The Complete Poetical Works of Percy Bysshe Shelley Part 53

I am as universal as the light; Free as the earth-surrounding air; as firm As the world's centre. Consequence, to me, _50 Is as the wind which strikes the solid rock, But shakes it not.

[A CRY WITHIN AND TUMULT.]

VOICES: Murder! Murder! Murder!

[ENTER BERNARDO AND SAVELLA.]

SAVELLA [TO HIS FOLLOWERS]: Go search the castle round; sound the alarm; Look to the gates, that none escape!

BEATRICE: What now?

BERNARDO: I know not what to say...my father's dead. _55

BEATRICE: How; dead! he only sleeps; you mistake, brother.

His sleep is very calm, very like death; 'Tis wonderful how well a tyrant sleeps.

He is not dead?

BERNARDO: Dead; murdered.

LUCRETIA [WITH EXTREME AGITATION]: Oh no, no!

He is not murdered though he may be dead; _60 I have alone the keys of those apartments.

SAVELLA: Ha! Is it so?

BEATRICE: My Lord, I pray excuse us; We will retire; my mother is not well: She seems quite overcome with this strange horror.

[EXEUNT LUCRETIA AND BEATRICE.]

SAVELLA: Can you suspect who may have murdered him? _65

BERNARDO: I know not what to think.

SAVELLA: Can you name any Who had an interest in his death?

BERNARDO: Alas!

I can name none who had not, and those most Who most lament that such a deed is done; My mother, and my sister, and myself. _70

SAVELLA: 'Tis strange! There were clear marks of violence.

I found the old man's body in the moonlight Hanging beneath the window of his chamber, Among the branches of a pine: he could not Have fallen there, for all his limbs lay heaped _75 And effortless; 'tis true there was no blood...

Favour me, Sir; it much imports your house That all should be made clear; to tell the ladies That I request their presence.

[EXIT BERNARDO.]

[ENTER GUARDS, BRINGING IN MARZIO.]

GUARD: We have one.

OFFICER: My Lord, we found this ruffian and another _80 Lurking among the rocks; there is no doubt But that they are the murderers of Count Cenci: Each had a bag of coin; this fellow wore A gold-inwoven robe, which, s.h.i.+ning bright Under the dark rocks to the glimmering moon _85 Betrayed them to our notice: the other fell Desperately fighting.

SAVELLA: What does he confess?

OFFICER: He keeps firm silence; but these lines found on him May speak.

SAVELLA: Their language is at least sincere.

[READS.]

'To the Lady Beatrice. _90 That the atonement of what my nature sickens to conjecture may soon arrive, I send thee, at thy brother's desire, those who will speak and do more than I dare write...

'Thy devoted servant, Orsino.'

[ENTER LUCRETIA, BEATRICE, AND BERNARDO.]

Knowest thou this writing, Lady?

BEATRICE: No.

SAVELLA: Nor thou? _95

LUCRETIA [HER CONDUCT THROUGHOUT THE SCENE IS MARKED BY EXTREME AGITATION]: Where was it found? What is it? It should be Orsino's hand! It speaks of that strange horror Which never yet found utterance, but which made Between that hapless child and her dead father A gulf of obscure hatred.

SAVELLA: Is it so? _100 Is it true, Lady, that thy father did Such outrages as to awaken in thee Unfilial hate?

BEATRICE: Not hate, 'twas more than hate: This is most true, yet wherefore question me?

SAVELLA: There is a deed demanding question done; _105 Thou hast a secret which will answer not.

BEATRICE: What sayest? My Lord, your words are bold and rash.

SAVELLA: I do arrest all present in the name Of the Pope's Holiness. You must to Rome.

LUCRETIA: O, not to Rome! Indeed we are not guilty. _110

BEATRICE: Guilty! Who dares talk of guilt? My Lord, I am more innocent of parricide Than is a child born fatherless...Dear mother, Your gentleness and patience are no s.h.i.+eld For this keen-judging world, this two-edged lie, _115 Which seems, but is not. What! will human laws, Rather will ye who are their ministers, Bar all access to retribution first, And then, when Heaven doth interpose to do What ye neglect, arming familiar things _120 To the redress of an unwonted crime, Make ye the victims who demanded it Culprits? 'Tis ye are culprits! That poor wretch Who stands so pale, and trembling, and amazed, If it be true he murdered Cenci, was _125 A sword in the right hand of justest G.o.d.

Wherefore should I have wielded it? Unless The crimes which mortal tongue dare never name G.o.d therefore scruples to avenge.

SAVELLA: You own That you desired his death?

BEATRICE: It would have been _130 A crime no less than his, if for one moment That fierce desire had faded in my heart.

'Tis true I did believe, and hope, and pray, Ay, I even knew...for G.o.d is wise and just, That some strange sudden death hung over him. _135 'Tis true that this did happen, and most true There was no other rest for me on earth, No other hope in Heaven...now what of this?

SAVELLA: Strange thoughts beget strange deeds; and here are both: I judge thee not.

BEATRICE: And yet, if you arrest me, _140 You are the judge and executioner Of that which is the life of life: the breath Of accusation kills an innocent name, And leaves for lame acquittal the poor life Which is a mask without it. 'Tis most false _145 That I am guilty of foul parricide; Although I must rejoice, for justest cause, That other hands have sent my father's soul To ask the mercy he denied to me.

Now leave us free; stain not a n.o.ble house _150 With vague surmises of rejected crime; Add to our sufferings and your own neglect No heavier sum: let them have been enough: Leave us the wreck we have.

SAVELLA: I dare not, Lady.

I pray that you prepare yourselves for Rome: _155 There the Pope's further pleasure will be known.

LUCRETIA: O, not to Rome! O, take us not to Rome!

BEATRICE: Why not to Rome, dear mother? There as here Our innocence is as an armed heel To trample accusation. G.o.d is there _160 As here, and with His shadow ever clothes The innocent, the injured and the weak; And such are we. Cheer up, dear Lady, lean On me; collect your wandering thoughts. My Lord, As soon as you have taken some refreshment, _165 And had all such examinations made Upon the spot, as may be necessary To the full understanding of this matter, We shall be ready. Mother; will you come?

LUCRETIA: Ha! they will bind us to the rack, and wrest _170 Self-accusation from our agony!