MARZIO:
I strangled him in his sleep.
FIRST JUDGE:
Who urged you to it?
MARZIO:
His own son Giacomo, and the young prelate
Orsino sent me to Petrella; there _15
The ladies Beatrice and Lucretia
Tempted me with a thousand crowns, and I
And my companion forthwith murdered him.
Now let me die.
FIRST JUDGE:
This sounds as bad as truth. Guards, there,
Lead forth the prisoner!
[ENTER LUCRETIA, BEATRICE AND GIACOMO, GUARDED.]
Look upon this man; _20
When did you see him last?
BEATRICE:
We never saw him.
MARZIO:
You know me too well, Lady Beatrice.
BEATRICE:
I know thee! How? where? when?
MARZIO:
You know ’twas I
Whom you did urge with menaces and bribes
To kill your father. When the thing was done _25
You clothed me in a robe of woven gold
And bade me thrive: how I have thriven, you see.
You, my Lord Giacomo, Lady Lucretia,
You know that what I speak is true.
[BEATRICE ADVANCES TOWARDS HIM;
HE COVERS HIS FACE, AND SHRINKS BACK.]
Oh, dart
The terrible resentment of those eyes _30
On the dead earth! Turn them away from me!
They wound: ’twas torture forced the truth. My Lords,
Having said this let me be led to death.
BEATRICE:
Poor wretch, I pity thee: yet stay awhile.
CAMILLO:
Guards, lead him not away.