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4TH CITIZEN。 See that stir… Are not they come？
3D CITIZEN。 There wants an hour of them。 Draw near and let us
hearken； he will speak Surely some word of this。
2D CITIZEN。 What saith he now？
THE PREACHER。 The mercy of a harlot is a sword； And her mouth
sharper than a flame of fire。
SCENE II。…In Prison。
CHASTELARD。 So here my time shuts up； and the last light Has
made the last shade in the world for me。 The sunbeam that was narrow
like a leaf Has turned a hand； and the hand stretched to an arm； And the
arm has reached the dust on the floor； and made A maze of motes with
paddling fingers。 Well； I knew now that a man so sure to die Could care so
little； a bride…night's lustiness Leaps in my veins as light fire under a wind：
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Algernon Charles Swinburne； _Chastelard； a tragedy_ 。 Boston： E。P。 Dutton； 1866。
As if I felt a kindling beyond death Of some new joys far outside of me
yet； Sweet sound； sweet smell and touch of things far out Sure to come
soon。 I wonder will death be Even all it seems now？ or the talk of hell And
wretched changes of the worn…out soul Nailed to decaying flesh； shall that
be true？ Or is this like the forethought of deep sleep Felt by a tired man？
Sleep were good enough… Shall sleep be all？ But I shall not forget For any
sleep this love bound upon me… For any sleep or quiet ways of death。 Ah；
in my weary dusty space of sight Her face will float with heavy scents of
hair And fire of subtle amorous eyes； and lips More hot than wine； full of
sweet wicked words Babbled against mine own lips； and long hands
Spread out； and pale bright throat and pale bright breasts； Fit to make all
men mad。 I do believe This fire shall never quite burn out to the ash And
leave no heat and flame upon my dust For witness where a man's heart
was burnt up。 For all Christ's work this Venus is not quelled； But reddens
at the mouth with blood of men； Sucking between small teeth the sap o'
the veins； Dabbling with death her little tender lips… A bitter beauty；
poisonous…pearled mouth。 I am not fit to live but for love's sake； So I were
best die shortly。 Ah； fair love； Fair fearful Venus made of deadly foam； I
shall escape you somehow with my death… Your splendid supple body and
mouth on fire And Paphian breath that bites the lips with heat。 I had best
die。
＇Enter MARY BEATON。＇
What； is my death's time come； And you the friend to make death kind
to me？ 'T is sweetly done； for I was sick for this。
MARY BEATON。 Nay； but see here； nay； for you shall not die： She
has reprieved you； look； her name to that； A present respite； I was sure of
her： You are quite safe： here； take it in your hands： I am faint with the end
of pain。 Read there。
CHASTELARD。 Reprieve？ Wherefore reprieve？ Who has done this to
me？
MARY BEATON。 I never feared but God would have you live； Or I
knew well God must have punished me； But I feared nothing； had no sort
of fear。 What makes you stare upon the seal so hard？ Will you not read
now？
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Algernon Charles Swinburne； _Chastelard； a tragedy_ 。 Boston： E。P。 Dutton； 1866。
CHASTELARD。 A reprieve of life… Reprieving me from living。 Nay；
by God； I count one death a bitter thing enough。
MARY BEATON。 See what she writes； you love； for love of you； Out
of her love； a word to save your life： But I knew this too though you love
me not： She is your love； I knew that： yea； by heaven。
CHASTELARD。 You knew I had to live and be reprieved： Say I were
bent to die now？
MARY BEATON。 Do not die； For her sweet love's sake； not for pity of
me； You would not bear with life for me one hour； But for hers only。
CHASTELARD。 Nay； I love you well； I would not hurt you for more
lives than one。 But for this fair…faced paper of reprieve； We'll have no
riddling to make death shift sides： Look； here ends one of us。
＇Tearing it。＇
For her I love； She will not anger heaven with slaying me； For me； I
am well quit of loving her； For you； I pray you be well comforted； Seeing
in my life no man gat good by me And by my death no hurt is any man's。
MARY BEATON。 And I that loved you？ nay； I loved you； nay； Why
should your like be pitied when they love？ Her hard heart is not yet so
hard as yours； Nor God's hard heart。 I care not if you die。 These bitter
madmen are not fit to live。 I will not have you touch me； speak to me； Nor
take farewell of you。 See you die well； Or death will play with shame for
you； and win； And laugh you out of life。 I am right glad I never am to see
you any more； For I should come to hate you easily； I would not have you
live。
＇Exit。＇
CHASTELARD。 She has cause enow。 I would this wretched waiting
had an end； For I wax feebler than I was： God knows I had a mind once to
have saved this flesh And made life one with shame。 It marvels me This
girl that loves me should desire so much To have me sleep with shame for
bedfellow A whole life's space； she would be glad to die To escape such
life。 It may be too her love Is but an amorous quarrel with herself； Not
love of me but her own wilful soul； Then she will live and be more glad of
this Than girls of their own will and their heart's love Before love mars
them： so God go with her！ For mine own love…I wonder will she come Sad
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Algernon Charles Swinburne； _Chastelard； a tragedy_ 。 Boston： E。P。 Dutton； 1866。
at her mouth a little； with drawn cheeks And eyelids wrinkled up？ or hot
and quick To lean her head on mine and leave her lips Deep in my neck？
For surely she must come； And I should fare the better to be sure What she
will do。 But as it please my sweet； For some sweet thing she must do if
she come； Seeing how I have to die。 Now three years since This had not
seemed so good an end for me； But in some wise all things wear round
betimes And wind up well。 Yet doubtless she might take A will to come
my way and hold my hands And kiss me some three kisses； throat； mouth；
eyes； And say some soft three words to soften death： I do not see how this
should break her ease。 Nay； she will come to get her warrant back： By this
no doubt she is sorely penitent； Her fit of angry mercy well blown out And
her wits cool again。 She must have chafed A great while through for anger
to become So like pure pity； they must have fretted her Night mad for
anger