This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 edition. Excerpt: ...and strikes her.) DONNA LUCREZIA. Gennaro! I am thy mother! GENNARO. (Trembling and letting the knife fall.) My mother! Ah! you mock me! DONNA LUCREZIA. Thy mother! and thou hast slain me! GENNARO. Oh, no l it is not so! it cannot be! You my mother! In pity's name, tell me that you are not my mother! DONNA LUCREZIA. (Taking from her breast a bundle of letters, soaked with blood.) There were letters upon my heart. These are they. Take them, Gennaro. Perchance my blood has not made them illegible. Dost recognize the writing? GENNARO. 1 (Glancing at the letters.) My etters! DONNA LUCREZIA. The dagger pierced them. They made a more penetrable cuirass than thou didst think, Gennaro. GENNARO. Ah yes! O Heaven! you are indeed my mother! I did not call to mind the incest. God in heaven! Why did you not tell me long ago? DONNA LUCREZIA. I was ashamed. Thy dagger's point alone, my child, could make me tell thee all. My secret gushed out from my heart with my blood. Shall I confess it? it was sweet to me tovbe beloved by thee in one aspect, while thou didst loathe me in another. Thy mother thou didst lbve, Gennaro; wouldst thou have loved Lucrezia Borgia? GENNARO. You, my mother! DONNA LUCREZIA. And then there was Valentinois--Valentinois, who slew thy father! My secret once divulged, even to thine ca alone, thou wouldst not have lived a day. Alas! even in the obscure station where I placed thee, at times I fancied that the tiger was prowling round thee, and I trembled, unhappy mother that I am, lest he should get scent of thee. GENNARO. I have killed my mother! You are my mother! What fearful crimes lay hidden in that word! DONNA LUCREZIA. An incestuous mother. GENNARO. Thy son a parricide! DONNA LUCREZIA. Gennaro! GENNARO. Yes, I am a...