NOTE: 
164 pang edition 1821; pain editions 1819, 1839.

[EXIT MARZIO, GUARDED.]

CAMILLO: 
What say ye now, my Lords?

JUDGE: 
Let tortures strain the truth till it be white
As snow thrice sifted by the frozen wind. 170

CAMILLO: 
Yet stained with blood.

JUDGE [TO BEATRICE]: 
Know you this paper, Lady?

BEATRICE: 
Entrap me not with questions.  Who stands here
As my accuser?  Ha! wilt thou be he,
Who art my judge?  Accuser, witness, judge,
What, all in one?  Here is Orsino’s name; 175
Where is Orsino?  Let his eye meet mine. 
What means this scrawl?  Alas! ye know not what,
And therefore on the chance that it may be
Some evil, will ye kill us?

[ENTER AN OFFICER.]

OFFICER: 
Marzio’s dead.

JUDGE: 
What did he say?

OFFICER: 
Nothing.  As soon as we 180
Had bound him on the wheel, he smiled on us,
As one who baffles a deep adversary;
And holding his breath, died.

JUDGE: 
There remains nothing
But to apply the question to those prisoners,
Who yet remain stubborn.

CAMILLO: 
I overrule 185
Further proceedings, and in the behalf
Of these most innocent and noble persons
Will use my interest with the Holy Father.

JUDGE: 
Let the Pope’s pleasure then be done.  Meanwhile
Conduct these culprits each to separate cells; 190
And be the engines ready; for this night
If the Pope’s resolution be as grave,
Pious, and just as once, I’ll wring the truth
Out of those nerves and sinews, groan by groan.

[EXEUNT.]

SCENE 5.3: 
THE CELL OF A PRISON. 
BEATRICE IS DISCOVERED ASLEEP ON A COUCH. 
ENTER BERNARDO.

BERNARDO: 
How gently slumber rests upon her face,
Like the last thoughts of some day sweetly spent
Closing in night and dreams, and so prolonged. 
After such torments as she bore last night,
How light and soft her breathing comes.  Ay me! 5
Methinks that I shall never sleep again. 
But I must shake the heavenly dew of rest
From this sweet folded flower, thus...wake, awake! 
What, sister, canst thou sleep?

BEATRICE [AWAKING]: 
I was just dreaming
That we were all in Paradise.  Thou knowest 10
This cell seems like a kind of Paradise
After our father’s presence.

BERNARDO: 
Dear, dear sister,
Would that thy dream were not a dream!  O God! 
How shall I tell?

BEATRICE: 
What wouldst thou tell, sweet brother?

BERNARDO: 
Look not so calm and happy, or even whilst 15
I stand considering what I have to say
My heart will break.