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of ours

       Men have died looking for such moments as this

       And have not found them.

      DUCHESS

       Then you are not sorry?

       How strange that seems.

      GUIDO

       What, Beatrice, have I not

       Stood face to face with beauty? That is enough

       For one man’s life. Why, love, I could be merry;

       I have been often sadder at a feast,

       But who were sad at such a feast as this

       When Love and Death are both our cup-bearers?

       We love and die together.

      DUCHESS

       Oh, I have been

       Guilty beyond all women, and indeed

       Beyond all women punished. Do you think -

       No, that could not be - Oh, do you think that love

       Can wipe the bloody stain from off my hands,

       Pour balm into my wounds, heal up my hurts,

       And wash my scarlet sins as white as snow? -

       For I have sinned.

      GUIDO

       They do not sin at all

       Who sin for love.

      DUCHESS

       No, I have sinned, and yet

       Perchance my sin will be forgiven me.

       I have loved much

      [They kiss each other now for the first time in this Act, when suddenly the DUCHESS leaps up in the dreadful spasm of death, tears in agony at her dress, and finally, with face twisted and distorted with pain, falls back dead in a chair. GUIDO seizing her dagger from her belt, kills himself; and, as he falls across her knees, clutches at the cloak which is on the back of the chair, and throws it entirely over her. There is a little pause. Then down the passage comes the tramp of Soldiers; the door is opened, and the LORD JUSTICE, the Headsman, and the Guard enter and see this figure shrouded in black, and GUIDO lying dead across her. The LORD JUSTICE rushes forward and drags the cloak off the DUCHESS, whose face is now the marble image of peace, the sign of God’s forgiveness.]

      Tableau

      CURTAIN

      Lady Windermere’s Fan

       Table of Contents

       THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

       ACT ONE

       ACT TWO

       ACT THREE

       ACT FOUR

THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

       Table of Contents

      Lord Windermere

       Lord Darlington

       Lord Augustus Lorton

       Mr. Dumby

       Mr. Cecil Graham

       Mr. Hopper

       Parker, Butler

      Lady Windermere

       The Duchess of Berwick

       Lady Agatha Carlisle

       Lady Plymdale

       Lady Stutfield

       Lady Jedburgh

       Mrs. Cowper-Cowper

       Mrs. Erlynne

       Rosalie, Maid

      TIME: The Present

       PLACE: London

      .

      The action of the play takes place within twenty-four hours, beginning on a Tuesday afternoon at five o’clock, and ending the next day at 1.30 p.m.

      ACT ONE

       Table of Contents

      SCENCE

      Morning-room of Lord Windermere’s house in Carlton House Terrace. Doors C. and R. Bureau with books and papers R. Sofa with small tea-table L. Window opening on to terrace L. Table R.

      LADY WINDERMERE is at table R., arranging roses in a blue bowl.

      [Enter PARKER.]

      PARKER. Is your ladyship at home this afternoon?

      LADY WINDERMERE. Yes - who has called?

      PARKER. Lord Darlington, my lady.

      LADY WINDERMERE. [Hesitates for a moment.] Show him up - and I’m at home to any one who calls.

      PARKER. Yes, my lady.

      [Exit C.]

      LADY WINDERMERE. It’s best for me to see him before tonight. I’m glad he’s come.

      [Enter PARKER C.]

      PARKER. Lord Darlington,

      [Enter LORD DARLINGTON C.]

      [Exit PARKER.]

      LORD DARLINGTON. How do you do, Lady Windermere?

      LADY WINDERMERE. How do you do, Lord Darlington? No, I can’t shake hands with you. My hands are all wet with these roses. Aren’t they lovely? They came up from Selby this morning.

      LORD DARLINGTON. They are quite perfect. [Sees a fan lying on the table.] And what a wonderful fan! May I look at it?

      LADY WINDERMERE. Do. Pretty, isn’t it! It’s got my name on it, and everything. I have only just seen it myself. It’s my husband’s birthday present to me. You know to-day is my birthday?

      LORD DARLINGTON. No? Is it really?

      LADY WINDERMERE. Yes, I’m of age to-day. Quite an important day in my life, isn’t it? That is why I am giving this party tonight. Do sit down. [Still arranging flowers.]

      LORD DARLINGTON. [Sitting down.] I wish I had known it was your birthday, Lady Windermere. I would have covered the whole street in front of your house with flowers for you to walk on. They are made for you. [A short pause.]

      LADY WINDERMERE. Lord Darlington, you annoyed me last night at the Foreign Office. I am afraid you are going to annoy me again.

      LORD DARLINGTON. I, Lady Windermere?

      [Enter PARKER and FOOTMAN C., with tray and tea things.]

      LADY WINDERMERE. Put it there, Parker. That will do. [Wipes her hands with her pocket-handkerchief, goes to tea-table, and sits down.] Won’t you come over, Lord Darlington?

      [Exit PARKER C.]

      LORD DARLINGTON. [Takes chair and goes across L.C.] I am quite miserable, Lady Windermere. You must tell me what I did. [Sits down at table L.]

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