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