craven has thy guilt
Transformed thee to! Why, I have seen the time
When thou'dst have struck at heaven for such a thing!
Art thou afraid?

PAOLO. I am.

LANCIOTTO. O! infamy!
Can man sink lower? I will wake thee, though:--
Thou shalt not die a coward. See! look here!
[_Stabs_ FRANCESCA.

FRANCESCA. O!--O!-- [_Falls._

PAOLO. Remorseless man, dare you do this,
And hope to live? Die, murderer!
[_Draws, rushes at him, but pauses._

LANCIOTTO. Strike, strike!
Ere thy heart fail.

PAOLO. I cannot. [_Throws away his sword._

LANCIOTTO. Dost thou see
Yon bloated spider--hideous as myself--
Climbing aloft, to reach that wavering twig?
When he has touched it, one of us must die.
Here is the dagger.--Look at me, I say!
Keep your eyes from that woman! Look, think, choose!--
Turn here to me: thou shalt not look at her!

PAOLO. O, heaven!

LANCIOTTO. 'Tis done!

PAOLO. [_Struggling with him._] O! Lanciotto, hold!
Hold, for thy sake! Thou wilt repent this deed.

LANCIOTTO. I know it.

FRANCESCA. [_Rising._] Help!--O! murder!--help, help, help!
[_She totters towards them, and falls._

LANCIOTTO. Our honour, boy. [_Stabs_ PAOLO; _he falls._

FRANCESCA. Paolo!

PAOLO. Hark! she calls.
I pray thee, brother, help me to her side.

[LANCIOTTO _helps him to_ FRANCESCA.

LANCIOTTO. Why, there!

PAOLO. God bless thee!

LANCIOTTO. Have I not done well?
What were the honour of the Malatesti,
With such a living slander fixed to it?
Cripple! that's something--cuckold! that is damned!
You blame me?

PAOLO. No.

LANCIOTTO. You, lady?

FRANCESCA. No, my lord.

LANCIOTTO. May God forgive you! We are even now:
Your blood has cleared my honour, and our name
Shines to the world as ever.

PAOLO. O!--O!--

FRANCESCA. Love,
Art suffering?

PAOLO. But for thee.

FRANCESCA. Here, rest thy head
Upon my bosom. Fie upon my blood!
It stains thy ringl