna Francesca! O my love! O light of my youth! [_Covering his face with his hands, he weeps silently_] Draw nearer, Francesca. Kiss him. I will not look.

_FRANCESCA, sobbing convulsively, kisses the dead LORENZO._

LORENZO. [_Covering his face with his hands_] Kiss him more ardently, Donna Francesca, for you will never see him again. Kiss him more ardently. God placed a sword in my hand, and with it I punished the insane Lorenzo. But still he was a knight. He was a Knight of the Holy Ghost, Francesca. And now leave us.

_ECCO, frightened, conceals himself. DONNA FRANCESCA, in tears, descends from dais, kneels again, and withdraws. Silence. The last mournful strains of the funeral dirge are heard._

LORENZO. [_To the one lying in the coffin_] I thank you for obeying my behest and lying quiet. I saw how hard it was for you, and again I thank you, Lorenzo. Now we are alone—now and for ever. Let us go, Lorenzo; let us go into the unknown future.

_The stage is suddenly dark._

_Curtain._