The Duchess of Padua

Guido [stretching out his hands]

Guido

Oh, do not cease at all; I thought the nightingale sang but at night; Or if thou needst must cease, then let my lips Touch the sweet lips that can such music make.

Duchess

Duchess

To touch my lips is not to touch my heart.

Guido

Guido

Do you close that against me?

Duchess

Duchess

Alas! my lord, I have it not: the first day that I saw you I let you take my heart away from me; Unwilling thief, that without meaning it Did break into my fenced treasury And filch my jewel from it! O strange theft, Which made you richer though you knew it not, And left me poorer, and yet glad of it!

Guido [clasping her in his arms]

Guido

O love, love, love! Nay, sweet, lift up your head, Let me unlock those little scarlet doors That shut in music, let me dive for coral In your red lips, and I’ll bear back a prize Richer than all the gold the Gryphon guards In rude Armenia.

Duchess

Duchess

You are my lord, And what I have is yours, and what I have not Your fancy lends me, like a prodigal Spending its wealth on what is nothing worth.

[Kisses him.]


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