Act 2 Scene 11.

The Angel and the Devil at Cremona.

SCENE 11

(Cremona. Stage right, on the walls of the city stand ALESS and BIANCA who is dressed in a cloak.)

BIANCA.

The sky darkens. The Almighty is coming to judge us. How many of them are there?

ALESS.

Three armies, Venice, Alfonso and Malatesta. Our spies say they would be even more but the Pope is ill in Rome and only part of the Papal army is here.

BIANCA.

Still more than enough for my poor city. How long will our provisions last?

ALESS.

They will breach the city walls long before then. I have sent messengers to try to reach Francesco. But I doubt they will be able to clear the enemies lines.

BIANCA.

Then it is up to us.

ALESS.

They are too many. There is no way to win.

BIANCA.

I know. But I will not meet my end by the hand of Malatesta in some dark place. I am Bianca, Duchess of Milan. If God wants me, he will find me on the battlefield fighting my enemies.

Enter stage left VENICE and ALFONSO.

Our enemy prepares, ready our army.

Exit BIANCA and ALESS.

ALFONSO.

Could you see? Upon the walls, was it the witch?

VENICE.

I think it was.

ALFONSO.

It will not avail her to hide behind the city walls. The bombardment will begin as soon as I bring my canon up and then it is only a matter of time.

VENICE.

(nervous glance up) I have never seen storm clouds gather so quickly. Already the light is failing. An omen?

ALFONSO.

What is wrong with you?

VENICE.

The men are nervous. The stories about Malatesta and Sforza's daughter are spreading. They are saying that he is tainted by sin, it casts a shadow over the entire army.

ALFONSO.

They should know better. He was absolved by the Pope, personally

VENICE.

If he was absolved personally, then the sin must have been truly great. They are concerned they were not specifically named by the Pope.

ALFONSO.

In God's name! You can't name everyone in an entire army.

VENICE.

Nevertheless.

ALFONSO.

If we find priests to bless the men, will that suffice?

VENICE.

It might.

Enter MAL.

MAL.

What are we waiting for? Where are the canon? Why do we not attack?

VENICE.

We must bless the army.

MAL.

Bless the army. What is this madness? Majesty?

ALFONSO.

Some are nervous. It may be prudent to take a while to calm their fears.

MAL.

Calm their fears!

VENICE.

The difference between winning a battle and losing it often comes down to discipline. If the men believe that God is against them, they will look to save themselves at the first sign of trouble.

MAL.

You mean they are scared of Sforza. He is only a man.

VENICE.

He is the Duke of Milan because God has willed it.

MAL.

As his Holiness has said, he is Lucifer incarnate, and my lords, he is not here. Only the witch and the brother face us. Surely, my lord, the army of Venice can beat a mere woman. Enough of this nonsense. We waste time. If you are scared then I will issue a challenge and fight them by myself.

ALFONSO.

We are out of position and unprepared, at least wait until I can bring the majority of the guns to bear.

MAL.

I will not. I will finish this here and now. Issue the challenge.

ALFONSO.

(to VENICE) See if they will come to terms.

VENICE.

(advances across stage) I call to those within.

Enter BIANCA and ALESS on the Walls. BIANCA is still wearing cloak.

To the lady Bianca Sforza, Duchess of Milan and lord of Cremona, greetings. Though we be on opposite sides, I have never ceased to have admiration and respect for you and the family Visconti. It is out of this love and respect that I bear you that I must most declare that we are four to every one of you. The odds, my lady, clearly favour us. I say this, not as some idle boast, but because I do not wish to see your army slaughtered, your city stormed or your person harmed in any way. I therefore offer terms with which you can save all with both honour and dignity.

BIANCA.

I give thanks to you my lord. Your words bring honour to both yourself and your city. Though we be opposite sides, in my heart I have always felt a kinship with the people of Venice for they have always shown me nothing but kindness and most loving consideration. It is, as you say, true that we are constrained in number and your offer to come to terms, is most generous. But my lord, it is with regret, that I must refuse. For while the word of Venice is always true, there is one amongst you whose word is not.

Lights dimmer.

MAL.

You speak of me?

BIANCA.

I do. That man, in sight of God, swore the most sacred vows. You think me another Polissena, to meekly wait for my death. Tell us Malatesta, what was the cause of her death? Did she finally say no to your perversions?

Lights darker and thunder off.

MAL.

You bore me with your insults witch.

BIANCA.

Then perhaps I could entertain the rest of us with some rhyming couplets as to your manhood. No my lords, I will not place myself at the mercy of such an enemy to womankind.

VENICE.

Then madam send out your army and let the Almighty decide.

Thunder.

BIANCA.

My lord of Venice, do you not hear the gates of hell opening, Lucifer and his host is coming for Malatesta and any that stand with him. Look to your arms and stand if you can.

Exit ALESS AND BIANCA. MAL, ALFONSO and VENICE draw swords and wait. Thunder.

VENICE.

The heavens are opening.

Enter on stage ALESS and BIANCA who is dressed in white armour and carries a sword.

MAL.

What is this abomination?

VENICE.

What means this? She wears the arms of a man? My lords, can we with honour fight a woman?

MAL.

She will be burnt for this.

ALFONSO.

Madam, truly your sex will not save you.

ALESS.

My lords, you cannot stand against the armies of heaven and hell. Flee the field while you still can, for nothing else on this earth shall save you.

BIANCA looks to the sky.

VENICE.

What is she doing? (To BIANCA.) Why do you look to the sky?

ALESS.

The Almighty is coming to judge you.

MAL.

My lord, steady yourself. God does not send his host and she is no avenging angel. They are but words to bewitch and deceive.

VENICE.

Why does she not speak?

BIANCA looks at VENICE and raises her sword in the manner of a cross over him.

What is she doing?

BIANCA.

(Words of excommunication) Res sacrae, ritus, communio, crypta, potesta, praedia, sacra, forum, civilia jura.

Thunder and lighting.

VENICE.

We are damned.

VENICE Flees.

MAL.

Very clever. But we are not so easily frightened. Majesty.

ALFONSO.

(points sword at ALESS) I wanted Francesco, but one dead Sforza is as good as another.

ALESS.

(raises sword in answer) My brother has never killed a king, he will be jealous.

ALESS and ALFONSO fight (around MAL and BIANCA) then Exit fighting.

MAL.

Just us now, witch.

Spot on MAL and BIANCA the rest of the stage is dark.

BIANCA.

All the light is going from the world. Lucifer is almost here.

MAL.

There is still time witch. You think you can stand against me?

MAL and BIANCA begin to fight, intermittent thunder.

Personal combat is won and lost in the training arena, fitness, poise, balance, movement, the slow accretion of skills built up over years of practice, until instinct and experience override conscious thought.

MAL'S blow is deflected.

BIANCA.

But it is all for nothing if the man has not learnt to master himself. (She attacks.) A woman must cultivate patience, learning to wait for the mistake that all men make. And finally she must have it within her to look into the man’s eyes and be able to deliver the killing blow.

BIANCA'S blow is blocked and her sword is knocked out of her hand.

MAL.

Unfortunately, being a woman your talent is inevitably inferior to your opinion of yourself.

Enter SFORZA, stage rear behind MAL.

BIANCA.

Then it is fortunate that my husband understands me. (Points to SFORZA.)

Thunder and lightning. Lights up. Revealing SFORZA in red armour.

Lucifer revealed.

MAL.

No. This cannot be!

BIANCA.

You are a dead man.

MAL.

No.

SFORZA.

(advances. Points to BIANCA'S armour) It is nice to see that you have been putting my wedding present to some use.

BIANCA.

I confess at the time I would have preferred some jewellery.

SFORZA.

(to MAL) Here I am. One blow and you could make yourself immortal. Why not give it a try?

MAL and SFORZA fight. MAL is wounded in leg, drops sword and falls to knees. He tries, but is unable to stand.

Do you ask for mercy?

MAL.

From you? Never!

SFORZA.

So be it. Federico!

Enter FEDERICO.

FEDERICO.

Here my lord.

SFORZA.

I give you Malatesta, abuse him as you will.

FEDERICO.

With pleasure my lord.

Exit FEDERICO dragging MAL.

BIANCA.

I was beginning to think you didn't love me any more.

SFORZA.

An impossibility, besides you seemed have everything covered.

BIANCA.

I think your brother could do with some help.

SFORZA.

I think not.

Enter ALESS.

ALESS.

The day is ours. Three entire armies are destroyed. There is no other power in the whole of Italy that can match us. If we march now all Italy will surely fall. Think of it Francesco, one land, one king. Think of what you could achieve?

SFORZA.

King Francesco the first. It does have a certain ring to it, don't you think?

BIANCA.

It does, but there are some married ladies of my acquaintance who by chance also have husbands engaged in the profession of arms. They are of the opinion that these now peaceful times accord a perfect opportunity for their husbands to become better acquainted with their long suffering wives and children. This, they did argue, might take longer for some fathers than for others, depending, of course, upon the number of children involved. It fell to me to wonder aloud if by some chance that their husbands may have some thought of indulging their proclivities for violence in more southern regions, but I was assured that this could not be the case, for no loving and considerate husband would ever consent to consider such a most hateful and disharmonious act. For in his heart he would be ever mindful of the unhappiness and great burdens that have been endured in the past by his most loyal and loving of partners, and desirous to make such amends as might prove possible would instead, content himself after years of said disharmony, to spend his declining years in peace and tranquillity with those he did profess to love.

SFORZA.

(laughs) It was worth a thought. We will finish the families business at Lodi. Have all meet us there.

Lights Down.