FRANCESCA. O!—O!— [Falls.
PAOLO. Remorseless man, dare you do this,
And hope to live? Die, murderer!
[Draws, rushes at him, but pauses.
LANCIOTTO. Strike, strike!
Ere thy heart fail.
PAOLO. I cannot. [Throws away his sword.
LANCIOTTO. Dost thou see
Yon bloated spider—hideous as myself—
Climbing aloft, to reach that wavering twig?
When he has touched it, one of us must die.
Here is the dagger.—Look at me, I say!
Keep your eyes from that woman! Look, think, choose!—
Turn here to me: thou shalt not look at her!
PAOLO. O, heaven!
LANCIOTTO. 'Tis done!
PAOLO. [Struggling with him.] O! Lanciotto, hold!
Hold, for thy sake! Thou wilt repent this deed.
LANCIOTTO. I know it.
FRANCESCA. [Rising.] Help!—O! murder!—help, help, help! [She totters towards them, and falls.