Who with mean scruples weigh the gold of life,
And faltering, paltering, end by failure; failure,
The only crime which I have not committed:
I would have men about me. As for conscience,
Conscience is but the name which cowardice
Fleeing from battle scrawls upon its shield.
You understand me, boy?
GUIDO
I do, your Grace,
And will in all things carry out the creed
Which you have taught me.
MAFFIO
I never heard your Grace
So much in the vein for preaching; let the Cardinal
Look to his laurels, sir.
DUKE
The Cardinal!
Men follow my creed, and they gabble his.
I do not think much of the Cardinal;
Although he is a holy churchman, and
I quite admit his dulness. Well, sir, from now
We count you of our household
[He holds out his hand for GUIDO to kiss. GUIDO starts back in horror, but at a gesture from COUNT MORANZONE, kneels and kisses it.]
We will see
That you are furnished with such equipage
As doth befit your honour and our state.
GUIDO
I thank your Grace most heartily.
DUKE
Tell me again
What is your name?
GUIDO
Guido Ferranti, sir.
DUKE
And you are Mantuan? Look to your wives, my lords,
When such a gallant comes to Padua.
Thou dost well to laugh, Count Bardi; I have noted
How merry is that husband by whose hearth
Sits an uncomely wife.
MAFFIO
May it please your Grace,
The wives of Padua are above suspicion.
DUKE
What, are they so ill-favoured! Let us go,
This Cardinal detains our pious Duchess;
His sermon and his beard want cutting both:
Will you come with us, sir, and hear a text
From holy Jerome?
MORANZONE
[bowing]
My liege, there are some matters -
DUKE
[interrupting]
Thou need’st make no excuse for missing mass.
Come, gentlemen.
[Exit with his suite into Cathedral.]
GUIDO
[after a pause]
So the Duke sold my father;
I kissed his hand.
MORANZONE
Thou shalt do that many times.
GUIDO
Must it be so?
MORANZONE
Ay! thou hast sworn an oath.
GUIDO
That oath shall make me marble.
MORANZONE
Farewell, boy,
Thou wilt not see me till the time is ripe.
GUIDO
I pray thou comest quickly.
MORANZONE
I will come
When it is time; be ready.
GUIDO
Fear me not.
MORANZONE
Here is your friend; see that you banish him
Both from your heart and Padua.
GUIDO
From Padua,
Not from my heart.
MORANZONE
Nay, from thy heart as well,
I will not leave thee till I see thee do it.
GUIDO
Can I have no friend?
MORANZONE
Revenge shall be thy friend;
Thou need’st no other.
GUIDO
Well, then be it so.
[Enter ASCANIO CRISTOFANO.]
ASCANIO
Come, Guido, I have been beforehand with you in everything, for I have drunk a flagon of wine, eaten a pasty, and kissed the maid who served it. Why, you look as melancholy as a schoolboy who cannot buy apples, or a politician who cannot sell his vote. What news, Guido, what news?
GUIDO
Why, that we two must part, Ascanio.
ASCANIO
That would be news indeed, but it is not true.
GUIDO
Too true it is, you must get hence, Ascanio,
And never look upon my face again.
ASCANIO
No, no; indeed you do not know me, Guido;
‘Tis true I am a common yeoman’s son,
Nor versed in fashions of much courtesy;
But, if you are nobly born, cannot I be
Your serving man? I will tend you with more love
Than any hired servant.
GUIDO
[clasping his hand]
Ascanio!
[Sees MORANZONE looking at him and drops ASCANIO’S hand.]
It cannot be.
ASCANIO
What, is it so with you?
I thought the friendship of the antique world
Was not yet dead, but that the Roman type
Might even in this poor and common age
Find counterparts of love; then by this love
Which beats between us like a summer sea,
Whatever lot has fallen to your hand
May I not share it?
GUIDO
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