Transcribed from the 1916 Methuen and Co. edition by DavidPrice,
A PLAY
BY
OSCAR WILDE
METHUEN & CO. LTD.
36 ESSEX STREET W.C.
LONDON
Fifth Edition
Simone Gesso, Duke of Padua
Beatrice, his Wife
Andreas Pollajuolo, Cardinal of Padua
Maffio Petrucci, Jeppo Vitellozzo, Taddeo Bardi } Gentlemen ofthe Duke’s Household
Guido Ferranti, a Young Man
Ascanio Cristofano, his Friend
Count Moranzone, an Old Man
Bernardo Cavalcanti, Lord Justice of Padua
Hugo, the Headsman
Lucy, a Tire woman
Servants, Citizens, Soldiers, Monks, Falconers with theirhawks and dogs, etc.
Place: Padua
Time: The latter half of theSixteenth Century
Act I. | The Market Place of Padua (25 minutes). |
Act II. | Room in the Duke’s Palace (36minutes). |
Act III. | Corridor in the Duke’s Palace (29minutes). |
Act IV. | The Hall of Justice (31 minutes). |
Act V. | The Dungeon (25 minutes). |
Style of Architecture:Italian, Gothic and Romanesque.
SCENE
The Market Place of Padua at noon; in the backgroundis the great Cathedral of Padua; the architecture isRomanesque, and wrought in black and white marbles;a flight of marble steps leads up to the Cathedral door;at the foot of the steps are two large stone lions; thehouses on each aide of the stage have coloured awnings from theirwindows, and are flanked by stone arcades; on theright of the stage is the public fountain, with a tritonin green bronze blowing from a conch; around the fountainis a stone seat; the bell of the Cathedral is ringing,and the citizens, men, women and children,are passing into the Cathedral.
[Enter Guido Ferrantiand Ascanio Cristofano.]
Now by my life, Guido, I will go no farther;for if I walk another step I will have no life left to swear by;this wild-goose errand of yours!
[Sits down on the step of thefountain.]
Guido
I think it must be here. [Goes up topasser-by and doffs his cap.] Pray, sir, is this themarket place, and that the church of Santa Croce? [Citizen bows.] I thank you, sir.
Ascanio
Well?
Guido
Ay! it is here.
Ascanio
I would it were somewhere else, for I see nowine-shop.
Guido
[Taking a letter from his pocket and readingit.] ‘The hour noon; the city, Padua; the place,the market; and the day, Saint Philip’s Day.’
Ascanio
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