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Enter Count Lodovico, Antonelli, and Gasparo

Lodo. Banish'd!

Ant. It griev'd me much to hear the sentence.

Lodo. Ha, ha, O Democritus, thy gods
聽聽That govern the whole world! courtly reward
聽聽And punishment. Fortune 's a right whore:
聽聽If she give aught, she deals it in small parcels,
聽聽That she may take away all at one swoop.
聽聽This 'tis to have great enemies! God 'quite them.
聽聽Your wolf no longer seems to be a wolf
聽聽Than when she 's hungry.

Gas. You term those enemies,
聽聽Are men of princely rank.

Lodo. Oh, I pray for them:
聽聽The violent thunder is adored by those
聽聽Are pasht in pieces by it.

Ant. Come, my lord,
聽聽You are justly doom'd; look but a little back
聽聽Into your former life: you have in three years
聽聽Ruin'd the noblest earldom.

Gas. Your followers
聽聽Have swallowed you, like mummia, and being sick
聽聽With such unnatural and horrid physic,
聽聽Vomit you up i' th' kennel.

Ant. All the damnable degrees
聽聽Of drinking have you stagger'd through. One citizen,
聽聽Is lord of two fair manors, call'd you master,
聽聽Only for caviare.

Gas. Those noblemen
聽聽Which were invited to your prodigal feasts,
聽聽(Wherein the phnix scarce could 'scape your throats)
聽聽Laugh at your misery, as fore-deeming you
聽聽An idle meteor, which drawn forth, the earth
聽聽Would be soon lost i' the air.

Ant. Jest upon you,
聽聽And say you were begotten in an earthquake,
聽聽You have ruin'd such fair lordships.

Lodo. Very good.
聽聽This well goes with two buckets: I must tend
聽聽The pouring out of either.

Gas. Worse than these.
聽聽You have acted certain murders here in Rome,
聽聽Bloody and full of horror.

Lodo. 'Las, they were flea-bitings:
聽聽Why took they not my head then?

Gas. O, my lord!
聽聽The law doth sometimes mediate, thinks it good
聽聽Not ever to steep violent sins in blood:
聽聽This gentle penance may both end your crimes,
聽聽And in the example better these bad times.

Lodo. So; but I wonder then some great men 'scape
聽聽This banishment: there 's Paulo Giordano Ursini,
聽聽The Duke of Brachiano, now lives in Rome,
聽聽And by close panderism seeks to prostitute
聽聽The honour of Vittoria Corombona:
聽聽Vittoria, she that might have got my pardon
聽聽For one kiss to the duke.

Ant. Have a full man within you:
聽聽We see that trees bear no such pleasant fruit
聽聽There where they grew first, as where they are new set.
聽聽Perfumes, the more they are chaf'd, the more they render
聽聽Their pleasing scents, and so affliction
聽聽Expresseth virtue fully, whether true,
聽聽Or else adulterate.

Lodo. Leave your painted comforts;
聽聽I 'll make Italian cut-works in their guts
聽聽If ever I return.

Gas. Oh, sir.

Lodo. I am patient.
聽聽I have seen some ready to be executed,
聽聽Give pleasant looks, and money, and grown familiar
聽聽With the knave hangman; so do I; I thank them,
聽聽And would account them nobly merciful,
聽聽Would they dispatch me quickly.

Ant. Fare you well;
聽聽We shall find time, I doubt not, to repeal
聽聽Your banishment.

Lodo. I am ever bound to you.
聽聽This is the world's alms; pray make use of it.
聽聽Great men sell sheep, thus to be cut in pieces,
聽聽When first they have shorn them bare, and sold their fleeces.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听摆贰虫别耻苍迟

Enter Brachiano, Camillo, Flamineo, Vittoria

Brach. Your best of rest.

Vit. Unto my lord the duke,
聽聽The best of welcome. More lights: attend the duke.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Exeunt Camillo and Vittoria.

Brach. Flamineo.

Flam. My lord.

Brach. Quite lost, Flamineo.

Flam. Pursue your noble wishes, I am prompt
聽聽As lightning to your service. O my lord!
聽聽The fair Vittoria, my happy sister,
聽聽Shall give you present audience---Gentlemen, [Whisper.
聽聽Let the caroch go on---and 'tis his pleasure
聽聽You put out all your torches and depart.

Brach. Are we so happy?

Flam. Can it be otherwise?
聽聽Observ'd you not to-night, my honour'd lord,
聽聽Which way soe'er you went, she threw her eyes?
聽聽I have dealt already with her chambermaid,
聽聽Zanche the Moor, and she is wondrous proud
聽聽To be the agent for so high a spirit.

Brach. We are happy above thought, because 'bove merit.

Flam. 'Bove merit! we may now talk freely: 'bove merit! what is 't you doubt? her coyness! that 's but the superficies of lust most women have; yet why should ladies blush to hear that named, which they do not fear to handle? Oh, they are politic; they know our desire is increased by the difficulty of enjoying; whereas satiety is a blunt, weary, and drowsy passion. If the buttery-hatch at court stood continually open, there would be nothing so passionate crowding, nor hot suit after the beverage.

Brach. Oh, but her jealous husband------

Flam. Hang him; a gilder that hath his brains perished with quicksilver
聽聽is not more cold in the liver. The great barriers moulted not more
聽聽feathers, than he hath shed hairs, by the confession of his doctor. An
聽聽Irish gamester that will play himself naked, and then wage all
聽聽downward, at hazard, is not more venturous. So unable to please a
聽聽woman, that, like a Dutch doublet, all his back is shrunk into his
听听产谤别补肠丑别蝉.
聽聽Shroud you within this closet, good my lord;
聽聽Some trick now must be thought on to divide
聽聽My brother-in-law from his fair bed-fellow.

Brach. Oh, should she fail to come------

Flam. I must not have your lordship thus unwisely amorous. I myself have not loved a lady, and pursued her with a great deal of under-age protestation, whom some three or four gallants that have enjoyed would with all their hearts have been glad to have been rid of. 'Tis just like a summer bird-cage in a garden: the birds that are without despair to get in, and the birds that are within despair and are in a consumption for fear they shall never get out. Away, away, my lord. [Exit Brachiano as Camillo enters.

聽聽See here he comes. This fellow by his apparel
聽聽Some men would judge a politician;
聽聽But call his wit in question, you shall find it
聽聽Merely an ass in 's foot-cloth. How now, brother?
聽聽What, travelling to bed with your kind wife?

Cam. I assure you, brother, no. My voyage lies
聽聽More northerly, in a far colder clime.
聽聽I do not well remember, I protest,
聽聽When I last lay with her.

Flam. Strange you should lose your count.

Cam. We never lay together, but ere morning
聽聽There grew a flaw between us.

Flam. 'T had been your part
聽聽To have made up that flaw.

Cam. True, but she loathes I should be seen in 't.

Flam. Why, sir, what 's the matter?

Cam. The duke your master visits me, I thank him;
聽聽And I perceive how, like an earnest bowler,
聽聽He very passionately leans that way
聽聽he should have his bowl run.

Flam. I hope you do not think------

Cam. That nobleman bowl booty? faith, his cheek
聽聽Hath a most excellent bias: it would fain
聽聽Jump with my mistress.

Flam. Will you be an ass,
聽聽Despite your Aristotle? or a cuckold,
聽聽Contrary to your Ephemerides,
聽聽Which shows you under what a smiling planet
聽聽You were first swaddled?

Cam. Pew wew, sir; tell me not
聽聽Of planets nor of Ephemerides.
聽聽A man may be made cuckold in the day-time,
聽聽When the stars' eyes are out.

Flam. Sir, good-bye you;
聽聽I do commit you to your pitiful pillow
聽聽Stuffed with horn-shavings.

Cam. Brother!

Flam. God refuse me.
聽聽Might I advise you now, your only course
聽聽Were to lock up your wife.

Cam. 'Twere very good.

Flam. Bar her the sight of revels.

Cam. Excellent.

Flam. Let her not go to church, but, like a hound
聽聽In leon, at your heels.

Cam. 'Twere for her honour.

Flam. And so you should be certain in one fortnight,
聽聽Despite her chastity or innocence,
聽聽To be cuckolded, which yet is in suspense:
聽聽This is my counsel, and I ask no fee for 't.

Cam. Come, you know not where my nightcap wrings me.

Flam. Wear it a' th' old fashion; let your large ears come through, it will be more easy---nay, I will be bitter---bar your wife of her entertainment: women are more willingly and more gloriously chaste, when they are least restrained of their liberty. It seems you would be a fine capricious, mathematically jealous coxcomb; take the height of your own horns with a Jacob's staff, afore they are up. These politic enclosures for paltry mutton, makes more rebellion in the flesh, than all the provocative electuaries doctors have uttered since last jubilee.

Cam. This doth not physic me------

Flam. It seems you are jealous: I 'll show you the error of it by a familiar example: I have seen a pair of spectacles fashioned with such perspective art, that lay down but one twelve pence a' th' board, 'twill appear as if there were twenty; now should you wear a pair of these spectacles, and see your wife tying her shoe, you would imagine twenty hands were taking up of your wife's clothes, and this would put you into a horrible causeless fury.

Cam. The fault there, sir, is not in the eyesight.

Flam. True, but they that have the yellow jaundice think all objects they look on to be yellow. Jealousy is worse; her fits present to a man, like so many bubbles in a basin of water, twenty several crabbed faces, many times makes his own shadow his cuckold-maker. [Enter Vittoria Corombona.] See, she comes; what reason have you to be jealous of this creature? what an ignorant ass or flattering knave might be counted, that should write sonnets to her eyes, or call her brow the snow of Ida, or ivory of Corinth; or compare her hair to the blackbird's bill, when 'tis liker the blackbird's feather? This is all. Be wise; I will make you friends, and you shall go to bed together. Marry, look you, it shall not be your seeking. Do you stand upon that, by any means: walk you aloof; I would not have you seen in 't.---Sister [my lord attend you in the banqueting-house,] your husband is wondrous discontented.

Vit. I did nothing to displease him; I carved to him at supper-time.

Flam. [You need not have carved him, in faith; they say he is a capon already. I must now seemingly fall out with you.] Shall a gentleman so well descended as Camillo [a lousy slave, that within this twenty years rode with the black guard in the duke's carriage, 'mongst spits and dripping-pans!]---

Cam. Now he begins to tickle her.

Flam. An excellent scholar [one that hath a head fill'd with calves' brains without any sage in them,] come crouching in the hams to you for a night's lodging? [that hath an itch in 's hams, which like the fire at the glass-house hath not gone out this seven years] Is he not a courtly gentleman? [when he wears white satin, one would take him by his black muzzle to be no other creature than a maggot] You are a goodly foil, I confess, well set out [but cover'd with a false stone--- yon counterfeit diamond].

Cam. He will make her know what is in me.

Flam. Come, my lord attends you; thou shalt go to bed to my lord.

Cam. Now he comes to 't.

Flam. [With a relish as curious as a vintner going to taste new wine.]
聽聽[To Camillo.] I am opening your case hard.

Cam. A virtuous brother, o' my credit!

Flam. He will give thee a ring with a philosopher's stone in it.

Cam. Indeed, I am studying alchemy.

Flam. Thou shalt lie in a bed stuffed with turtle's feathers; swoon in perfumed linen, like the fellow was smothered in roses. So perfect shall be thy happiness, that as men at sea think land, and trees, and ships, go that way they go; so both heaven and earth shall seem to go your voyage. Shalt meet him; 'tis fix'd, with nails of diamonds to inevitable necessity.

Vit. How shalt rid him hence?

Flam. [I will put brize in 's tail, set him gadding presently.] I have almost wrought her to it; I find her coming: but, might I advise you now, for this night I would not lie with her, I would cross her humour to make her more humble.

Cam. Shall I, shall I?

Flam. It will show in you a supremacy of judgment.

Cam. True, and a mind differing from the tumultuary opinion; for, qu忙
聽聽negata, grata.

Flam. Right: you are the adamant shall draw her to you, though you keep
聽聽distance off.

Cam. A philosophical reason.

Flam. Walk by her a' th' nobleman's fashion, and tell her you will lie with her at the end of the progress.

Cam. Vittoria, I cannot be induc'd, or as a man would say, incited------

Vit. To do what, sir?

Cam. To lie with you to-night. Your silkworm used to fast every third day, and the next following spins the better. To-morrow at night, I am for you.

Vit. You 'll spin a fair thread, trust to 't.

Flam. But do you hear, I shall have you steal to her chamber about
听听尘颈诲苍颈驳丑迟.

Cam. Do you think so? why look you, brother, because you shall not say
聽聽I 'll gull you, take the key, lock me into the chamber, and say you
聽聽shall be sure of me.

Flam. In troth I will; I 'll be your jailor once.

Cam. A pox on 't, as I am a Christian! tell me to-morrow how scurvily she takes my unkind parting.

Flam. I will.

Cam. Didst thou not mark the jest of the silkworm?
聽聽Good-night; in faith, I will use this trick often.

Flam. Do, do, do. [Exit Camillo.
聽聽So, now you are safe. Ha, ha, ha, thou entanglest thyself in thine own
聽聽work like a silkworm. [Enter Brachiano.] Come, sister, darkness hides
聽聽your blush. Women are like cursed dogs: civility keeps them tied all
聽聽daytime, but they are let loose at midnight; then they do most good, or
聽聽most mischief. My lord, my lord!

Zanche brings out a carpet, spreads it, and lays on it two fair cushions.
聽聽Enter Cornelia listening, but unperceived.

Brach. Give credit: I could wish time would stand still,
聽聽And never end this interview, this hour;
聽聽But all delight doth itself soon'st devour.
聽聽Let me into your bosom, happy lady,
聽聽Pour out, instead of eloquence, my vows.
聽聽Loose me not, madam, for if you forgo me,
聽聽I am lost eternally.

Vit. Sir, in the way of pity,
聽聽I wish you heart-whole.

Brach. You are a sweet physician.

Vit. Sure, sir, a loathed cruelty in ladies
聽聽Is as to doctors many funerals:
聽聽It takes away their credit.

Brach. Excellent creature!
聽聽We call the cruel fair; what name for you
聽聽That are so merciful?

Zan. See now they close.

Flam. Most happy union.

Corn. [Aside.] My fears are fall'n upon me: oh, my heart!
聽聽My son the pander! now I find our house
聽聽Sinking to ruin. Earthquakes leave behind,
聽聽Where they have tyranniz'd, iron, or lead, or stone;
聽聽But woe to ruin, violent lust leaves none.

Brach. What value is this jewel?

Vit. 'Tis the ornament of a weak fortune.

Brach. In sooth, I 'll have it; nay, I will but change
聽聽My jewel for your jewel.

Flam. Excellent;
聽聽His jewel for her jewel: well put in, duke.

Brach. Nay, let me see you wear it.

Vit. Here, sir?

Brach. Nay, lower, you shall wear my jewel lower.

Flam. That 's better: she must wear his jewel lower.

Vit. To pass away the time, I 'll tell your grace
聽聽A dream I had last night.

Brach. Most wishedly.

Vit. A foolish idle dream:
聽聽Methought I walked about the mid of night
聽聽Into a churchyard, where a goodly yew-tree
聽聽Spread her large root in ground: under that yew,
聽聽As I sat sadly leaning on a grave,
聽聽Chequer'd with cross-sticks, there came stealing in
聽聽Your duchess and my husband; one of them
聽聽A pickaxe bore, th' other a rusty spade,
聽聽And in rough terms they 'gan to challenge me
聽聽About this yew.

Brach. That tree?

Vit. This harmless yew;
聽聽They told me my intent was to root up
聽聽That well-grown yew, and plant i' the stead of it
聽聽A wither'd blackthorn; and for that they vow'd
聽聽To bury me alive. My husband straight
聽聽With pickaxe 'gan to dig, and your fell duchess
聽聽With shovel, like a fury, voided out
聽聽The earth and scatter'd bones: Lord, how methought
聽聽I trembled, and yet for all this terror
聽聽I could not pray.

Flam. No; the devil was in your dream.

Vit. When to my rescue there arose, methought,
聽聽A whirlwind, which let fall a massy arm
聽聽From that strong plant;
聽聽And both were struck dead by that sacred yew,
聽聽In that base shallow grave that was their due.

Flam. Excellent devil!
聽聽She hath taught him in a dream
聽聽To make away his duchess and her husband.

Brach. Sweetly shall I interpret this your dream.
聽聽You are lodg'd within his arms who shall protect you
聽聽From all the fevers of a jealous husband,
聽聽From the poor envy of our phlegmatic duchess.
聽聽I 'll seat you above law, and above scandal;
聽聽Give to your thoughts the invention of delight,
聽聽And the fruition; nor shall government
聽聽Divide me from you longer, than a care
聽聽To keep you great: you shall to me at once
聽聽Be dukedom, health, wife, children, friends, and all.

Corn. [Advancing.] Woe to light hearts, they still forerun our fall!

Flam. What fury raised thee up? away, away. [Exit Zanche.

Corn. What make you here, my lord, this dead of night?
聽聽Never dropp'd mildew on a flower here till now.

Flam. I pray, will you go to bed then,
聽聽Lest you be blasted?

Corn. O that this fair garden
聽聽Had with all poison'd herbs of Thessaly
聽聽At first been planted; made a nursery
聽聽For witchcraft, rather than a burial plot
聽聽For both your honours!

Vit. Dearest mother, hear me.

Corn. O, thou dost make my brow bend to the earth.
聽聽Sooner than nature! See the curse of children!
聽聽In life they keep us frequently in tears;
聽聽And in the cold grave leave us in pale fears.

Brach. Come, come, I will not hear you.

Vit. Dear my lord.

Corn. Where is thy duchess now, adulterous duke?
聽聽Thou little dream'st this night she 's come to Rome.

Flam. How! come to Rome!

Vit. The duchess!

Brach. She had been better------

Corn. The lives of princes should like dials move,
聽聽Whose regular example is so strong,
聽聽They make the times by them go right, or wrong.

Flam. So, have you done?

Corn. Unfortunate Camillo!

Vit. I do protest, if any chaste denial,
聽聽If anything but blood could have allay'd
聽聽His long suit to me------

Corn. I will join with thee,
聽聽To the most woeful end e'er mother kneel'd:
聽聽If thou dishonour thus thy husband's bed,
聽聽Be thy life short as are the funeral tears
聽聽In great men's------

Brach. Fie, fie, the woman's mad.

Corn. Be thy act Judas-like; betray in kissing:
聽聽May'st thou be envied during his short breath,
聽聽And pitied like a wretch after his death!

Vit. O me accurs'd! [Exit.

Flam. Are you out of your wits? my lord,
聽聽I 'll fetch her back again.

Brach. No, I 'll to bed:
聽聽Send Doctor Julio to me presently.
聽聽Uncharitable woman! thy rash tongue
聽聽Hath rais'd a fearful and prodigious storm:
聽聽Be thou the cause of all ensuing harm. [Exit.

Flam. Now, you that stand so much upon your honour,
聽聽Is this a fitting time a' night, think you,
聽聽To send a duke home without e'er a man?
聽聽I would fain know where lies the mass of wealth
聽聽Which you have hoarded for my maintenance,
聽聽That I may bear my beard out of the level
聽聽Of my lord's stirrup.

Corn. What! because we are poor
聽聽Shall we be vicious?

Flam. Pray, what means have you
聽聽To keep me from the galleys, or the gallows?
聽聽My father prov'd himself a gentleman,
聽聽Sold all 's land, and, like a fortunate fellow,
聽聽Died ere the money was spent. You brought me up
聽聽At Padua, I confess, where I protest,
聽聽For want of means---the University judge me---
聽聽I have been fain to heel my tutor's stockings,
聽聽At least seven years; conspiring with a beard,
聽聽Made me a graduate; then to this duke's service,
聽聽I visited the court, whence I return'd
聽聽More courteous, more lecherous by far,
聽聽But not a suit the richer. And shall I,
聽聽Having a path so open, and so free
聽聽To my preferment, still retain your milk
聽聽In my pale forehead? No, this face of mine
聽聽I 'll arm, and fortify with lusty wine,
聽聽'Gainst shame and blushing.

Corn. O that I ne'er had borne thee!

Flam. So would I;
聽聽I would the common'st courtesan in Rome
聽聽Had been my mother, rather than thyself.
聽聽Nature is very pitiful to whores,
聽聽To give them but few children, yet those children
聽聽Plurality of fathers; they are sure
聽聽They shall not want. Go, go,
聽聽Complain unto my great lord cardinal;
聽聽It may be he will justify the act.
聽聽Lycurgus wonder'd much, men would provide
聽聽Good stallions for their mares, and yet would suffer
聽聽Their fair wives to be barren.

Corn. Misery of miseries! [Exit.

Flam. The duchess come to court! I like not that.
聽聽We are engag'd to mischief, and must on;
聽聽As rivers to find out the ocean
聽聽Flow with crook bendings beneath forced banks,
聽聽Or as we see, to aspire some mountain's top,
聽聽The way ascends not straight, but imitates
聽聽The subtle foldings of a winter's snake,
聽聽So who knows policy and her true aspect,
聽聽Shall find her ways winding and indirect.

Enter Francisco de Medicis, Cardinal Monticelso, Marcello, Isabella, young Giovanni, with little Jacques the Moor

Fran. Have you not seen your husband since you arrived?

Isab. Not yet, sir.

Fran. Surely he is wondrous kind;
聽聽If I had such a dove-house as Camillo's,
聽聽I would set fire on 't were 't but to destroy
聽聽The polecats that haunt to it---My sweet cousin!

Giov. Lord uncle, you did promise me a horse,
聽聽And armour.

Fran. That I did, my pretty cousin.
聽聽Marcello, see it fitted.

Marc. My lord, the duke is here.

Fran. Sister, away; you must not yet be seen.

Isab. I do beseech you,
聽聽Entreat him mildly, let not your rough tongue
聽聽Set us at louder variance; all my wrongs
聽聽Are freely pardon'd; and I do not doubt,
聽聽As men to try the precious unicorn's horn
聽聽Make of the powder a preservative circle,
聽聽And in it put a spider, so these arms
聽聽Shall charm his poison, force it to obeying,
聽聽And keep him chaste from an infected straying.

Fran. I wish it may. Begone. [Exit Isabella as Brachiano and Flamineo
聽聽enter.] Void the chamber.
聽聽You are welcome; will you sit?---I pray, my lord,
聽聽Be you my orator, my heart 's too full;
聽聽I 'll second you anon.

Mont. Ere I begin,
聽聽Let me entreat your grace forgo all passion,
聽聽Which may be raised by my free discourse.

Brach. As silent as i' th' church: you may proceed.

Mont. It is a wonder to your noble friends,
聽聽That you, having as 'twere enter'd the world
聽聽With a free scepter in your able hand,
聽聽And having to th' use of nature well applied
聽聽High gifts of learning, should in your prime age
聽聽Neglect your awful throne for the soft down
聽聽Of an insatiate bed. O my lord,
聽聽The drunkard after all his lavish cups
聽聽Is dry, and then is sober; so at length,
聽聽When you awake from this lascivious dream,
聽聽Repentance then will follow, like the sting
聽聽Plac'd in the adder's tail. Wretched are princes
聽聽When fortune blasteth but a petty flower
聽聽Of their unwieldy crowns, or ravisheth
聽聽But one pearl from their scepter; but alas!
聽聽When they to wilful shipwreck lose good fame,
聽聽All princely titles perish with their name.

Brach. You have said, my lord------

Mont. Enough to give you taste
聽聽How far I am from flattering your greatness.

Brach. Now you that are his second, what say you?
聽聽Do not like young hawks fetch a course about;
聽聽Your game flies fair, and for you.

Fran. Do not fear it:
聽聽I 'll answer you in your own hawking phrase.
聽聽Some eagles that should gaze upon the sun
聽聽Seldom soar high, but take their lustful ease,
聽聽Since they from dunghill birds their prey can seize.
聽聽You know Vittoria?

Brach. Yes.

Fran. You shift your shirt there,
聽聽When you retire from tennis?

Brach. Happily.

Fran. Her husband is lord of a poor fortune,
聽聽Yet she wears cloth of tissue.

Brach. What of this?
聽聽Will you urge that, my good lord cardinal,
聽聽As part of her confession at next shrift,
聽聽And know from whence it sails?

Fran. She is your strumpet------

Brach. Uncivil sir, there 's hemlock in thy breath,
聽聽And that black slander. Were she a whore of mine,
聽聽All thy loud cannons, and thy borrow'd Switzers,
聽聽Thy galleys, nor thy sworn confederates,
聽聽Durst not supplant her.

Fran. Let 's not talk on thunder.
聽聽Thou hast a wife, our sister; would I had given
聽聽Both her white hands to death, bound and lock'd fast
聽聽In her last winding sheet, when I gave thee
聽聽But one.

Brach. Thou hadst given a soul to God then.

Fran. True:
聽聽Thy ghostly father, with all his absolution,
聽聽Shall ne'er do so by thee.

Brach. Spit thy poison.

Fran. I shall not need; lust carries her sharp whip
聽聽At her own girdle. Look to 't, for our anger
聽聽Is making thunderbolts.

Brach. Thunder! in faith,
聽聽They are but crackers.

Fran. We 'll end this with the cannon.

Brach. Thou 'lt get naught by it, but iron in thy wounds,
聽聽And gunpowder in thy nostrils.

Fran. Better that,
聽聽Than change perfumes for plasters.

Brach. Pity on thee!
聽聽'Twere good you 'd show your slaves or men condemn'd,
聽聽Your new-plough'd forehead. Defiance! and I 'll meet thee,
聽聽Even in a thicket of thy ablest men.

Mont. My lords, you shall not word it any further
聽聽Without a milder limit.

Fran. Willingly.

Brach. Have you proclaim'd a triumph, that you bait
聽聽A lion thus?

Mont. My lord!

Brach. I am tame, I am tame, sir.

Fran. We send unto the duke for conference
聽聽'Bout levies 'gainst the pirates; my lord duke
聽聽Is not at home: we come ourself in person;
聽聽Still my lord duke is busied. But we fear
聽聽When Tiber to each prowling passenger
聽聽Discovers flocks of wild ducks, then, my lord---
聽聽'Bout moulting time I mean---we shall be certain
聽聽To find you sure enough, and speak with you.

Brach. Ha!

Fran. A mere tale of a tub: my words are idle.
聽聽But to express the sonnet by natural reason,
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Enter Giovanni.
聽聽When stags grow melancholic you 'll find the season.

Mont. No more, my lord; here comes a champion
聽聽Shall end the difference between you both;
聽聽Your son, the Prince Giovanni. See, my lords,
聽聽What hopes you store in him; this is a casket
聽聽For both your crowns, and should be held like dear.
聽聽Now is he apt for knowledge; therefore know
聽聽It is a more direct and even way,
聽聽To train to virtue those of princely blood,
聽聽By examples than by precepts: if by examples,
聽聽Whom should he rather strive to imitate
聽聽Than his own father? be his pattern then,
聽聽Leave him a stock of virtue that may last,
聽聽Should fortune rend his sails, and split his mast.

Brach. Your hand, boy: growing to a soldier?

Giov. Give me a pike.

Fran. What, practising your pike so young, fair cousin?

Giov. Suppose me one of Homer's frogs, my lord,
聽聽Tossing my bulrush thus. Pray, sir, tell me,
聽聽Might not a child of good discretion
聽聽Be leader to an army?

Fran. Yes, cousin, a young prince
聽聽Of good discretion might.

Giov. Say you so?
聽聽Indeed I have heard, 'tis fit a general
聽聽Should not endanger his own person oft;
聽聽So that he make a noise when he 's a-horseback,
聽聽Like a Danske drummer,---Oh, 'tis excellent!---
聽聽He need not fight! methinks his horse as well
聽聽Might lead an army for him. If I live,
聽聽I 'll charge the French foe in the very front
聽聽Of all my troops, the foremost man.

Fran. What! what!

Giov. And will not bid my soldiers up, and follow,
聽聽But bid them follow me.

Brach. Forward lapwing!
聽聽He flies with the shell on 's head.

Fran. Pretty cousin!

Giov. The first year, uncle, that I go to war,
聽聽All prisoners that I take, I will set free,
聽聽Without their ransom.

Fran. Ha! without their ransom!
聽聽How then will you reward your soldiers,
聽聽That took those prisoners for you?

Giov. Thus, my lord:
聽聽I 'll marry them to all the wealthy widows
聽聽That falls that year.

Fran. Why then, the next year following,
聽聽You 'll have no men to go with you to war.

Giov. Why then I 'll press the women to the war,
聽聽And then the men will follow.

Mont. Witty prince!

Fran. See, a good habit makes a child a man,
聽聽Whereas a bad one makes a man a beast.
聽聽Come, you and I are friends.

Brach. Most wishedly:
聽聽Like bones which, broke in sunder, and well set,
聽聽Knit the more strongly.

Fran. Call Camillo hither.---
聽聽You have receiv'd the rumour, how Count Lodowick
聽聽Is turn'd a pirate?

Brach. Yes.

Fran. We are now preparing to fetch him in. Behold your duchess.
聽聽We now will leave you, and expect from you
聽聽Nothing but kind entreaty.

Brach. You have charm'd me.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Exeunt Francisco, Monticelso, and Giovanni.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Enter Isabella
聽聽You are in health, we see.

Isab. And above health,
聽聽To see my lord well.

Brach. So: I wonder much
聽聽What amorous whirlwind hurried you to Rome.

Isab. Devotion, my lord.

Brach. Devotion!
聽聽Is your soul charg'd with any grievous sin?

Isab. 'Tis burden'd with too many; and I think
聽聽The oftener that we cast our reckonings up,
聽聽Our sleep will be the sounder.

Brach. Take your chamber.

Isab. Nay, my dear lord, I will not have you angry!
聽聽Doth not my absence from you, now two months,
聽聽Merit one kiss?

Brach. I do not use to kiss:
聽聽If that will dispossess your jealousy,
聽聽I 'll swear it to you.

Isab. O, my loved lord,
聽聽I do not come to chide: my jealousy!
聽聽I am to learn what that Italian means.
聽聽You are as welcome to these longing arms,
聽聽As I to you a virgin.

Brach. Oh, your breath!
聽聽Out upon sweetmeats and continued physic,
聽聽The plague is in them!

Isab. You have oft, for these two lips,
聽聽Neglected cassia, or the natural sweets
聽聽Of the spring-violet: they are not yet much wither'd.
聽聽My lord, I should be merry: these your frowns
聽聽Show in a helmet lovely; but on me,
聽聽In such a peaceful interview, methinks
聽聽They are too roughly knit.

Brach. O dissemblance!
聽聽Do you bandy factions 'gainst me? have you learnt
聽聽The trick of impudent baseness to complain
聽聽Unto your kindred?

Isab. Never, my dear lord.

Brach. Must I be hunted out? or was 't your trick
聽聽To meet some amorous gallant here in Rome,
聽聽That must supply our discontinuance?

Isab. Pray, sir, burst my heart; and in my death
聽聽Turn to your ancient pity, though not love.

Brach. Because your brother is the corpulent duke,
聽聽That is, the great duke, 'sdeath, I shall not shortly
聽聽Racket away five hundred crowns at tennis,
聽聽But it shall rest 'pon record! I scorn him
聽聽Like a shav'd Polack: all his reverend wit
聽聽Lies in his wardrobe; he 's a discreet fellow,
聽聽When he 's made up in his robes of state.
聽聽Your brother, the great duke, because h' 'as galleys,
聽聽And now and then ransacks a Turkish fly-boat,
聽聽(Now all the hellish furies take his soul!)
聽聽First made this match: accursed be the priest
聽聽That sang the wedding-mass, and even my issue!

Isab. Oh, too, too far you have curs'd!

Brach. Your hand I 'll kiss;
聽聽This is the latest ceremony of my love.
聽聽Henceforth I 'll never lie with thee; by this,
聽聽This wedding-ring, I 'll ne'er more lie with thee!
聽聽And this divorce shall be as truly kept,
聽聽As if the judge had doomed it. Fare you well:
聽聽Our sleeps are sever'd.

Isab. Forbid it the sweet union
聽聽Of all things blessed! why, the saints in heaven
聽聽Will knit their brows at that.

Brach. Let not thy love
聽聽Make thee an unbeliever; this my vow
聽聽Shall never, on my soul, be satisfied
聽聽With my repentance: let thy brother rage
聽聽Beyond a horrid tempest, or sea-fight,
聽聽My vow is fixed.

Isab. O, my winding-sheet!
聽聽Now shall I need thee shortly. Dear my lord,
聽聽Let me hear once more, what I would not hear:
听听狈别惫别谤?

Brach. Never.

Isab. Oh, my unkind lord! may your sins find mercy,
聽聽As I upon a woeful widow'd bed
聽聽Shall pray for you, if not to turn your eyes
聽聽Upon your wretched wife and hopeful son,
聽聽Yet that in time you 'll fix them upon heaven!

Brach. No more; go, go, complain to the great duke.

Isab. No, my dear lord; you shall have present witness
聽聽How I 'll work peace between you. I will make
聽聽Myself the author of your cursed vow;
聽聽I have some cause to do it, you have none.
聽聽Conceal it, I beseech you, for the weal
聽聽Of both your dukedoms, that you wrought the means
聽聽Of such a separation: let the fault
聽聽Remain with my supposed jealousy,
聽聽And think with what a piteous and rent heart
聽聽I shall perform this sad ensuing part.

Enter Francisco, Flamineo, Monticelso, and Camillo

Brach. Well, take your course.---My honourable brother!

Fran. Sister!---This is not well, my lord.---Why, sister!---She merits not
聽聽this welcome.

Brach. Welcome, say!
聽聽She hath given a sharp welcome.

Fran. Are you foolish?
聽聽Come, dry your tears: is this a modest course
聽聽To better what is naught, to rail and weep?
聽聽Grow to a reconcilement, or, by heaven,
聽聽I 'll ne'er more deal between you.

Isab. Sir, you shall not;
聽聽No, though Vittoria, upon that condition,
聽聽Would become honest.

Fran. Was your husband loud
聽聽Since we departed?

Isab. By my life, sir, no,
聽聽I swear by that I do not care to lose.
聽聽Are all these ruins of my former beauty
聽聽Laid out for a whore's triumph?

Fran. Do you hear?
聽聽Look upon other women, with what patience
聽聽They suffer these slight wrongs, and with what justice
聽聽They study to requite them: take that course.

Isab. O that I were a man, or that I had power
聽聽To execute my apprehended wishes!
聽聽I would whip some with scorpions.

Fran. What! turn'd fury!

Isab. To dig that strumpet's eyes out; let her lie
聽聽Some twenty months a-dying; to cut off
聽聽Her nose and lips, pull out her rotten teeth;
聽聽Preserve her flesh like mummia, for trophies
聽聽Of my just anger! Hell, to my affliction,
聽聽Is mere snow-water. By your favour, sir;---
聽聽Brother, draw near, and my lord cardinal;---
聽聽Sir, let me borrow of you but one kiss;
聽聽Henceforth I 'll never lie with you, by this,
聽聽This wedding-ring.

Fran. How, ne'er more lie with him!

Isab. And this divorce shall be as truly kept
聽聽As if in thronged court a thousand ears
聽聽Had heard it, and a thousand lawyers' hands
聽聽Sealed to the separation.

Brach. Ne'er lie with me!

Isab. Let not my former dotage
聽聽Make thee an unbeliever; this my vow
聽聽Shall never on my soul be satisfied
聽聽With my repentance: manet alta mente repostum.

Fran. Now, by my birth, you are a foolish, mad,
聽聽And jealous woman.

Brach. You see 'tis not my seeking.

Fran. Was this your circle of pure unicorn's horn,
聽聽You said should charm your lord! now horns upon thee,
聽聽For jealousy deserves them! Keep your vow
聽聽And take your chamber.

Isab. No, sir, I 'll presently to Padua;
聽聽I will not stay a minute.

Mont. Oh, good madam!

Brach. 'Twere best to let her have her humour;
聽聽Some half-day's journey will bring down her stomach,
聽聽And then she 'll turn in post.

Fran. To see her come
聽聽To my lord for a dispensation
聽聽Of her rash vow, will beget excellent laughter.

Isab. 'Unkindness, do thy office; poor heart, break:
聽聽Those are the killing griefs, which dare not speak.' [Exit.

Marc. Camillo's come, my lord.

Enter Camillo

Fran. Where 's the commission?

Marc. 'Tis here.

Fran. Give me the signet.

Flam. [Leading Brachiano aside.] My lord, do you mark their whispering? I will compound a medicine, out of their two heads, stronger than garlic, deadlier than stibium: the cantharides, which are scarce seen to stick upon the flesh, when they work to the heart, shall not do it with more silence or invisible cunning.

Enter Doctor

Brach. About the murder?

Flam. They are sending him to Naples, but I 'll send him to Candy.
聽聽Here 's another property too.

Brach. Oh, the doctor!

Flam. A poor quack-salving knave, my lord; one that should have been lashed for 's lechery, but that he confessed a judgment, had an execution laid upon him, and so put the whip to a non plus.

Doctor. And was cozened, my lord, by an arranter knave than myself, and made pay all the colorable execution.

Flam. He will shoot pills into a man's guts shall make them have more ventages than a cornet or a lamprey; he will poison a kiss; and was once minded for his masterpiece, because Ireland breeds no poison, to have prepared a deadly vapour in a Spaniard's fart, that should have poisoned all Dublin.

Brach. Oh, Saint Anthony's fire!

Doctor. Your secretary is merry, my lord.

Flam. O thou cursed antipathy to nature! Look, his eye 's bloodshot, like a needle a surgeon stitcheth a wound with. Let me embrace thee, toad, and love thee, O thou abominable, loathsome gargarism, that will fetch up lungs, lights, heart, and liver, by scruples!

Brach. No more.---I must employ thee, honest doctor:
聽聽You must to Padua, and by the way,
聽聽Use some of your skill for us.

Doctor. Sir, I shall.

Brach. But for Camillo?

Flam. He dies this night, by such a politic strain,
聽聽Men shall suppose him by 's own engine slain.
聽聽But for your duchess' death------

Doctor. I 'll make her sure.

Brach. Small mischiefs are by greater made secure.

Flam. Remember this, you slave; when knaves come to preferment, they
聽聽rise as gallows in the Low Countries, one upon another's shoulders.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Exeunt. Monticelso, Camillo, and Francisco come forward.

Mont. Here is an emblem, nephew, pray peruse it:
聽聽'Twas thrown in at your window.

Cam. At my window!
聽聽Here is a stag, my lord, hath shed his horns,
聽聽And, for the loss of them, the poor beast weeps:
聽聽The word, Inopem me copia fecit.

Mont. That is,
聽聽Plenty of horns hath made him poor of horns.

Cam. What should this mean?

Mont. I 'll tell you; 'tis given out
聽聽You are a cuckold.

Cam. Is it given out so?
聽聽I had rather such reports as that, my lord,
聽聽Should keep within doors.

Fran. Have you any children?

Cam. None, my lord.

Fran. You are the happier:
聽聽I 'll tell you a tale.

Cam. Pray, my lord.

Fran. An old tale.
聽聽Upon a time Phbus, the god of light,
聽聽Or him we call the sun, would need to be married:
聽聽The gods gave their consent, and Mercury
聽聽Was sent to voice it to the general world.
聽聽But what a piteous cry there straight arose
聽聽Amongst smiths and felt-makers, brewers and cooks,
聽聽Reapers and butter-women, amongst fishmongers,
聽聽And thousand other trades, which are annoyed
聽聽By his excessive heat! 'twas lamentable.
聽聽They came to Jupiter all in a sweat,
聽聽And do forbid the banns. A great fat cook
聽聽Was made their speaker, who entreats of Jove
聽聽That Phbus might be gelded; for if now,
聽聽When there was but one sun, so many men
聽聽Were like to perish by his violent heat,
聽聽What should they do if he were married,
聽聽And should beget more, and those children
聽聽Make fireworks like their father? So say I;
聽聽Only I apply it to your wife;
聽聽Her issue, should not providence prevent it,
聽聽Would make both nature, time, and man repent it.

Mont. Look you, cousin,
聽聽Go, change the air for shame; see if your absence
聽聽Will blast your cornucopia. Marcello
聽聽Is chosen with you joint commissioner,
聽聽For the relieving our Italian coast
聽聽From pirates.

Marc. I am much honour'd in 't.

Cam. But, sir,
聽聽Ere I return, the stag's horns may be sprouted
聽聽Greater than those are shed.

Mont. Do not fear it;
聽聽I 'll be your ranger.

Cam. You must watch i' th' nights;
聽聽Then 's the most danger.

Fran. Farewell, good Marcello:
聽聽All the best fortunes of a soldier's wish
聽聽Bring you a-shipboard.

Cam. Were I not best, now I am turn'd soldier,
聽聽Ere that I leave my wife, sell all she hath,
聽聽And then take leave of her?

Mont. I expect good from you,
聽聽Your parting is so merry.

Cam. Merry, my lord! a' th' captain's humour right,
聽聽I am resolved to be drunk this night. [Exeunt.

Fran. So, 'twas well fitted; now shall we discern
聽聽How his wish'd absence will give violent way
聽聽To Duke Brachiano's lust.

Mont. Why, that was it;
聽聽To what scorn'd purpose else should we make choice
聽聽Of him for a sea-captain? and, besides,
聽聽Count Lodowick, which was rumour'd for a pirate,
聽聽Is now in Padua.

Fran. Is 't true?

Mont. Most certain.
聽聽I have letters from him, which are suppliant
聽聽To work his quick repeal from banishment:
聽聽He means to address himself for pension
聽聽Unto our sister duchess.

Fran. Oh, 'twas well!
聽聽We shall not want his absence past six days:
聽聽I fain would have the Duke Brachiano run
聽聽Into notorious scandal; for there 's naught
聽聽In such cursed dotage, to repair his name,
聽聽Only the deep sense of some deathless shame.

Mont. It may be objected, I am dishonourable
聽聽To play thus with my kinsman; but I answer,
聽聽For my revenge I 'd stake a brother's life,
聽聽That being wrong'd, durst not avenge himself.

Fran. Come, to observe this strumpet.

Mont. Curse of greatness!
聽聽Sure he 'll not leave her?

Fran. There 's small pity in 't:
聽聽Like mistletoe on sere elms spent by weather,
聽聽Let him cleave to her, and both rot together. [Exeunt.

Enter Brachiano, with one in the habit of a conjurer

Brach. Now, sir, I claim your promise: 'tis dead midnight,
聽聽The time prefix'd to show me by your art,
聽聽How the intended murder of Camillo,
聽聽And our loath'd duchess, grow to action.

Conj. You have won me by your bounty to a deed
聽聽I do not often practise. Some there are,
聽聽Which by sophistic tricks, aspire that name
聽聽Which I would gladly lose, of necromancer;
聽聽As some that use to juggle upon cards,
聽聽Seeming to conjure, when indeed they cheat;
聽聽Others that raise up their confederate spirits
聽聽'Bout windmills, and endanger their own necks
聽聽For making of a squib; and some there are
聽聽Will keep a curtal to show juggling tricks,
聽聽And give out 'tis a spirit; besides these,
聽聽Such a whole ream of almanac-makers, figure-flingers,
聽聽Fellows, indeed that only live by stealth,
聽聽Since they do merely lie about stol'n goods,
聽聽They 'd make men think the devil were fast and loose,
聽聽With speaking fustian Latin. Pray, sit down;
聽聽Put on this nightcap, sir, 'tis charmed; and now
聽聽I 'll show you, by my strong commanding art,
聽聽The circumstance that breaks your duchess' heart.

A Dumb Show

Enter suspiciously Julio and Christophero: they draw a curtain where Brachiano's picture is; they put on spectacles of glass, which cover their eyes and noses, and then burn perfumes before the picture, and wash the lips of the picture; that done, quenching the fire, and putting off their spectacles, they depart laughing.

Enter Isabella in her night-gown, as to bedward, with lights, after her, Count Lodovico, Giovanni, Guidantonio, and others waiting on her: she kneels down as to prayers, then draws the curtain of the picture, does three reverences to it, and kisses it thrice; she faints, and will not suffer them to come near it; dies; sorrow expressed in Giovanni, and in Count Lodovico. She is conveyed out solemnly.

Brach. Excellent! then she 's dead.

Conj. She 's poisoned
聽聽By the fumed picture. 'Twas her custom nightly,
聽聽Before she went to bed, to go and visit
聽聽Your picture, and to feed her eyes and lips
聽聽On the dead shadow: Doctor Julio,
聽聽Observing this, infects it with an oil,
聽聽And other poison'd stuff, which presently
聽聽Did suffocate her spirits.

Brach. Methought I saw
聽聽Count Lodowick there.

Conj. He was; and by my art
聽聽I find he did most passionately dote
聽聽Upon your duchess. Now turn another way,
聽聽And view Camillo's far more politic fate.
聽聽Strike louder, music, from this charmed ground,
聽聽To yield, as fits the act, a tragic sound!

The Second Dumb Show

Enter Flamineo, Marcello, Camillo, with four more as captains: they drink healths, and dance; a vaulting horse is brought into the room; Marcello and two more whispered out of the room, while Flamineo and Camillo strip themselves into their shirts, as to vault; compliment who shall begin; as Camillo is about to vault, Flamineo pitcheth him upon his neck, and, with the help of the rest, writhes his neck about; seems to see if it be broke, and lays him folded double, as 'twere under the horse; makes show to call for help; Marcello comes in, laments; sends for the cardinal and duke, who comes forth with armed men; wonders at the act; commands the body to be carried home; apprehends Flamineo, Marcello, and the rest, and go, as 'twere, to apprehend Vittoria.

Brach. 'Twas quaintly done; but yet each circumstance
聽聽I taste not fully.

Conj. Oh, 'twas most apparent!
聽聽You saw them enter, charg'd with their deep healths
聽聽To their boon voyage; and, to second that,
聽聽Flamineo calls to have a vaulting horse
聽聽Maintain their sport; the virtuous Marcello
聽聽Is innocently plotted forth the room;
聽聽Whilst your eye saw the rest, and can inform you
聽聽The engine of all.

Brach. It seems Marcello and Flamineo
聽聽Are both committed.

Conj. Yes, you saw them guarded;
聽聽And now they are come with purpose to apprehend
聽聽Your mistress, fair Vittoria. We are now
聽聽Beneath her roof: 'twere fit we instantly
聽聽Make out by some back postern.

Brach. Noble friend,
聽聽You bind me ever to you: this shall stand
聽聽As the firm seal annexed to my hand;
聽聽It shall enforce a payment. [Exit Brachiano.

Conj. Sir, I thank you.
聽聽Both flowers and weeds spring, when the sun is warm,
聽聽And great men do great good, or else great harm.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听摆贰虫颈迟.

Enter Francisco de Medicis, and Monticelso, their Chancellor and Register

Fran. You have dealt discreetly, to obtain the presence
聽聽Of all the great lieger ambassadors
聽聽To hear Vittoria's trial.

Mont. 'Twas not ill;
聽聽For, sir, you know we have naught but circumstances
聽聽To charge her with, about her husband's death:
聽聽Their approbation, therefore, to the proofs
聽聽Of her black lust shall make her infamous
聽聽To all our neighbouring kingdoms. I wonder
聽聽If Brachiano will be here?

Fran. Oh, fie! 'Twere impudence too palpable. [Exeunt.

Enter Flamineo and Marcello guarded, and a Lawyer

Lawyer. What, are you in by the week? So---I will try now whether they
聽聽wit be close prisoner---methinks none should sit upon thy sister, but
聽聽old whore-masters------

Flam. Or cuckolds; for your cuckold is your most terrible tickler of
聽聽lechery. Whore-masters would serve; for none are judges at tilting,
聽聽but those that have been old tilters.

Lawyer. My lord duke and she have been very private.

Flam. You are a dull ass; 'tis threatened they have been very public.

Lawyer. If it can be proved they have but kissed one another------

Flam. What then?

Lawyer. My lord cardinal will ferret them.

Flam. A cardinal, I hope, will not catch conies.

Lawyer. For to sow kisses (mark what I say), to sow kisses is to reap
聽聽lechery; and, I am sure, a woman that will endure kissing is half won.

Flam. True, her upper part, by that rule; if you will win her neither
聽聽part too, you know what follows.

Lawyer. Hark! the ambassadors are 'lighted------

Flam. I do put on this feigned garb of mirth,
聽聽To gull suspicion.

Marc. Oh, my unfortunate sister!
聽聽I would my dagger-point had cleft her heart
聽聽When she first saw Brachiano: you, 'tis said,
聽聽Were made his engine, and his stalking horse,
聽聽To undo my sister.

Flam. I am a kind of path
聽聽To her and mine own preferment.

Marc. Your ruin.

Flam. Hum! thou art a soldier,
聽聽Followest the great duke, feed'st his victories,
聽聽As witches do their serviceable spirits,
聽聽Even with thy prodigal blood: what hast got?
聽聽But, like the wealth of captains, a poor handful,
聽聽Which in thy palm thou bear'st, as men hold water;
聽聽Seeking to grip it fast, the frail reward
聽聽Steals through thy fingers.

Marc. Sir!

Flam. Thou hast scarce maintenance
聽聽To keep thee in fresh chamois.

Marc. Brother!

Flam. Hear me:
聽聽And thus, when we have even pour'd ourselves
聽聽Into great fights, for their ambition,
聽聽Or idle spleen, how shall we find reward?
聽聽But as we seldom find the mistletoe,
聽聽Sacred to physic, on the builder oak,
聽聽Without a mandrake by it; so in our quest of gain,
聽聽Alas, the poorest of their forc'd dislikes
聽聽At a limb proffers, but at heart it strikes!
聽聽This is lamented doctrine.

Marc. Come, come.

Flam. When age shall turn thee
聽聽White as a blooming hawthorn------

Marc. I 'll interrupt you:
聽聽For love of virtue bear an honest heart,
聽聽And stride o'er every politic respect,
聽聽Which, where they most advance, they most infect.
聽聽Were I your father, as I am your brother,
聽聽I should not be ambitious to leave you
聽聽A better patrimony.

Flam. I 'll think on 't. [Enter Savoy Ambassador.
聽聽The lord ambassadors.

[Here there is a passage of the Lieger Ambassadors over the stage
听听蝉别惫别谤补濒濒测.

Enter French Ambassador

Lawyer. Oh, my sprightly Frenchman! Do you know him? he 's an admirable tilter.

Flam. I saw him at last tilting: he showed like a pewter candlestick fashioned like a man in armour, holding a tilting staff in his hand, little bigger than a candle of twelve i' th' pound.

Lawyer. Oh, but he's an excellent horseman!

Flam. A lame one in his lofty tricks; he sleeps a-horseback, like a poulterer.

Enter English and Spanish

Lawyer. Lo you, my Spaniard!

Flam. He carried his face in 's ruff, as I have seen a serving-man carry glasses in a cypress hatband, monstrous steady, for fear of breaking; he looks like the claw of a blackbird, first salted, and then broiled in a candle. [Exeunt.

The Arraignment of Vittoria

Enter Francisco, Monticelso, the six Lieger Ambassadors, Brachiano,
聽聽Vittoria, Zanche, Flamineo, Marcello, Lawyer, and a Guard.

Mont. Forbear, my lord, here is no place assign'd you.
聽聽This business, by his Holiness, is left
聽聽To our examination.

Brach. May it thrive with you. [Lays a rich gown under him.

Fran. A chair there for his Lordship.

Brach. Forbear your kindness: an unbidden guest
聽聽Should travel as Dutch women go to church,
聽聽Bear their stools with them.

Mont. At your pleasure, sir.
聽聽Stand to the table, gentlewoman. Now, signior,
聽聽Fall to your plea.

Lawyer. Domine judex, converte oculos in hanc pestem, mulierum
听听肠辞谤谤耻辫迟颈蝉蝉颈尘补苍.

Vit. What 's he?

Fran. A lawyer that pleads against you.

Vit. Pray, my lord, let him speak his usual tongue,
聽聽I 'll make no answer else.

Fran. Why, you understand Latin.

Vit. I do, sir, but amongst this auditory
聽聽Which come to hear my cause, the half or more
聽聽May be ignorant in 't.

Mont. Go on, sir.

Vit. By your favour,
聽聽I will not have my accusation clouded
聽聽In a strange tongue: all this assembly
聽聽Shall hear what you can charge me with.

Fran. Signior,
聽聽You need not stand on 't much; pray, change your language.

Mont. Oh, for God's sake---Gentlewoman, your credit
聽聽Shall be more famous by it.

Lawyer. Well then, have at you.

Vit. I am at the mark, sir; I 'll give aim to you,
聽聽And tell you how near you shoot.

Lawyer. Most literated judges, please your lordships
聽聽So to connive your judgments to the view
聽聽Of this debauch'd and diversivolent woman;
聽聽Who such a black concatenation
聽聽Of mischief hath effected, that to extirp
聽聽The memory of 't, must be the consummation
聽聽Of her, and her projections------

Vit. What 's all this?

Lawyer. Hold your peace!
聽聽Exorbitant sins must have exulceration.

Vit. Surely, my lords, this lawyer here hath swallow'd
聽聽Some 'pothecaries' bills, or proclamations;
聽聽And now the hard and undigestible words
聽聽Come up, like stones we use give hawks for physic.
聽聽Why, this is Welsh to Latin.

Lawyer. My lords, the woman
聽聽Knows not her tropes, nor figures, nor is perfect
聽聽In the academic derivation
聽聽Of grammatical elocution.

Fran. Sir, your pains
聽聽Shall be well spar'd, and your deep eloquence
聽聽Be worthily applauded amongst thouse
聽聽Which understand you.

Lawyer. My good lord.

Fran. Sir,
聽聽Put up your papers in your fustian bag---
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Francisco speaks this as in scorn.
聽聽Cry mercy, sir, 'tis buckram and accept
聽聽My notion of your learn'd verbosity.

Lawyer. I most graduatically thank your lordship:
聽聽I shall have use for them elsewhere.

Mont. I shall be plainer with you, and paint out
聽聽Your follies in more natural red and white
聽聽Than that upon your cheek.

Vit. Oh, you mistake!
聽聽You raise a blood as noble in this cheek
聽聽As ever was your mother's.

Mont. I must spare you, till proof cry whore to that.
聽聽Observe this creature here, my honour'd lords,
聽聽A woman of most prodigious spirit,
聽聽In her effected.

Vit. My honourable lord,
聽聽It doth not suit a reverend cardinal
聽聽To play the lawyer thus.

Mont. Oh, your trade instructs your language!
聽聽You see, my lords, what goodly fruit she seems;
聽聽Yet like those apples travellers report
聽聽To grow where Sodom and Gomorrah stood,
聽聽I will but touch her, and you straight shall see
聽聽She 'll fall to soot and ashes.

Vit. Your envenom'd 'pothecary should do 't.

Mont. I am resolv'd,
聽聽Were there a second paradise to lose,
聽聽This devil would betray it.

Vit. O poor Charity!
聽聽Thou art seldom found in scarlet.

Mont. Who knows not how, when several night by night
聽聽Her gates were chok'd with coaches, and her rooms
聽聽Outbrav'd the stars with several kind of lights;
聽聽When she did counterfeit a prince's court
聽聽In music, banquets, and most riotous surfeits;
聽聽This whore forsooth was holy.

Vit. Ha! whore! what 's that?

Mont. Shall I expound whore to you? sure I shall;
聽聽I 'll give their perfect character. They are first,
聽聽Sweetmeats which rot the eater; in man's nostrils
聽聽Poison'd perfumes. They are cozening alchemy;
聽聽Shipwrecks in calmest weather. What are whores!
聽聽Cold Russian winters, that appear so barren,
聽聽As if that nature had forgot the spring.
聽聽They are the true material fire of hell:
聽聽Worse than those tributes i' th' Low Countries paid,
聽聽Exactions upon meat, drink, garments, sleep,
聽聽Ay, even on man's perdition, his sin.
聽聽They are those brittle evidences of law,
聽聽Which forfeit all a wretched man's estate
聽聽For leaving out one syllable. What are whores!
聽聽They are those flattering bells have all one tune,
聽聽At weddings, and at funerals. Your rich whores
聽聽Are only treasuries by extortion fill'd,
聽聽And emptied by curs'd riot. They are worse,
聽聽Worse than dead bodies which are begg'd at gallows,
聽聽And wrought upon by surgeons, to teach man
聽聽Wherein he is imperfect. What's a whore!
聽聽She 's like the guilty counterfeited coin,
聽聽Which, whosoe'er first stamps it, brings in trouble
聽聽All that receive it.

Vit. This character 'scapes me.

Mont. You, gentlewoman!
聽聽Take from all beasts and from all minerals
聽聽Their deadly poison------

Vit. Well, what then?

Mont. I 'll tell thee;
聽聽I 'll find in thee a 'pothecary's shop,
聽聽To sample them all.

Fr. Ambass. She hath liv'd ill.

Eng. Ambass. True, but the cardinal 's too bitter.

Mont. You know what whore is. Next the devil adultery,
聽聽Enters the devil murder.

Fran. Your unhappy husband
聽聽Is dead.

Vit. Oh, he 's a happy husband!
聽聽Now he owes nature nothing.

Fran. And by a vaulting engine.

Mont. An active plot; he jump'd into his grave.

Fran. What a prodigy was 't,
聽聽That from some two yards' height, a slender man
聽聽Should break his neck!

Mont. I' th' rushes!

Fran. And what's more,
聽聽Upon the instant lose all use of speech,
聽聽All vital motion, like a man had lain
聽聽Wound up three days. Now mark each circumstance.

Mont. And look upon this creature was his wife!
聽聽She comes not like a widow; she comes arm'd
聽聽With scorn and impudence: is this a mourning-habit?

Vit. Had I foreknown his death, as you suggest,
聽聽I would have bespoke my mourning.

Mont. Oh, you are cunning!

Vit. You shame your wit and judgment,
聽聽To call it so. What! is my just defence
聽聽By him that is my judge call'd impudence?
聽聽Let me appeal then from this Christian court,
聽聽To the uncivil Tartar.

Mont. See, my lords,
聽聽She scandals our proceedings.

Vit. Humbly thus,
聽聽Thus low to the most worthy and respected
聽聽Lieger ambassadors, my modesty
聽聽And womanhood I tender; but withal,
聽聽So entangled in a curs'd accusation,
聽聽That my defence, of force, like Perseus,
聽聽Must personate masculine virtue. To the point.
聽聽Find me but guilty, sever head from body,
聽聽We 'll part good friends: I scorn to hold my life
聽聽At yours, or any man's entreaty, sir.

Eng. Ambass. She hath a brave spirit.

Mont. Well, well, such counterfeit jewels
聽聽Make true ones oft suspected.

Vit. You are deceiv'd:
聽聽For know, that all your strict-combined heads,
聽聽Which strike against this mine of diamonds,
聽聽Shall prove but glassen hammers: they shall break.
聽聽These are but feigned shadows of my evils.
聽聽Terrify babes, my lord, with painted devils,
聽聽I am past such needless palsy. For your names
聽聽Of 'whore' and 'murderess', they proceed from you,
聽聽As if a man should spit against the wind,
聽聽The filth returns in 's face.

Mont. Pray you, mistress, satisfy me one question:
聽聽Who lodg'd beneath your roof that fatal night
聽聽Your husband broke his neck?

Brach. That question
聽聽Enforceth me break silence: I was there.

Mont. Your business?

Brach. Why, I came to comfort her,
聽聽And take some course for settling her estate,
聽聽Because I heard her husband was in debt
聽聽To you, my lord.

Mont. He was.

Brach. And 'twas strangely fear'd,
聽聽That you would cozen her.

Mont. Who made you overseer?

Brach. Why, my charity, my charity, which should flow
聽聽From every generous and noble spirit,
聽聽To orphans and to widows.

Mont. Your lust!

Brach. Cowardly dogs bark loudest: sirrah priest,
聽聽I 'll talk with you hereafter. Do you hear?
聽聽The sword you frame of such an excellent temper,
聽聽I 'll sheath in your own bowels.
聽聽There are a number of thy coat resemble
聽聽Your common post-boys.

Mont. Ha!

Brach. Your mercenary post-boys;
聽聽Your letters carry truth, but 'tis your guise
聽聽To fill your mouths with gross and impudent lies.

Servant. My lord, your gown.

Brach. Thou liest, 'twas my stool:
聽聽Bestow 't upon thy master, that will challenge
聽聽The rest o' th' household-stuff; for Brachiano
聽聽Was ne'er so beggarly to take a stool
聽聽Out of another's lodging: let him make
聽聽Vallance for his bed on 't, or a demy foot-cloth
聽聽For his most reverend moil. Monticelso,
聽聽Nemo me impune lacessit. [Exit.

Mont. Your champion's gone.

Vit. The wolf may prey the better.

Fran. My lord, there 's great suspicion of the murder,
聽聽But no sound proof who did it. For my part,
聽聽I do not think she hath a soul so black
聽聽To act a deed so bloody; if she have,
聽聽As in cold countries husbandmen plant vines,
聽聽And with warm blood manure them; even so
聽聽One summer she will bear unsavoury fruit,
聽聽And ere next spring wither both branch and root.
聽聽The act of blood let pass; only descend
聽聽To matters of incontinence.

Vit. I discern poison
聽聽Under your gilded pills.

Mont. Now the duke's gone, I will produce a letter
聽聽Wherein 'twas plotted, he and you should meet
聽聽At an apothecary's summer-house,
聽聽Down by the River Tiber,---view 't, my lords,
聽聽Where after wanton bathing and the heat
聽聽Of a lascivious banquet---I pray read it,
聽聽I shame to speak the rest.

Vit. Grant I was tempted;
聽聽Temptation to lust proves not the act:
聽聽Casta est quam nemo rogavit.
聽聽You read his hot love to me, but you want
聽聽My frosty answer.

Mont. Frost i' th' dog-days! strange!

Vit. Condemn you me for that the duke did love me?
聽聽So may you blame some fair and crystal river,
聽聽For that some melancholic distracted man
聽聽Hath drown'd himself in 't.

Mont. Truly drown'd, indeed.

Vit. Sum up my faults, I pray, and you shall find,
聽聽That beauty and gay clothes, a merry heart,
聽聽And a good stomach to feast, are all,
聽聽All the poor crimes that you can charge me with.
聽聽In faith, my lord, you might go pistol flies,
聽聽The sport would be more noble.

Mont. Very good.

Vit. But take your course: it seems you 've beggar'd me first,
聽聽And now would fain undo me. I have houses,
聽聽Jewels, and a poor remnant of crusadoes;
聽聽Would those would make you charitable!

Mont. If the devil
聽聽Did ever take good shape, behold his picture.

Vit. You have one virtue left,
聽聽You will not flatter me.

Fran. Who brought this letter?

Vit. I am not compell'd to tell you.

Mont. My lord duke sent to you a thousand ducats
聽聽The twelfth of August.

Vit. 'Twas to keep your cousin
聽聽From prison; I paid use for 't.

Mont. I rather think,
聽聽'Twas interest for his lust.

Vit. Who says so but yourself?
聽聽If you be my accuser,
聽聽Pray cease to be my judge: come from the bench;
聽聽Give in your evidence 'gainst me, and let these
聽聽Be moderators. My lord cardinal,
聽聽Were your intelligencing ears as loving
聽聽As to my thoughts, had you an honest tongue,
聽聽I would not care though you proclaim'd them all.

Mont. Go to, go to.
聽聽After your goodly and vainglorious banquet,
聽聽I 'll give you a choke-pear.

Vit. O' your own grafting?

Mont. You were born in Venice, honourably descended
聽聽From the Vittelli: 'twas my cousin's fate,
聽聽Ill may I name the hour, to marry you;
聽聽He bought you of your father.

Vit. Ha!

Mont. He spent there in six months
聽聽Twelve thousand ducats, and (to my acquaintance)
聽聽Receiv'd in dowry with you not one Julio:
聽聽'Twas a hard pennyworth, the ware being so light.
聽聽I yet but draw the curtain; now to your picture:
聽聽You came from thence a most notorious strumpet,
聽聽And so you have continued.

Vit. My lord!

Mont. Nay, hear me,
聽聽You shall have time to prate. My Lord Brachiano---
聽聽Alas! I make but repetition
聽聽Of what is ordinary and Rialto talk,
聽聽And ballated, and would be play'd a' th' stage,
聽聽But that vice many times finds such loud friends,
聽聽That preachers are charm'd silent.
聽聽You, gentlemen, Flamineo and Marcello,
聽聽The Court hath nothing now to charge you with,
聽聽Only you must remain upon your sureties
聽聽For your appearance.

Fran. I stand for Marcello.

Flam. And my lord duke for me.

Mont. For you, Vittoria, your public fault,
聽聽Join'd to th' condition of the present time,
聽聽Takes from you all the fruits of noble pity,
聽聽Such a corrupted trial have you made
聽聽Both of your life and beauty, and been styl'd
聽聽No less an ominous fate than blazing stars
聽聽To princes. Hear your sentence: you are confin'd
聽聽Unto a house of convertites, and your bawd------

Flam. [Aside.] Who, I?

Mont. The Moor.

Flam. [Aside.] Oh, I am a sound man again.

Vit. A house of convertites! what 's that?

Mont. A house of penitent whores.

Vit. Do the noblemen in Rome
聽聽Erect it for their wives, that I am sent
聽聽To lodge there?

Fran. You must have patience.

Vit. I must first have vengeance!
聽聽I fain would know if you have your salvation
聽聽By patent, that you proceed thus.

Mont. Away with her,
聽聽Take her hence.

Vit. A rape! a rape!

Mont. How?

Vit. Yes, you have ravish'd justice;
聽聽Forc'd her to do your pleasure.

Mont. Fie, she 's mad------

Vit. Die with those pills in your most cursed maw,
聽聽Should bring you health! or while you sit o' th' bench,
聽聽Let your own spittle choke you!

Mont. She 's turned fury.

Vit. That the last day of judgment may so find you,
聽聽And leave you the same devil you were before!
聽聽Instruct me, some good horse-leech, to speak treason;
聽聽For since you cannot take my life for deeds,
聽聽Take it for words. O woman's poor revenge,
聽聽Which dwells but in the tongue! I will not weep;
聽聽No, I do scorn to call up one poor tear
聽聽To fawn on your injustice: bear me hence
聽聽Unto this house of---what's your mitigating title?

Mont. Of convertites.

Vit. It shall not be a house of convertites;
聽聽My mind shall make it honester to me
聽聽Than the Pope's palace, and more peaceable
聽聽Than thy soul, though thou art a cardinal.
聽聽Know this, and let it somewhat raise your spite,
聽聽Through darkness diamonds spread their richest light. [Exit.

Enter Brachiano

Brach. Now you and I are friends, sir, we'll shake hands
聽聽In a friend's grave together; a fit place,
聽聽Being th' emblem of soft peace, t' atone our hatred.

Fran. Sir, what 's the matter?

Brach. I will not chase more blood from that lov'd cheek;
聽聽You have lost too much already; fare you well. [Exit.

Fran. How strange these words sound! what 's the interpretation?

Flam. [Aside.] Good; this is a preface to the discovery of the duchess' death: he carries it well. Because now I cannot counterfeit a whining passion for the death of my lady, I will feign a mad humour for the disgrace of my sister; and that will keep off idle questions. Treason's tongue hath a villainous palsy in 't; I will talk to any man, hear no man, and for a time appear a politic madman.

Enter Giovanni, and Count Lodovico

Fran. How now, my noble cousin? what, in black!

Giov. Yes, uncle, I was taught to imitate you
聽聽In virtue, and you must imitate me
聽聽In colours of your garments. My sweet mother
听听滨蝉------

Fran. How? where?

Giov. Is there; no, yonder: indeed, sir, I 'll not tell you,
聽聽For I shall make you weep.

Fran. Is dead?

Giov. Do not blame me now,
聽聽I did not tell you so.

Lodo. She 's dead, my lord.

Fran. Dead!

Mont. Bless'd lady, thou art now above thy woes!
聽聽Will 't please your lordships to withdraw a little?

Giov. What do the dead do, uncle? do they eat,
聽聽Hear music, go a-hunting, and be merry,
聽聽As we that live?

Fran. No, coz; they sleep.

Giov. Lord, Lord, that I were dead!
聽聽I have not slept these six nights. When do they wake?

Fran. When God shall please.

Giov. Good God, let her sleep ever!
聽聽For I have known her wake an hundred nights,
聽聽When all the pillow where she laid her head
聽聽Was brine-wet with her tears. I am to complain to you, sir;
聽聽I 'll tell you how they have us'd her now she 's dead:
聽聽They wrapp'd her in a cruel fold of lead,
聽聽And would not let me kiss her.

Fran. Thou didst love her?

Giov. I have often heard her say she gave me suck,
聽聽And it should seem by that she dearly lov'd me,
聽聽Since princes seldom do it.

Fran. Oh, all of my poor sister that remains!
聽聽Take him away for God's sake! [Exit Giovanni.

Mont. How now, my lord?

Fran. Believe me, I am nothing but her grave;
聽聽And I shall keep her blessed memory
聽聽Longer than thousand epitaphs.

Enter Flamineo as distracted, Marcello, and Lodovico

Flam. We endure the strokes like anvils or hard steel, Till pain itself make us no pain to feel. Who shall do me right now? is this the end of service? I'd rather go weed garlic; travail through France, and be mine own ostler; wear sheep-skin linings, or shoes that stink of blacking; be entered into the list of the forty thousand pedlars in Poland. [Enter Savoy Ambassador.] Would I had rotted in some surgeon's house at Venice, built upon the pox as well as on piles, ere I had served Brachiano!

Savoy Ambass. You must have comfort.

Flam. Your comfortable words are like honey: they relish well in your mouth that 's whole, but in mine that 's wounded, they go down as if the sting of the bee were in them. Oh, they have wrought their purpose cunningly, as if they would not seem to do it of malice! In this a politician imitates the devil, as the devil imitates a canon; wheresoever he comes to do mischief, he comes with his backside towards you.

Enter French Ambassador

Fr. Ambass. The proofs are evident.

Flam. Proof! 'twas corruption. O gold, what a god art thou! and O man, what a devil art thou to be tempted by that cursed mineral! Your diversivolent lawyer, mark him! knaves turn informers, as maggots turn to flies, you may catch gudgeons with either. A cardinal! I would he would hear me: there 's nothing so holy but money will corrupt and putrify it, like victual under the line. [Enter English Ambassador.] You are happy in England, my lord; here they sell justice with those weights they press men to death with. O horrible salary!

Eng. Ambass. Fie, fie, Flamineo.

Flam. Bells ne'er ring well, till they are at their full pitch; and I hope yon cardinal shall never have the grace to pray well, till he come to the scaffold. If they were racked now to know the confederacy: but your noblemen are privileged from the rack; and well may, for a little thing would pull some of them a-pieces afore they came to their arraignment. Religion, oh, how it is commeddled with policy! The first blood shed in the world happened about religion. Would I were a Jew!

Marc. Oh, there are too many!

Flam. You are deceived; there are not Jews enough, priests enough, nor gentlemen enough.

Marc. How?

Flam. I 'll prove it; for if there were Jews enough, so many Christians would not turn usurers; if priests enough, one should not have six benefices; and if gentlemen enough, so many early mushrooms, whose best growth sprang from a live by begging: be thou one of them practise the art of Wolner in England, to swallow all 's given thee: and yet let one purgation make thee as hungry again as fellows that work in a saw-pit. I 'll go hear the screech-owl. [Exit.

Lodo. This was Brachiano's pander; and 'tis strange
聽聽That in such open, and apparent guilt
聽聽Of his adulterous sister, he dare utter
聽聽So scandalous a passion. I must wind him.

Re-enter Flamineo.

Flam. How dares this banish'd count return to Rome,
聽聽His pardon not yet purchas'd! I have heard
聽聽The deceased duchess gave him pension,
聽聽And that he came along from Padua
聽聽I' th' train of the young prince. There 's somewhat in 't:
聽聽Physicians, that cure poisons, still do work
聽聽With counter-poisons.

Marc. Mark this strange encounter.

Flam. The god of melancholy turn thy gall to poison,
聽聽And let the stigmatic wrinkles in thy face,
聽聽Like to the boisterous waves in a rough tide,
聽聽One still overtake another.

Lodo. I do thank thee,
聽聽And I do wish ingeniously for thy sake,
聽聽The dog-days all year long.

Flam. How croaks the raven?
聽聽Is our good duchess dead?

Lodo. Dead.

Flam. O fate!
聽聽Misfortune comes like the coroner's business
聽聽Huddle upon huddle.

Lodo. Shalt thou and I join housekeeping?

Flam. Yes, content:
聽聽Let 's be unsociably sociable.

Lodo. Sit some three days together, and discourse?

Flam. Only with making faces;
聽聽Lie in our clothes.

Lodo. With faggots for our pillows.

Flam. And be lousy.

Lodo. In taffeta linings, that 's genteel melancholy;
聽聽Sleep all day.

Flam. Yes; and, like your melancholic hare,
聽聽Feed after midnight. [Enter Antonelli and Gasparo.
聽聽We are observed: see how yon couple grieve.

Lodo. What a strange creature is a laughing fool!
聽聽As if man were created to no use
聽聽But only to show his teeth.

Flam. I 'll tell thee what,
聽聽It would do well instead of looking-glasses,
聽聽To set one's face each morning by a saucer
聽聽Of a witch's congeal'd blood.

Lodo. Precious rogue!
聽聽We'll never part.

Flam. Never, till the beggary of courtiers,
聽聽The discontent of churchmen, want of soldiers,
聽聽And all the creatures that hang manacled,
聽聽Worse than strappadoed, on the lowest felly
聽聽Of fortune's wheel, be taught, in our two lives,
聽聽To scorn that world which life of means deprives.

Ant. My lord, I bring good news. The Pope, on 's death bed,
聽聽At th' earnest suit of the great Duke of Florence,
聽聽Hath sign'd your pardon, and restor'd unto you------

Lodo. I thank you for your news. Look up again,
聽聽Flamineo, see my pardon.

Flam. Why do you laugh?
聽聽There was no such condition in our covenant.

Lodo. Why?

Flam. You shall not seem a happier man than I:
聽聽You know our vow, sir; if you will be merry,
聽聽Do it i' th' like posture, as if some great man
聽聽Sat while his enemy were executed:
聽聽Though it be very lechery unto thee,
聽聽Do 't with a crabbed politician's face.

Lodo. Your sister is a damnable whore.

Flam. Ha!

Lodo. Look you, I spake that laughing.

Flam. Dost ever think to speak again?

Lodo. Do you hear?
聽聽Wilt sell me forty ounces of her blood
聽聽To water a mandrake?

Flam. Poor lord, you did vow
聽聽To live a lousy creature.

Lodo. Yes.

Flam. Like one
聽聽That had for ever forfeited the daylight,
聽聽By being in debt.

Lodo. Ha, ha!

Flam. I do not greatly wonder you do break,
聽聽Your lordship learn'd 't long since. But I 'll tell you.

Lodo. What?

Flam. And 't shall stick by you.

Lodo. I long for it.

Flam. This laughter scurvily becomes your face:
聽聽If you will not be melancholy, be angry. [Strikes him.
聽聽See, now I laugh too.

Marc. You are to blame: I 'll force you hence.

Lodo. Unhand me. [Exeunt Marcello and Flamineo.
聽聽That e'er I should be forc'd to right myself,
聽聽Upon a pander!

Ant. My lord.

Lodo. H' had been as good met with his fist a thunderbolt.

Gas. How this shows!

Lodo. Ud's death! how did my sword miss him?
聽聽These rogues that are most weary of their lives
聽聽Still 'scape the greatest dangers.
聽聽A pox upon him; all his reputation,
聽聽Nay, all the goodness of his family,
聽聽Is not worth half this earthquake:
聽聽I learn'd it of no fencer to shake thus:
聽聽Come, I 'll forget him, and go drink some wine.
听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听摆贰虫别耻苍迟.

Enter Francisco and Monticelso

Mont. Come, come, my lord, untie your folded thoughts,
聽聽And let them dangle loose, as a bride's hair.
聽聽Your sister's poisoned.

Fran. Far be it from my thoughts
聽聽To seek revenge.

Mont. What, are you turn'd all marble?

Fran. Shall I defy him, and impose a war,
聽聽Most burthensome on my poor subjects' necks,
聽聽Which at my will I have not power to end?
聽聽You know, for all the murders, rapes, and thefts,
聽聽Committed in the horrid lust of war,
聽聽He that unjustly caus'd it first proceed,
聽聽Shall find it in his grave, and in his seed.

Mont. That 's not the course I 'd wish you; pray observe me.
聽聽We see that undermining more prevails
聽聽Than doth the cannon. Bear your wrongs conceal'd,
聽聽And, patient as the tortoise, let this camel
聽聽Stalk o'er your back unbruis'd: sleep with the lion,
聽聽And let this brood of secure foolish mice
聽聽Play with your nostrils, till the time be ripe
聽聽For th' bloody audit, and the fatal gripe:
聽聽Aim like a cunning fowler, close one eye,
聽聽That you the better may your game espy.

Fran. Free me, my innocence, from treacherous acts!
聽聽I know there 's thunder yonder; and I 'll stand,
聽聽Like a safe valley, which low bends the knee
聽聽To some aspiring mountain: since I know
聽聽Treason, like spiders weaving nets for flies,
聽聽By her foul work is found, and in it dies.
聽聽To pass away these thoughts, my honour'd lord,
聽聽It is reported you possess a book,
聽聽Wherein you have quoted, by intelligence,
聽聽The names of all notorious offenders
聽聽Lurking about the city.

Mont. Sir, I do;
聽聽And some there are which call it my black-book.
聽聽Well may the title hold; for though it teach not
聽聽The art of conjuring, yet in it lurk
聽聽The names of many devils.

Fran. Pray let 's see it.

Mont. I 'll fetch it to your lordship. [Exit.

Fran. Monticelso,
聽聽I will not trust thee, but in all my plots
聽聽I 'll rest as jealous as a town besieg'd.
聽聽Thou canst not reach what I intend to act:
聽聽Your flax soon kindles, soon is out again,
聽聽But gold slow heats, and long will hot remain.

Enter Monticelso, with the book

Mont. 'Tis here, my lord.

Fran. First, your intelligencers, pray let 's see.

Mont. Their number rises strangely;
聽聽And some of them
聽聽You 'd take for honest men.
聽聽Next are panders.
聽聽These are your pirates; and these following leaves
聽聽For base rogues, that undo young gentlemen,
聽聽By taking up commodities; for politic bankrupts;
聽聽For fellows that are bawds to their own wives,
聽聽Only to put off horses, and slight jewels,
聽聽Clocks, defac'd plate, and such commodities,
聽聽At birth of their first children.

Fran. Are there such?

Mont. These are for impudent bawds,
聽聽That go in men's apparel; for usurers
聽聽That share with scriveners for their good reportage:
聽聽For lawyers that will antedate their writs:
聽聽And some divines you might find folded there,
聽聽But that I slip them o'er for conscience' sake.
聽聽Here is a general catalogue of knaves:
聽聽A man might study all the prisons o'er,
聽聽Yet never attain this knowledge.

Fran. Murderers?
聽聽Fold down the leaf, I pray;
聽聽Good my lord, let me borrow this strange doctrine.

Mont. Pray, use 't, my lord.

Fran. I do assure your lordship,
聽聽You are a worthy member of the State,
聽聽And have done infinite good in your discovery
聽聽Of these offenders.

Mont. Somewhat, sir.

Fran. O God!
聽聽Better than tribute of wolves paid in England;
聽聽'Twill hang their skins o' th' hedge.

Mont. I must make bold
聽聽To leave your lordship.

Fran. Dearly, sir, I thank you:
聽聽If any ask for me at court, report
聽聽You have left me in the company of knaves.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Exit Monticelso.
聽聽I gather now by this, some cunning fellow
聽聽That 's my lord's officer, and that lately skipp'd
聽聽From a clerk's desk up to a justice' chair,
聽聽Hath made this knavish summons, and intends,
聽聽As th' Irish rebels wont were to sell heads,
聽聽So to make prize of these. And thus it happens:
聽聽Your poor rogues pay for 't, which have not the means
聽聽To present bribe in fist; the rest o' th' band
聽聽Are razed out of the knaves' record; or else
聽聽My lord he winks at them with easy will;
聽聽His man grows rich, the knaves are the knaves still.
聽聽But to the use I 'll make of it; it shall serve
聽聽To point me out a list of murderers,
聽聽Agents for my villany. Did I want
聽聽Ten leash of courtesans, it would furnish me;
聽聽Nay, laundress three armies. That in so little paper
聽聽Should lie th' undoing of so many men!
聽聽'Tis not so big as twenty declarations.
聽聽See the corrupted use some make of books:
聽聽Divinity, wrested by some factious blood,
聽聽Draws swords, swells battles, and o'erthrows all good.
聽聽To fashion my revenge more seriously,
聽聽Let me remember my dear sister's face:
聽聽Call for her picture? no, I 'll close mine eyes,
聽聽And in a melancholic thought I 'll frame
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Enter Isabella's Ghost.
聽聽Her figure 'fore me. Now I ha' 't---how strong
聽聽Imagination works! how she can frame
聽聽Things which are not! methinks she stands afore me,
聽聽And by the quick idea of my mind,
聽聽Were my skill pregnant, I could draw her picture.
聽聽Thought, as a subtle juggler, makes us deem
聽聽Things supernatural, which have cause
聽聽Common as sickness. 'Tis my melancholy.
聽聽How cam'st thou by thy death?---how idle am I
聽聽To question mine own idleness!---did ever
聽聽Man dream awake till now?---remove this object;
聽聽Out of my brain with 't: what have I to do
聽聽With tombs, or death-beds, funerals, or tears,
聽聽That have to meditate upon revenge? [Exit Ghost.
聽聽So, now 'tis ended, like an old wife's story.
聽聽Statesmen think often they see stranger sights
聽聽Than madmen. Come, to this weighty business.
聽聽My tragedy must have some idle mirth in 't,
聽聽Else it will never pass. I am in love,
聽聽In love with Corombona; and my suit
聽聽Thus halts to her in verse.--- [He writes.
聽聽I have done it rarely: Oh, the fate of princes!
聽聽I am so us'd to frequent flattery,
聽聽That, being alone, I now flatter myself:
聽聽But it will serve; 'tis seal'd. [Enter servant.] Bear this
聽聽To the House of Convertites, and watch your leisure
聽聽To give it to the hands of Corombona,
聽聽Or to the Matron, when some followers
聽聽Of Brachiano may be by. Away! [Exit Servant.
聽聽He that deals all by strength, his wit is shallow;
聽聽When a man's head goes through, each limb will follow.
聽聽The engine for my business, bold Count Lodowick;
聽聽'Tis gold must such an instrument procure,
聽聽With empty fist no man doth falcons lure.
聽聽Brachiano, I am now fit for thy encounter:
聽聽Like the wild Irish, I 'll ne'er think thee dead
聽聽Till I can play at football with thy head,
聽聽Flectere si nequeo superos, Acheronta movebo. [Exit.

Enter the Matron, and Flamineo

Matron. Should it be known the duke hath such recourse
聽聽To your imprison'd sister, I were like
聽聽T' incur much damage by it.

Flam. Not a scruple.
聽聽The Pope lies on his death-bed, and their heads
聽聽Are troubled now with other business
聽聽Than guarding of a lady.

Enter Servant

Servant. Yonder 's Flamineo in conference
聽聽With the Matrona.---Let me speak with you:
聽聽I would entreat you to deliver for me
聽聽This letter to the fair Vittoria.

Matron. I shall, sir.

Enter Brachiano

Servant. With all care and secrecy;
聽聽Hereafter you shall know me, and receive
聽聽Thanks for this courtesy. [Exit.

Flam. How now? what 's that?

Matron. A letter.

Flam. To my sister? I 'll see 't deliver'd.

Brach. What 's that you read, Flamineo?

Flam. Look.

Brach. Ha! 'To the most unfortunate, his best respected Vittoria'.
聽聽Who was the messenger?

Flam. I know not.

Brach. No! who sent it?

Flam. Ud's foot! you speak as if a man
聽聽Should know what fowl is coffin'd in a bak'd meat
聽聽Afore you cut it up.

Brach. I 'll open 't, were 't her heart. What 's here subscrib'd!
聽聽Florence! this juggling is gross and palpable.
聽聽I have found out the conveyance. Read it, read it.

Flam. [Reads the letter.] "Your tears I 'll turn to triumphs, be but
听听尘颈苍别;
聽聽Your prop is fallen: I pity, that a vine
聽聽Which princes heretofore have long'd to gather,
聽聽Wanting supporters, now should fade and wither."
聽聽Wine, i' faith, my lord, with lees would serve his turn.
聽聽"Your sad imprisonment I 'll soon uncharm,
聽聽And with a princely uncontrolled arm
聽聽Lead you to Florence, where my love and care
聽聽Shall hang your wishes in my silver hair."
聽聽A halter on his strange equivocation!
聽聽"Nor for my years return me the sad willow;
聽聽Who prefer blossoms before fruit that 's mellow?"
聽聽Rotten, on my knowledge, with lying too long i' th' bedstraw.
聽聽"And all the lines of age this line convinces;
聽聽The gods never wax old, no more do princes."
聽聽A pox on 't, tear it; let 's have no more atheists, for God's sake.

Brach. Ud's death! I 'll cut her into atomies,
聽聽And let th' irregular north wind sweep her up,
聽聽And blow her int' his nostrils: where 's this whore?

Flam. What? what do you call her?

Brach. Oh, I could be mad!
聽聽Prevent the curs'd disease she 'll bring me to,
聽聽And tear my hair off. Where 's this changeable stuff?

Flam. O'er head and ears in water, I assure you;
聽聽She is not for your wearing.

Brach. In, you pander!

Flam. What, me, my lord? am I your dog?

Brach. A bloodhound: do you brave, do you stand me?

Flam. Stand you! let those that have diseases run;
聽聽I need no plasters.

Brach. Would you be kick'd?

Flam. Would you have your neck broke?
聽聽I tell you, duke, I am not in Russia;
聽聽My shins must be kept whole.

Brach. Do you know me?

Flam. Oh, my lord, methodically!
聽聽As in this world there are degrees of evils,
聽聽So in this world there are degrees of devils.
聽聽You 're a great duke, I your poor secretary.
聽聽I do look now for a Spanish fig, or an Italian sallet, daily.

Brach. Pander, ply your convoy, and leave your prating.

Flam. All your kindness to me, is like that miserable courtesy of Polyphemus to Ulysses; you reserve me to be devoured last: you would dig turfs out of my grave to feed your larks; that would be music to you. Come, I 'll lead you to her.

Brach. Do you face me?

Flam. Oh, sir, I would not go before a politic enemy with my back towards him, though there were behind me a whirlpool.

Enter Vittoria to Brachiano and Flamineo

Brach. Can you read, mistress? look upon that letter:
聽聽There are no characters, nor hieroglyphics.
聽聽You need no comment; I am grown your receiver.
聽聽God's precious! you shall be a brave great lady,
聽聽A stately and advanced whore.

Vit. Say, sir?

Brach. Come, come, let 's see your cabinet, discover
聽聽Your treasury of love-letters. Death and furies!
聽聽I 'll see them all.

Vit. Sir, upon my soul,
聽聽I have not any. Whence was this directed?

Brach. Confusion on your politic ignorance!
聽聽You are reclaim'd, are you? I 'll give you the bells,
聽聽And let you fly to the devil.

Flam. Ware hawk, my lord.

Vit. Florence! this is some treacherous plot, my lord;
聽聽To me he ne'er was lovely, I protest,
聽聽So much as in my sleep.

Brach. Right! there are plots.
聽聽Your beauty! Oh, ten thousand curses on 't!
聽聽How long have I beheld the devil in crystal!
聽聽Thou hast led me, like an heathen sacrifice,
聽聽With music, and with fatal yokes of flowers,
聽聽To my eternal ruin. Woman to man
聽聽Is either a god, or a wolf.

Vit. My lord------

Brach. Away!
聽聽We 'll be as differing as two adamants,
聽聽The one shall shun the other. What! dost weep?
聽聽Procure but ten of thy dissembling trade,
聽聽Ye 'd furnish all the Irish funerals
聽聽With howling past wild Irish.

Flam. Fie, my lord!

Brach. That hand, that cursed hand, which I have wearied
聽聽With doting kisses!---Oh, my sweetest duchess,
聽聽How lovely art thou now!---My loose thoughts
聽聽Scatter like quicksilver: I was bewitch'd;
聽聽For all the world speaks ill of thee.

Vit. No matter;
聽聽I 'll live so now, I 'll make that world recant,
聽聽And change her speeches. You did name your duchess.

Brach. Whose death God pardon!

Vit. Whose death God revenge
聽聽On thee, most godless duke!

Flam. Now for two whirlwinds.

Vit. What have I gain'd by thee, but infamy?
聽聽Thou hast stain'd the spotless honour of my house,
聽聽And frighted thence noble society:
聽聽Like those, which sick o' th' palsy, and retain
聽聽Ill-scenting foxes 'bout them, are still shunn'd
聽聽By those of choicer nostrils. What do you call this house?
聽聽Is this your palace? did not the judge style it
聽聽A house of penitent whores? who sent me to it?
聽聽To this incontinent college? is 't not you?
聽聽Is 't not your high preferment? go, go, brag
聽聽How many ladies you have undone, like me.
聽聽Fare you well, sir; let me hear no more of you!
聽聽I had a limb corrupted to an ulcer,
聽聽But I have cut it off; and now I 'll go
聽聽Weeping to heaven on crutches. For your gifts,
聽聽I will return them all, and I do wish
聽聽That I could make you full executor
聽聽To all my sins. O that I could toss myself
聽聽Into a grave as quickly! for all thou art worth
聽聽I 'll not shed one tear more---I 'll burst first.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[She throws herself upon a bed.

Brach. I have drunk Lethe: Vittoria!
聽聽My dearest happiness! Vittoria!
聽聽What do you ail, my love? why do you weep?

Vit. Yes, I now weep poniards, do you see?

Brach. Are not those matchless eyes mine?

Vit. I had rather
聽聽聽They were not matches.

Brach. Is not this lip mine?

Vit. Yes; thus to bite it off, rather than give it thee.

Flam. Turn to my lord, good sister.

Vit. Hence, you pander!

Flam. Pander! am I the author of your sin?

Vit. Yes; he 's a base thief that a thief lets in.

Flam. We 're blown up, my lord------

Brach. Wilt thou hear me?
聽聽Once to be jealous of thee, is t' express
聽聽That I will love thee everlastingly,
聽聽And never more be jealous.

Vit. O thou fool,
聽聽Whose greatness hath by much o'ergrown thy wit!
聽聽What dar'st thou do, that I not dare to suffer,
聽聽Excepting to be still thy whore? for that,
聽聽In the sea's bottom sooner thou shalt make
聽聽A bonfire.

Flam. Oh, no oaths, for God's sake!

Brach. Will you hear me?

Vit. Never.

Flam. What a damn'd imposthume is a woman's will!
聽聽Can nothing break it? [Aside.] Fie, fie, my lord,
聽聽Women are caught as you take tortoises,
聽聽She must be turn'd on her back. Sister, by this hand
聽聽I am on your side.---Come, come, you have wrong'd her;
聽聽What a strange credulous man were you, my lord,
聽聽To think the Duke of Florence would love her!
聽聽Will any mercer take another's ware
聽聽When once 'tis tows'd and sullied? And yet, sister,
聽聽How scurvily this forwardness becomes you!
聽聽Young leverets stand not long, and women's anger
聽聽Should, like their flight, procure a little sport;
聽聽A full cry for a quarter of an hour,
聽聽And then be put to th' dead quat.

Brach. Shall these eyes,
聽聽Which have so long time dwelt upon your face,
聽聽Be now put out?

Flam. No cruel landlady i' th' world,
聽聽Which lends forth groats to broom-men, and takes use
聽聽For them, would do 't.
聽聽Hand her, my lord, and kiss her: be not like
聽聽A ferret, to let go your hold with blowing.

Brach. Let us renew right hands.

Vit. Hence!

Brach. Never shall rage, or the forgetful wine,
聽聽Make me commit like fault.

Flam. Now you are i' th' way on 't, follow 't hard.

Brach. Be thou at peace with me, let all the world
聽聽Threaten the cannon.

Flam. Mark his penitence;
聽聽Best natures do commit the grossest faults,
聽聽When they 're given o'er to jealousy, as best wine,
聽聽Dying, makes strongest vinegar. I 'll tell you:
聽聽The sea 's more rough and raging than calm rivers,
聽聽But not so sweet, nor wholesome. A quiet woman
聽聽Is a still water under a great bridge;
聽聽A man may shoot her safely.

Vit. O ye dissembling men!

Flam. We suck'd that, sister,
聽聽From women's breasts, in our first infancy.

Vit. To add misery to misery!

Brach. Sweetest!

Vit. Am I not low enough?
聽聽Ay, ay, your good heart gathers like a snowball,
聽聽Now your affection 's cold.

Flam. Ud's foot, it shall melt
聽聽To a heart again, or all the wine in Rome
聽聽Shall run o' th' lees for 't.

Vit. Your dog or hawk should be rewarded better
聽聽Than I have been. I 'll speak not one word more.

Flam. Stop her mouth
聽聽With a sweet kiss, my lord. So,
聽聽Now the tide 's turn'd, the vessel 's come about.
聽聽He 's a sweet armful. Oh, we curl-hair'd men
聽聽Are still most kind to women! This is well.

Brach. That you should chide thus!

Flam. Oh, sir, your little chimneys
聽聽Do ever cast most smoke! I sweat for you.
聽聽Couple together with as deep a silence,
聽聽As did the Grecians in their wooden horse.
聽聽My lord, supply your promises with deeds;
聽聽You know that painted meat no hunger feeds.

Brach. Stay, ungrateful Rome------

Flam. Rome! it deserve to be call'd Barbary,
聽聽For our villainous usage.

Brach. Soft; the same project which the Duke of Florence,
聽聽(Whether in love or gallery I know not)
聽聽Laid down for her escape, will I pursue.

Flam. And no time fitter than this night, my lord.
聽聽The Pope being dead, and all the cardinals enter'd
聽聽The conclave, for th' electing a new Pope;
聽聽The city in a great confusion;
聽聽We may attire her in a page's suit,
聽聽Lay her post-horse, take shipping, and amain
聽聽For Padua.

Brach. I 'll instantly steal forth the Prince Giovanni,
聽聽And make for Padua. You two with your old mother,
聽聽And young Marcello that attends on Florence,
聽聽If you can work him to it, follow me:
聽聽I will advance you all; for you, Vittoria,
聽聽Think of a duchess' title.

Flam. Lo you, sister!
聽聽Stay, my lord; I 'll tell you a tale. The crocodile, which lives
聽聽in the River Nilus, hath a worm breeds i' th' teeth of 't, which puts
聽聽it to extreme anguish: a little bird, no bigger than a wren, is
聽聽barber-surgeon to this crocodile; flies into the jaws of 't, picks out
聽聽the worm, and brings present remedy. The fish, glad of ease, but
聽聽ungrateful to her that did it, that the bird may not talk largely of
聽聽her abroad for non-payment, closeth her chaps, intending to swallow
聽聽her, and so put her to perpetual silence. But nature, loathing such
聽聽ingratitude, hath armed this bird with a quill or prick on the head,
聽聽top o' th' which wounds the crocodile i' th' mouth, forceth her open
聽聽her bloody prison, and away flies the pretty tooth-picker from her
聽聽cruel patient.

Brach. Your application is, I have not rewarded
聽聽The service you have done me.

Flam. No, my lord.
聽聽You, sister, are the crocodile: you are blemish'd in your fame, my lord
聽聽cures it; and though the comparison hold not in every particle, yet
聽聽observe, remember, what good the bird with the prick i' th' head hath
聽聽done you, and scorn ingratitude.
聽聽It may appear to some ridiculous
聽聽Thus to talk knave and madman, and sometimes
聽聽Come in with a dried sentence, stuffed with sage:
聽聽But this allows my varying of shapes;
聽聽Knaves do grow great by being great men's apes.

Enter Francisco, Lodovico, Gasparo, and six Ambassadors

Fran. So, my lord, I commend your diligence.
聽聽Guard well the conclave; and, as the order is,
聽聽Let none have conference with the cardinals.

Lodo. I shall, my lord. Room for the ambassadors.

Gas. They 're wondrous brave to-day: why do they wear
聽聽These several habits?

Lodo. Oh, sir, they 're knights
聽聽Of several orders:
聽聽That lord i' th' black cloak, with the silver cross,
聽聽Is Knight of Rhodes; the next, Knight of St. Michael;
聽聽That, of the Golden Fleece; the Frenchman, there,
聽聽Knight of the Holy Ghost; my Lord of Savoy,
聽聽Knight of th' Annunciation; the Englishman
聽聽Is Knight of th' honour'd Garter, dedicated
聽聽Unto their saint, St. George. I could describe to you
聽聽Their several institutions, with the laws
聽聽Annexed to their orders; but that time
聽聽Permits not such discovery.

Fran. Where 's Count Lodowick?

Lodo. Here, my lord.

Fran. 'Tis o' th' point of dinner time;
聽聽Marshal the cardinals' service.

Lodo. Sir, I shall. [Enter Servants, with several dishes covered.
聽聽Stand, let me search your dish. Who 's this for?

Servant. For my Lord Cardinal Monticelso.

Lodo. Whose this?

Servant. For my Lord Cardinal of Bourbon.

Fr. Ambass. Why doth he search the dishes? to observe
聽聽What meat is dressed?

Eng. Ambass. No, sir, but to prevent
聽聽Lest any letters should be convey'd in,
聽聽To bribe or to solicit the advancement
聽聽Of any cardinal. When first they enter,
聽聽'Tis lawful for the ambassadors of princes
聽聽To enter with them, and to make their suit
聽聽For any man their prince affecteth best;
聽聽But after, till a general election,
聽聽No man may speak with them.

Lodo. You that attend on the lord cardinals,
聽聽Open the window, and receive their viands.

Card. [Within.] You must return the service: the lord cardinals
聽聽Are busied 'bout electing of the Pope;
聽聽They have given o'er scrutiny, and are fallen
聽聽To admiration.

Lodo. Away, away.

Fran. I 'll lay a thousand ducats you hear news
聽聽Of a Pope presently. Hark; sure he 's elected:
聽聽Behold, my Lord of Arragon appears
聽聽On the church battlements. [A Cardinal on the terrace.

Arragon. Denuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Reverendissimus Cardinalis
聽聽Lorenzo de Monticelso electus est in sedem apostolicam, et elegit sibi
聽聽nomen Paulum Quartum.

Omnes. Vivat Sanctus Pater Paulus Quartus!

Servant. Vittoria, my lord------

Fran. Well, what of her?

Servant. Is fled the city------

Fran. Ha!

Servant. With Duke Brachiano.

Fran. Fled! where 's the Prince Giovanni?

Servant. Gone with his father.

Fran. Let the Matrona of the Convertites
聽聽Be apprehended. Fled? O damnable!
聽聽How fortunate are my wishes! why, 'twas this
聽聽I only labour'd: I did send the letter
聽聽T' instruct him what to do. Thy fame, fond duke,
聽聽I first have poison'd; directed thee the way
聽聽To marry a whore; what can be worse? This follows:
聽聽The hand must act to drown the passionate tongue,
聽聽I scorn to wear a sword and prate of wrong.

Enter Monticelso in State

Mont. Concedimus vobis Apostolicam benedictionem, et remissionem
听听辫别肠肠补迟辞谤耻尘.
聽聽My lord reports Vittoria Corombona
聽聽Is stol'n from forth the House of Convertites
聽聽By Brachiano, and they 're fled the city.
聽聽Now, though this be the first day of our seat,
聽聽We cannot better please the Divine Power,
聽聽Than to sequester from the Holy Church
聽聽These cursed persons. Make it therefore known,
聽聽We do denounce excommunication
聽聽Against them both: all that are theirs in Rome
聽聽We likewise banish. Set on.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Exeunt all but Francisco and Lodovico.

Fran. Come, dear Lodovico;
聽聽You have ta'en the sacrament to prosecute
聽聽Th' intended murder?

Lodo. With all constancy.
聽聽But, sir, I wonder you 'll engage yourself
聽聽In person, being a great prince.

Fran. Divert me not.
聽聽Most of his court are of my faction,
聽聽And some are of my council. Noble friend,
聽聽Our danger shall be like in this design:
聽聽Give leave part of the glory may be mine. [Exit Francisco.

Enter Monticelso

Mont. Why did the Duke of Florence with such care
聽聽Labour your pardon? say.

Lodo. Italian beggars will resolve you that,
聽聽Who, begging of alms, bid those they beg of,
聽聽Do good for their own sakes; or 't may be,
聽聽He spreads his bounty with a sowing hand,
聽聽Like kings, who many times give out of measure,
聽聽Not for desert so much, as for their pleasure.

Mont. I know you 're cunning. Come, what devil was that
聽聽That you were raising?

Lodo. Devil, my lord?

Mont. I ask you,
聽聽How doth the duke employ you, that his bonnet
聽聽Fell with such compliment unto his knee,
聽聽When he departed from you?

Lodo. Why, my lord,
聽聽He told me of a resty Barbary horse
聽聽Which he would fain have brought to the career,
聽聽The sault, and the ring galliard: now, my lord,
聽聽I have a rare French rider.

Mont. Take your heed,
聽聽Lest the jade break your neck. Do you put me off
聽聽With your wild horse-tricks? Sirrah, you do lie.
聽聽Oh, thou 'rt a foul black cloud, and thou dost threat
聽聽A violent storm!

Lodo. Storms are i' th' air, my lord;
聽聽I am too low to storm.

Mont. Wretched creature!
聽聽I know that thou art fashion'd for all ill,
聽聽Like dogs, that once get blood, they 'll ever kill.
聽聽About some murder, was 't not?

Lodo. I 'll not tell you:
聽聽And yet I care not greatly if I do;
聽聽Marry, with this preparation. Holy father,
聽聽I come not to you as an intelligencer,
聽聽But as a penitent sinner: what I utter
聽聽Is in confession merely; which, you know,
聽聽Must never be reveal'd.

Mont. You have o'erta'en me.

Lodo. Sir, I did love Brachiano's duchess dearly,
聽聽Or rather I pursued her with hot lust,
聽聽Though she ne'er knew on 't. She was poison'd;
聽聽Upon my soul she was: for which I have sworn
聽聽T' avenge her murder.

Mont. To the Duke of Florence?

Lodo. To him I have.

Mont. Miserable creature!
聽聽If thou persist in this, 'tis damnable.
聽聽Dost thou imagine, thou canst slide on blood,
聽聽And not be tainted with a shameful fall?
聽聽Or, like the black and melancholic yew-tree,
聽聽Dost think to root thyself in dead men's graves,
聽聽And yet to prosper? Instruction to thee
聽聽Comes like sweet showers to o'er-harden'd ground;
聽聽They wet, but pierce not deep. And so I leave thee,
聽聽With all the furies hanging 'bout thy neck,
聽聽Till by thy penitence thou remove this evil,
聽聽In conjuring from thy breast that cruel devil. [Exit.

Lodo. I 'll give it o'er; he says 'tis damnable:
聽聽Besides I did expect his suffrage,
聽聽By reason of Camillo's death.

Enter Servant and Francisco

Fran. Do you know that count?

Servant. Yes, my lord.

Fran. Bear him these thousand ducats to his lodging.
聽聽Tell him the Pope hath sent them. Happily
聽聽That will confirm more than all the rest. [Exit.

Servant. Sir.

Lodo. To me, sir?

Servant. His Holiness hath sent you a thousand crowns,
聽聽And wills you, if you travel, to make him
聽聽Your patron for intelligence.

Lodo. His creature ever to be commanded.---
聽聽Why now 'tis come about. He rail'd upon me;
聽聽And yet these crowns were told out, and laid ready,
聽聽Before he knew my voyage. Oh, the art,
聽聽The modest form of greatness! that do sit,
聽聽Like brides at wedding-dinners, with their looks turn'd
聽聽From the least wanton jests, their puling stomach
聽聽Sick from the modesty, when their thoughts are loose,
聽聽Even acting of those hot and lustful sports
聽聽Are to ensue about midnight: such his cunning!
聽聽He sounds my depth thus with a golden plummet.
聽聽I am doubly arm'd now. Now to th' act of blood,
聽聽There 's but three furies found in spacious hell,
聽聽But in a great man's breast three thousand dwell. [Exit.

A passage over the stage of Brachiano, Flamineo, Marcello, Hortensio,
聽聽Corombona, Cornelia, Zanche, and others: Flamineo and Hortensio remain.

Flam. In all the weary minutes of my life,
聽聽Day ne'er broke up till now. This marriage
聽聽Confirms me happy.

Hort. 'Tis a good assurance.
聽聽Saw you not yet the Moor that 's come to court?

Flam. Yes, and conferr'd with him i' th' duke's closet.
聽聽I have not seen a goodlier personage,
聽聽Nor ever talk'd with man better experience'd
聽聽In State affairs, or rudiments of war.
聽聽He hath, by report, serv'd the Venetian
聽聽In Candy these twice seven years, and been chief
聽聽In many a bold design.

Hort. What are those two
聽聽That bear him company?

Flam. Two noblemen of Hungary, that, living in the emperor's service as commanders, eight years since, contrary to the expectation of the court entered into religion, in the strict Order of Capuchins; but, being not well settled in their undertaking, they left their Order, and returned to court; for which, being after troubled in conscience, they vowed their service against the enemies of Christ, went to Malta, were there knighted, and in their return back, at this great solemnity, they are resolved for ever to forsake the world, and settle themselves here in a house of Capuchins in Padua.

Hort. 'Tis strange.

Flam. One thing makes it so: they have vowed for ever to wear, next
聽聽their bare bodies, those coats of mail they served in.

Hort. Hard penance!
聽聽Is the Moor a Christian?

Flam. He is.

Hort. Why proffers he his service to our duke?

Flam. Because he understands there 's like to grow
聽聽Some wars between us and the Duke of Florence,
聽聽In which he hopes employment.
聽聽I never saw one in a stern bold look
聽聽Wear more command, nor in a lofty phrase
聽聽Express more knowing, or more deep contempt
聽聽Of our slight airy courtiers
聽聽As if he travell'd all the princes' courts
聽聽Of Christendom: in all things strives t' express,
聽聽That all, that should dispute with him, may know,
聽聽Glories, like glow-worms, afar off shine bright,
聽聽But look'd to near, have neither heat nor light.
聽聽The duke.

Enter Brachiano, Francisco disguised like Mulinassar, Lodovico
聽聽and Gasparo, bearing their swords, their helmets down, Antonelli,
听听贵补谤苍别蝉别.

Brach. You are nobly welcome. We have heard at full
聽聽Your honourable service 'gainst the Turk.
聽聽To you, brave Mulinassar, we assign
聽聽A competent pension: and are inly sorry,
聽聽The vows of those two worthy gentlemen
聽聽Make them incapable of our proffer'd bounty.
聽聽Your wish is, you may leave your warlike swords
聽聽For monuments in our chapel: I accept it,
聽聽As a great honour done me, and must crave
聽聽Your leave to furnish out our duchess' revels.
聽聽Only one thing, as the last vanity
聽聽You e'er shall view, deny me not to stay
聽聽To see a barriers prepar'd to-night:
聽聽You shall have private standings. It hath pleas'd
聽聽The great ambassadors of several princes,
聽聽In their return from Rome to their own countries,
聽聽To grace our marriage, and to honour me
聽聽With such a kind of sport.

Fran. I shall persuade them to stay, my lord.

Brach. Set on there to the presence.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Exeunt Brachiano, Flamineo, and Hortensio.

Lodo. Noble my lord, most fortunately welcome;
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[The conspirators here embrace.
聽聽You have our vows, seal'd with the sacrament,
聽聽To second your attempts.

Gas. And all things ready;
聽聽He could not have invented his own ruin
聽聽(Had he despair'd) with more propriety.

Lodo. You would not take my way.

Fran. 'Tis better order'd.

Lodo. T' have poison'd his prayer-book, or a pair of beads,
聽聽The pummel of his saddle, his looking-glass,
聽聽Or th' handle of his racket,---O, that, that!
聽聽That while he had been bandying at tennis,
聽聽He might have sworn himself to hell, and strook
聽聽His soul into the hazard! Oh, my lord,
聽聽I would have our plot be ingenious,
聽聽And have it hereafter recorded for example,
聽聽Rather than borrow example.

Fran. There 's no way
聽聽More speeding that this thought on.

Lodo. On, then.

Fran. And yet methinks that this revenge is poor,
聽聽Because it steals upon him like a thief:
聽聽To have ta'en him by the casque in a pitch'd field,
聽聽Led him to Florence------

Lodo. It had been rare: and there
聽聽Have crown'd him with a wreath of stinking garlic,
聽聽T' have shown the sharpness of his government,
聽聽And rankness of his lust. Flamineo comes.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Exeunt Lodovico, Antonelli, and Gasparo.

Enter Flamineo, Marcello, and Zanche

Marc. Why doth this devil haunt you, say?

Flam. I know not:
聽聽For by this light, I do not conjure for her.
聽聽'Tis not so great a cunning as men think,
聽聽To raise the devil; for here 's one up already;
聽聽The greatest cunning were to lay him down.

Marc. She is your shame.

Flam. I pray thee pardon her.
聽聽In faith, you see, women are like to burs,
聽聽Where their affection throws them, there they 'll stick.

Zan. That is my countryman, a goodly person;
聽聽When he 's at leisure, I 'll discourse with him
聽聽In our own language.

Flam. I beseech you do. [Exit Zanche.
聽聽How is 't, brave soldier? Oh, that I had seen
聽聽Some of your iron days! I pray relate
聽聽Some of your service to us.

Fran. 'Tis a ridiculous thing for a man to be his own chronicle: I did
聽聽never wash my mouth with mine own praise, for fear of getting a
聽聽stinking breath.

Marc. You 're too stoical. The duke will expect other discourse from
听听测辞耻.

Fran. I shall never flatter him: I have studied man too much to do that. What difference is between the duke and I? no more than between two bricks, all made of one clay: only 't may be one is placed in top of a turret, the other in the bottom of a well, by mere chance. If I were placed as high as the duke, I should stick as fast, make as fair a show, and bear out weather equally.

Flam. If this soldier had a patent to beg in churches, then he would tell them stories.

Marc. I have been a soldier too.

Fran. How have you thrived?

Marc. Faith, poorly.

Fran. That 's the misery of peace: only outsides are then respected. As ships seem very great upon the river, which show very little upon the seas, so some men i' th' court seem Colossuses in a chamber, who, if they came into the field, would appear pitiful pigmies.

Flam. Give me a fair room yet hung with arras, and some great cardinal to lug me by th' ears, as his endeared minion.

Fran. And thou mayest do the devil knows what villainy.

Flam. And safely.

Fran. Right: you shall see in the country, in harvest-time, pigeons, though they destroy never so much corn, the farmer dare not present the fowling-piece to them: why? because they belong to the lord of the manor; whilst your poor sparrows, that belong to the Lord of Heaven, they go to the pot for 't.

Flam. I will now give you some politic instruction. The duke says he
聽聽will give you pension; that 's but bare promise; get it under his hand.
聽聽For I have known men that have come from serving against the Turk, for
聽聽three or four months they have had pension to buy them new wooden legs,
聽聽and fresh plasters; but after, 'twas not to be had. And this miserable
聽聽courtesy shows as if a tormentor should give hot cordial drinks to one
聽聽three-quarters dead o' th' rack, only to fetch the miserable soul again
聽聽to endure more dog-days.
聽聽聽[Exit Francisco. Enter Hortensio, a young Lord, Zanche, and two more.
聽聽How now, gallants? what, are they ready for the barriers?

Young Lord. Yes: the lords are putting on their armour.

Hort. What 's he?

Flam. A new upstart; one that swears like a falconer, and will lie in the duke's ear day by day, like a maker of almanacs: and yet I knew him, since he came to th' court, smell worse of sweat than an under tennis-court keeper.

Hort. Look you, yonder 's your sweet mistress.

Flam. Thou art my sworn brother: I 'll tell thee, I do love that Moor, that witch, very constrainedly. She knows some of my villainy. I do love her just as a man holds a wolf by the ears; but for fear of her turning upon me, and pulling out my throat, I would let her go to the devil.

Hort. I hear she claims marriage of thee.

Flam. 'Faith, I made to her some such dark promise; and, in seeking to fly from 't, I run on, like a frighted dog with a bottle at 's tail, that fain would bite it off, and yet dares not look behind him. Now, my precious gipsy.

Zan. Ay, your love to me rather cools than heats.

Flam. Marry, I am the sounder lover; we have many wenches about the town heat too fast.

Hort. What do you think of these perfumed gallants, then?

Flam. Their satin cannot save them: I am confident
聽聽They have a certain spice of the disease;
聽聽For they that sleep with dogs shall rise with fleas.

Zan. Believe it, a little painting and gay clothes make you loathe me.

Flam. How, love a lady for painting or gay apparel? I 'll unkennel one example more for thee. 脝sop had a foolish dog that let go the flesh to catch the shadow; I would have courtiers be better diners.

Zan. You remember your oaths?

Flam. Lovers' oaths are like mariners' prayers, uttered in extremity; but when the tempest is o'er, and that the vessel leaves tumbling, they fall from protesting to drinking. And yet, amongst gentlemen, protesting and drinking go together, and agree as well as shoemakers and Westphalia bacon: they are both drawers on; for drink draws on protestation, and protestation draws on more drink. Is not this discourse better now than the morality of your sunburnt gentleman?

Enter Cornelia

Corn. Is this your perch, you haggard? fly to th' stews.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Strikes Zanche.

Flam. You should be clapped by th' heels now: strike i' th' court!
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Exit Cornelia.

Zan. She 's good for nothing, but to make her maids
聽聽Catch cold a-nights: they dare not use a bedstaff,
聽聽For fear of her light fingers.

Marc. You 're a strumpet,
聽聽An impudent one. [Kicks Zanche.

Flam. Why do you kick her, say?
聽聽Do you think that she 's like a walnut tree?
聽聽Must she be cudgell'd ere she bear good fruit?

Marc. She brags that you shall marry her.

Flam. What then?

Marc. I had rather she were pitch'd upon a stake,
聽聽In some new-seeded garden, to affright
聽聽Her fellow crows thence.

Flam. You 're a boy, a fool,
聽聽Be guardian to your hound; I am of age.

Marc. If I take her near you, I 'll cut her throat.

Flam. With a fan of feather?

Marc. And, for you, I 'll whip
聽聽This folly from you.

Flam. Are you choleric?
聽聽I 'll purge it with rhubarb.

Hort. Oh, your brother!

Flam. Hang him,
聽聽He wrongs me most, that ought t' offend me least:
聽聽I do suspect my mother play'd foul play,
聽聽When she conceiv'd thee.

Marc. Now, by all my hopes,
聽聽Like the two slaughter'd sons of dipus,
聽聽The very flames of our affection
聽聽Shall turn two ways. Those words I 'll make thee answer
聽聽With thy heart-blood.

Flam. Do, like the geese in the progress;
聽聽You know where you shall find me.

Marc. Very good. [Exit Flamineo.
聽聽And thou be'st a noble friend, bear him my sword,
聽聽And bid him fit the length on 't.

Young Lord. Sir, I shall. [Exeunt all but Zanche.

Zan. He comes. Hence petty thought of my disgrace!
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Enter Francisco.
聽聽I ne'er lov'd my complexion till now,
聽聽'Cause I may boldly say, without a blush,
聽聽I love you.

Fran. Your love is untimely sown; there 's a spring at Michaelmas, but
聽聽'tis but a faint one: I am sunk in years, and I have vowed never to
听听尘补谤谤测.

Zan. Alas! poor maids get more lovers than husbands: yet you may mistake my wealth. For, as when ambassadors are sent to congratulate princes, there 's commonly sent along with them a rich present, so that, though the prince like not the ambassador's person, nor words, yet he likes well of the presentment; so I may come to you in the same manner, and be better loved for my dowry than my virtue.

Fran. I 'll think on the motion.

Zan. Do; I 'll now detain you no longer. At your better leisure, I 'll
聽聽tell you things shall startle your blood:
聽聽Nor blame me that this passion I reveal;
聽聽Lovers die inward that their flames conceal.

Fran. Of all intelligence this may prove the best:
聽聽Sure I shall draw strange fowl from this foul nest. [Exeunt.

Enter Marcello and Cornelia

Corn. I hear a whispering all about the court,
聽聽You are to fight: who is your opposite?
聽聽What is the quarrel?

Marc. 'Tis an idle rumour.

Corn. Will you dissemble? sure you do not well
聽聽To fright me thus: you never look thus pale,
聽聽But when you are most angry. I do charge you,
聽聽Upon my blessing---nay, I 'll call the duke,
聽聽And he shall school you.

Marc. Publish not a fear,
聽聽Which would convert to laughter: 'tis not so.
聽聽Was not this crucifix my father's?

Corn. Yes.

Marc. I have heard you say, giving my brother suck
聽聽He took the crucifix between his hands, [Enter Flamineo.
聽聽And broke a limb off.

Corn. Yes, but 'tis mended.

Flam. I have brought your weapon back.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Flamineo runs Marcello through.

Corn. Ha! Oh, my horror!

Marc. You have brought it home, indeed.

Corn. Help! Oh, he 's murder'd!

Flam. Do you turn your gall up? I 'll to sanctuary,
聽聽And send a surgeon to you. [Exit.

Enter Lodovico, Hortensio, and Gasparo

Hort. How! o' th' ground!

Marc. Oh, mother, now remember what I told
聽聽Of breaking of the crucifix! Farewell.
聽聽There are some sins, which heaven doth duly punish
聽聽In a whole family. This it is to rise
聽聽By all dishonest means! Let all men know,
聽聽That tree shall long time keep a steady foot,
聽聽Whose branches spread no wider than the root. [Dies.

Corn. Oh, my perpetual sorrow!

Hort. Virtuous Marcello!
聽聽He 's dead. Pray leave him, lady: come, you shall.

Corn. Alas! he is not dead; he 's in a trance. Why, here 's nobody
聽聽shall get anything by his death. Let me call him again, for God's
听听蝉补办别!

Lodo. I would you were deceived.

Corn. Oh, you abuse me, you abuse me, you abuse me! how many have gone away thus, for lack of 'tendance! rear up 's head, rear up 's head! his bleeding inward will kill him.

Hort. You see he is departed.

Corn. Let me come to him; give me him as he is, if he be turn'd to earth; let me but give him one hearty kiss, and you shall put us both in one coffin. Fetch a looking-glass: see if his breath will not stain it; or pull out some feathers from my pillow, and lay them to his lips. Will you lose him for a little painstaking?

Hort. Your kindest office is to pray for him.

Corn. Alas! I would not pray for him yet. He may live to lay me i' th' ground, and pray for me, if you 'll let me come to him.

Enter Brachiano, all armed, save the beaver, with Flamineo and others

Brach. Was this your handiwork?

Flam. It was my misfortune.

Corn. He lies, he lies! he did not kill him: these have killed him, that would not let him be better looked to.

Brach. Have comfort, my griev'd mother.

Corn. Oh, you screech-owl!

Hort. Forbear, good madam.

Corn. Let me go, let me go.
聽聽[She runs to Flamineo with her knife drawn, and coming to him lets it
听听蹿补濒濒.
聽聽The God of heaven forgive thee! Dost not wonder
聽聽I pray for thee? I 'll tell thee what 's the reason,
聽聽I have scarce breath to number twenty minutes;
聽聽I 'd not spend that in cursing. Fare thee well:
聽聽Half of thyself lies there; and mayst thou live
聽聽To fill an hour-glass with his moulder'd ashes,
聽聽To tell how thou shouldst spend the time to come
聽聽In blessed repentance!

Brach. Mother, pray tell me
聽聽How came he by his death? what was the quarrel?

Corn. Indeed, my younger boy presum'd too much
聽聽Upon his manhood, gave him bitter words,
聽聽Drew his sword first; and so, I know not how,
聽聽For I was out of my wits, he fell with 's head
聽聽Just in my bosom.

Page. That is not true, madam.

Corn. I pray thee, peace.
聽聽One arrow 's graze'd already; it were vain
聽聽T' lose this, for that will ne'er be found again.

Brach. Go, bear the body to Cornelia's lodging:
聽聽And we command that none acquaint our duchess
聽聽With this sad accident. For you, Flamineo,
聽聽Hark you, I will not grant your pardon.

Flam. No?

Brach. Only a lease of your life; and that shall last
聽聽But for one day: thou shalt be forc'd each evening
聽聽To renew it, or be hang'd.

Flam. At your pleasure.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Lodovico sprinkles Brachiano's beaver with a poison.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Enter Francisco
聽聽Your will is law now, I 'll not meddle with it.

Brach. You once did brave me in your sister's lodging:
聽聽I 'll now keep you in awe for 't. Where 's our beaver?

Fran. [Aside.] He calls for his destruction. Noble youth,
聽聽I pity thy sad fate! Now to the barriers.
聽聽This shall his passage to the black lake further;
聽聽The last good deed he did, he pardon'd murder. [Exeunt.

Charges and shouts. They fight at barriers; first single pairs, then three to three

Enter Brachiano and Flamineo, with others

Brach. An armourer! ud's death, an armourer!

Flam. Armourer! where 's the armourer?

Brach. Tear off my beaver.

Flam. Are you hurt, my lord?

Brach. Oh, my brain 's on fire! [Enter Armourer.
聽聽The helmet is poison'd.

Armourer. My lord, upon my soul------

Brach. Away with him to torture.
聽聽There are some great ones that have hand in this,
聽聽And near about me.

Enter Vittoria Corombona

Vit. Oh, my lov'd lord! poison'd!

Flam. Remove the bar. Here 's unfortunate revels!
聽聽Call the physicians. [Enter two Physicians.
聽聽A plague upon you!
聽聽We have too much of your cunning here already:
聽聽I fear the ambassadors are likewise poison'd.

Brach. Oh, I am gone already! the infection
聽聽Flies to the brain and heart. O thou strong heart!
聽聽There 's such a covenant 'tween the world and it,
聽聽They 're loath to break.

Giov. Oh, my most loved father!

Brach. Remove the boy away.
聽聽Where 's this good woman? Had I infinite worlds,
聽聽They were too little for thee: must I leave thee?
聽聽What say you, screech-owls, is the venom mortal?

Physicians. Most deadly.

Brach. Most corrupted politic hangman,
聽聽You kill without book; but your art to save
聽聽Fails you as oft as great men's needy friends.
聽聽I that have given life to offending slaves,
聽聽And wretched murderers, have I not power
聽聽To lengthen mine own a twelvemonth?
聽聽[To Vittoria.] Do not kiss me, for I shall poison thee.
聽聽This unctions 's sent from the great Duke of Florence.

Fran. Sir, be of comfort.

Brach. O thou soft natural death, that art joint-twin
聽聽To sweetest slumber! no rough-bearded comet
聽聽Stares on thy mild departure; the dull owl
聽聽Bears not against thy casement; the hoarse wolf
聽聽Scents not thy carrion: pity winds thy corse,
聽聽Whilst horror waits on princes'.

Vit. I am lost for ever.

Brach. How miserable a thing it is to die
聽聽'Mongst women howling! [Enter Lodovico and Gasparo, as Capuchins.
聽聽What are those?

Flam. Franciscans:
聽聽They have brought the extreme unction.

Brach. On pain of death, let no man name death to me:
聽聽It is a word infinitely terrible.
聽聽Withdraw into our cabinet.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Exeunt all but Francisco and Flamineo.

Flam. To see what solitariness is about dying princes! as heretofore they have unpeopled towns, divorced friends, and made great houses unhospitable, so now, O justice! where are their flatterers now? flatterers are but the shadows of princes' bodies; the least thick cloud makes them invisible.

Fran. There 's great moan made for him.

Flam. 'Faith, for some few hours salt-water will run most plentifully in every office o' th' court; but, believe it, most of them do weep over their stepmothers' graves.

Fran. How mean you?

Flam. Why, they dissemble; as some men do that live without compass o' th' verge.

Fran. Come, you have thrived well under him.

Flam. 'Faith, like a wolf in a woman's breast; I have been fed with poultry: but for money, understand me, I had as good a will to cozen him as e'er an officer of them all; but I had not cunning enough to do it.

Fran. What didst thou think of him? 'faith, speak freely.

Flam. He was a kind of statesman, that would sooner have reckoned how many cannon-bullets he had discharged against a town, to count his expense that way, than think how many of his valiant and deserving subjects he lost before it.

Fran. Oh, speak well of the duke!

Flam. I have done. [Enter Lodovico.
聽聽Wilt hear some of my court-wisdom? To reprehend princes is dangerous;
聽聽and to over-commend some of them is palpable lying.

Fran. How is it with the duke?

Lodo. Most deadly ill.
聽聽He 's fallen into a strange distraction:
聽聽He talks of battles and monopolies,
聽聽Levying of taxes; and from that descends
聽聽To the most brain-sick language. His mind fastens
聽聽On twenty several objects, which confound
聽聽Deep sense with folly. Such a fearful end
聽聽May teach some men that bear too lofty crest,
聽聽Though they live happiest yet they die not best.
聽聽He hath conferr'd the whole state of the dukedom
聽聽Upon your sister, till the prince arrive
聽聽At mature age.

Flam. There 's some good luck in that yet.

Fran. See, here he comes.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Enter Brachiano, presented in a bed, Vittoria and others.
聽聽There 's death in 's face already.

Vit. Oh, my good lord!

Brach. Away, you have abus'd me:
聽聽聽聽聽[These speeches are several kinds of distractions, and in the action
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽should appear so.
聽聽You have convey'd coin forth our territories,
聽聽Bought and sold offices, oppress'd the poor,
聽聽And I ne'er dreamt on 't. Make up your accounts,
聽聽I 'll now be mine own steward.

Flam. Sir, have patience.

Brach. Indeed, I am to blame:
聽聽For did you ever hear the dusky raven
聽聽Chide blackness? or was 't ever known the devil
聽聽Rail'd against cloven creatures?

Vit. Oh, my lord!

Brach. Let me have some quails to supper.

Flam. Sir, you shall.

Brach. No, some fried dog-fish; your quails feed on poison.
聽聽That old dog-fox, that politician, Florence!
聽聽I 'll forswear hunting, and turn dog-killer.
聽聽Rare! I 'll be friends with him; for, mark you, sir, one dog
聽聽Still sets another a-barking. Peace, peace!
聽聽Yonder 's a fine slave come in now.

Flam. Where?

Brach. Why, there,
聽聽In a blue bonnet, and a pair of breeches
聽聽With a great cod-piece: ha, ha, ha!
聽聽Look you, his cod-piece is stuck full of pins,
聽聽With pearls o' th' head of them. Do you not know him?

Flam. No, my lord.

Brach. Why, 'tis the devil.
聽聽I know him by a great rose he wears on 's shoe,
聽聽To hide his cloven foot. I 'll dispute with him;
聽聽He 's a rare linguist.

Vit. My lord, here 's nothing.

Brach. Nothing! rare! nothing! when I want money,
聽聽Our treasury is empty, there is nothing:
聽聽I 'll not be use'd thus.

Vit. Oh, lie still, my lord!

Brach. See, see Flamineo, that kill'd his brother,
聽聽Is dancing on the ropes there, and he carries
聽聽A money-bag in each hand, to keep him even,
聽聽For fear of breaking 's neck: and there 's a lawyer,
聽聽In a gown whipped with velvet, stares and gapes
聽聽When the money will fall. How the rogue cuts capers!
聽聽It should have been in a halter. 'Tis there; what 's she?

Flam. Vittoria, my lord.

Brach. Ha, ha, ha! her hair is sprinkl'd with orris powder,
聽聽That makes her look as if she had sinn'd in the pastry.
聽聽What 's he?

Flam. A divine, my lord.
聽聽[Brachiano seems here near his end; Lodovico and Gasparo, in the habit
聽聽聽聽of Capuchins, present him in his bed with a crucifix and hallowed
听听听听肠补苍诲濒别.

Brach. He will be drunk; avoid him: th' argument
聽聽Is fearful, when churchmen stagger in 't.
聽聽Look you, six grey rats that have lost their tails
聽聽Crawl upon the pillow; send for a rat-catcher:
聽聽I 'll do a miracle, I 'll free the court
聽聽From all foul vermin. Where 's Flamineo?

Flam. I do not like that he names me so often,
聽聽Especially on 's death-bed; 'tis a sign
聽聽I shall not live long. See, he 's near his end.

Lodo. Pray, give us leave. Attende, domine Brachiane.

Flam. See how firmly he doth fix his eye
聽聽Upon the crucifix.

Vit. Oh, hold it constant!
聽聽It settles his wild spirits; and so his eyes
聽聽Melt into tears.

Lodo. Domine Brachiane, solebas in bello tutus esse tuo clypeo; nunc
聽聽hunc clypeum hosti tuo opponas infernali. [By the crucifix.

Gas. Olim hast芒 valuisti in bello; nunc hanc sacram hastam vibrabis
聽聽contra hostem animarum. [By the hallowed taper.

Lodo. Attende, Domine Brachiane, si nunc quoque probes ea, qu忙 acta
聽聽sunt inter nos, flecte caput in dextrum.

Gas. Esto securus, Domine Brachiane; cogita, quantum habeas meritorum;
聽聽denique memineris mean animam pro tu芒 oppignoratum si quid esset
听听辫别谤颈肠耻濒颈.

Lodo. Si nunc quoque probas ea, qu忙 acta sunt inter nos, flecte caput
聽聽in lvum.
聽聽He is departing: pray stand all apart,
聽聽And let us only whisper in his ears
聽聽Some private meditations, which our order
聽聽Permits you not to hear.
[Here, the rest being departed, Lodovico and Gasparo discover themselves.

Gas. Brachiano.

Lodo. Devil Brachiano, thou art damn'd.

Gas. Perpetually.

Lodo. A slave condemn'd and given up to the gallows,
聽聽Is thy great lord and master.

Gas. True; for thou
聽聽Art given up to the devil.

Lodo. Oh, you slave!
聽聽You that were held the famous politician,
聽聽Whose art was poison.

Gas. And whose conscience, murder.

Lodo. That would have broke your wife's neck down the stairs,
聽聽Ere she was poison'd.

Gas. That had your villainous sallets.

Lodo. And fine embroider'd bottles, and perfumes,
聽聽Equally mortal with a winter plague.

Gas. Now there 's mercury------

Lodo. And copperas------

Gas. And quicksilver------

Lodo. With other devilish 'pothecary stuff,
聽聽A-melting in your politic brains: dost hear?

Gas. This is Count Lodovico.

Lodo. This, Gasparo:
聽聽And thou shalt die like a poor rogue.

Gas. And stink
聽聽Like a dead fly-blown dog.

Lodo. And be forgotten
聽聽Before the funeral sermon.

Brach. Vittoria! Vittoria!

Lodo. Oh, the cursed devil
聽聽Comes to himself a gain! we are undone.

Gas. Strangle him in private. [Enter Vittoria and the Attendants.
聽聽What? Will you call him again to live in treble torments?
聽聽For charity, for christian charity, avoid the chamber.

Lodo. You would prate, sir? This is a true-love knot
聽聽Sent from the Duke of Florence. [Brachiano is strangled.

Gas. What, is it done?

Lodo. The snuff is out. No woman-keeper i' th' world,
聽聽Though she had practis'd seven year at the pest-house,
聽聽Could have done 't quaintlier. My lords, he 's dead.

Vittoria and the others come forward

Omnes. Rest to his soul!

Vit. Oh me! this place is hell.

Fran. How heavily she takes it!

Flam. Oh, yes, yes;
聽聽Had women navigable rivers in their eyes,
聽聽They would dispend them all. Surely, I wonder
聽聽Why we should wish more rivers to the city,
聽聽When they sell water so good cheap. I 'll tell thee
聽聽These are but Moorish shades of griefs or fears;
聽聽There 's nothing sooner dry than women's tears.
聽聽Why, here 's an end of all my harvest; he has given me nothing.
聽聽Court promises! let wise men count them curs'd;
聽聽For while you live, he that scores best, pays worst.

Fran. Sure this was Florence' doing.

Flam. Very likely:
聽聽Those are found weighty strokes which come from th' hand,
聽聽But those are killing strokes which come from th' head.
聽聽Oh, the rare tricks of a Machiavellian!
聽聽He doth not come, like a gross plodding slave,
聽聽And buffet you to death; no, my quaint knave,
聽聽He tickles you to death, makes you die laughing,
聽聽As if you had swallow'd down a pound of saffron.
聽聽You see the feat, 'tis practis'd in a trice;
聽聽To teach court honesty, it jumps on ice.

Fran. Now have the people liberty to talk,
聽聽And descant on his vices.

Flam. Misery of princes,
聽聽That must of force be censur'd by their slaves!
聽聽Not only blam'd for doing things are ill,
聽聽But for not doing all that all men will:
聽聽One were better be a thresher.
聽聽Ud's death! I would fain speak with this duke yet.

Fran. Now he 's dead?

Flam. I cannot conjure; but if prayers or oaths
聽聽Will get to th' speech of him, though forty devils
聽聽Wait on him in his livery of flames,
聽聽I 'll speak to him, and shake him by the hand,
聽聽Though I be blasted. [Exit.

Fran. Excellent Lodovico!
聽聽What! did you terrify him at the last gasp?

Lodo. Yes, and so idly, that the duke had like
聽聽T' have terrified us.

Fran. How?

Enter the Moor

Lodo. You shall hear that hereafter.
聽聽See, yon 's the infernal, that would make up sport.
聽聽Now to the revelation of that secret
聽聽She promis'd when she fell in love with you.

Fran. You 're passionately met in this sad world.

Zan. I would have you look up, sir; these court tears
聽聽Claim not your tribute to them: let those weep,
聽聽That guiltily partake in the sad cause.
聽聽I knew last night, by a sad dream I had,
聽聽Some mischief would ensue: yet, to say truth,
聽聽My dream most concern'd you.

Lodo. Shall 's fall a-dreaming?

Fran. Yes, and for fashion sake I 'll dream with her.

Zan. Methought, sir, you came stealing to my bed.

Fran. Wilt thou believe me, sweeting? by this light
聽聽I was a-dreamt on thee too; for methought
聽聽I saw thee naked.

Zan. Fie, sir! as I told you,
聽聽Methought you lay down by me.

Fran. So dreamt I;
聽聽And lest thou shouldst take cold, I cover'd thee
聽聽With this Irish mantle.

Zan. Verily I did dream
聽聽You were somewhat bold with me: but to come to 't------

Lodo. How! how! I hope you will not got to 't here.

Fran. Nay, you must hear my dream out.

Zan. Well, sir, forth.

Fran. When I threw the mantle o'er thee, thou didst laugh
聽聽Exceedingly, methought.

Zan. Laugh!

Fran. And criedst out, the hair did tickle thee.

Zan. There was a dream indeed!

Lodo. Mark her, I pray thee, she simpers like the suds
聽聽A collier hath been wash'd in.

Zan. Come, sir; good fortune tends you. I did tell you
聽聽I would reveal a secret: Isabella,
聽聽The Duke of Florence' sister, was empoisone'd
聽聽By a fum'd picture; and Camillo's neck
聽聽Was broke by damn'd Flamineo, the mischance
聽聽Laid on a vaulting-horse.

Fran. Most strange!

Zan. Most true.

Lodo. The bed of snakes is broke.

Zan. I sadly do confess, I had a hand
聽聽In the black deed.

Fran. Thou kept'st their counsel.

Zan. Right;
聽聽For which, urg'd with contrition, I intend
聽聽This night to rob Vittoria.

Lodo. Excellent penitence!
聽聽Usurers dream on 't while they sleep out sermons.

Zan. To further our escape, I have entreated
聽聽Leave to retire me, till the funeral,
聽聽Unto a friend i' th' country: that excuse
聽聽Will further our escape. In coin and jewels
聽聽I shall at least make good unto your use
聽聽An hundred thousand crowns.

Fran. Oh, noble wench!

Lodo. Those crowns we 'll share.

Zan. It is a dowry,
聽聽Methinks, should make that sun-burnt proverb false,
聽聽And wash the 脝thiop white.

Fran. It shall; away.

Zan. Be ready for our flight.

Fran. An hour 'fore day. [Exit Zanche.
聽聽Oh, strange discovery! why, till now we knew not
聽聽The circumstances of either of their deaths.

Re-enter Zanche

Zan. You 'll wait about midnight in the chapel?

Fran. There. [Exit Zanche.

Lodo. Why, now our action 's justified.

Fran. Tush for justice!
聽聽What harms it justice? we now, like the partridge,
聽聽Purge the disease with laurel; for the fame
聽聽Shall crown the enterprise, and quit the shame. [Exeunt.

Enter Flamineo and Gasparo, at one door; another way, Giovanni, attended

Gas. The young duke: did you e'er see a sweeter prince?

Flam. I have known a poor woman's bastard better favoured---this is behind him. Now, to his face---all comparisons were hateful. Wise was the courtly peacock, that, being a great minion, and being compared for beauty by some dottrels that stood by to the kingly eagle, said the eagle was a far fairer bird than herself, not in respect of her feathers, but in respect of her long talons: his will grow out in time. ---My gracious lord.

Giov. I pray leave me, sir.

Flam. Your grace must be merry; 'tis I have cause to mourn; for wot you, what said the little boy that rode behind his father on horseback?

Giov. Why, what said he?

Flam. When you are dead, father, said he, I hope that I shall ride in the saddle. Oh, 'tis a brave thing for a man to sit by himself! he may stretch himself in the stirrups, look about, and see the whole compass of the hemisphere. You 're now, my lord, i' th' saddle.

Giov. Study your prayers, sir, and be penitent:
聽聽'Twere fit you 'd think on what hath former been;
聽聽I have heard grief nam'd the eldest child of sin. [Exit.

Flam. Study my prayers! he threatens me divinely! I am falling to
聽聽pieces already. I care not, though, like Anacharsis, I were pounded to
聽聽death in a mortar: and yet that death were fitter for usurers, gold and
聽聽themselves to be beaten together, to make a most cordial cullis for the
听听诲别惫颈濒.
聽聽He hath his uncle's villainous look already,
聽聽In decimo-sexto. [Enter Courtier.] Now, sir, what are you?

Court. It is the pleasure, sir, of the young duke,
聽聽That you forbear the presence, and all rooms
聽聽That owe him reverence.

Flam. So the wolf and the raven are very pretty fools when they are
聽聽young. It is your office, sir, to keep me out?

Court. So the duke wills.

Flam. Verily, Master Courtier, extremity is not to be used in all offices: say, that a gentlewoman were taken out of her bed about midnight, and committed to Castle Angelo, to the tower yonder, with nothing about her but her smock, would it not show a cruel part in the gentleman-porter to lay claim to her upper garment, pull it o'er her head and ears, and put her in naked?

Court. Very good: you are merry. [Exit.

Flam. Doth he make a court-ejectment of me? a flaming fire-brand casts
聽聽more smoke without a chimney than within 't.
聽聽I 'll smoor some of them. [Enter Francisco de Medicis.
聽聽How now? thou art sad.

Fran. I met even now with the most piteous sight.

Flam. Thou meet'st another here, a pitiful
聽聽Degraded courtier.

Fran. Your reverend mother
聽聽Is grown a very old woman in two hours.
聽聽I found them winding of Marcello's corse;
聽聽And there is such a solemn melody,
聽聽'Tween doleful songs, tears, and sad elegies;
聽聽Such as old granddames, watching by the dead,
聽聽Were wont t' outwear the nights with that, believe me,
聽聽I had no eyes to guide me forth the room,
聽聽They were so o'ercharg'd with water.

Flam. I will see them.

Fran. 'Twere much uncharity in you; for your sight
聽聽Will add unto their tears.

Flam. I will see them:
聽聽They are behind the traverse; I 'll discover
聽聽Their superstitions howling.
聽聽聽聽聽聽[He draws the traverse. Cornelia, the Moor, and three other
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽Ladies discovered winding Marcello's corse. A song.

Corn. This rosemary is wither'd; pray, get fresh.
聽聽I would have these herbs grow upon his grave,
聽聽When I am dead and rotten. Reach the bays,
聽聽I 'll tie a garland here about his head;
聽聽I have kept this twenty year, and every day
聽聽Hallow'd it with my prayers; I did not think
聽聽He should have wore it.

Zan. Look you, who are yonder?

Corn. Oh, reach me the flowers!

Zan. Her ladyship 's foolish.

Woman. Alas, her grief
聽聽Hath turn'd her child again!

Corn. You 're very welcome: [To Flamineo.
聽聽There 's rosemary for you, and rue for you,
聽聽Heart's-ease for you; I pray make much of it,
聽聽I have left more for myself.

Fran. Lady, who 's this?

Corn. You are, I take it, the grave-maker.

Flam. So.

Zan. 'Tis Flamineo.

Corn. Will you make me such a fool? here 's a white hand:
聽聽Can blood so soon be washed out? let me see;
聽聽When screech-owls croak upon the chimney-tops,
聽聽And the strange cricket i' th' oven sings and hops,
聽聽When yellow spots do on your hands appear,
聽聽Be certain then you of a corse shall hear.
聽聽Out upon 't, how 'tis speckled! h' 'as handled a toad sure.
聽聽Cowslip water is good for the memory:
聽聽Pray, buy me three ounces of 't.

Flam. I would I were from hence.

Corn. Do you hear, sir?
聽聽I 'll give you a saying which my grandmother
聽聽Was wont, when she heard the bell toll, to sing o'er
聽聽Unto her lute.

Flam. Do, an you will, do.

Corn. Call for the robin redbreast, and the wren,
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Cornelia doth this in several forms of distraction.
聽聽Since o'er shady groves they hover,
聽聽And with leaves and flowers do cover
聽聽The friendless bodies of unburied men.
聽聽Call unto his funeral dole
聽聽The ant, the fieldmouse, and the mole,
聽聽To rear him hillocks that shall keep him warm,
聽聽And (when gay tombs are robb'd) sustain no harm;
聽聽But keep the wolf far thence, that 's foe to men,
聽聽For with his nails he 'll dig them up again.
聽聽They would not bury him 'cause he died in a quarrel;
聽聽But I have an answer for them:
聽聽Let holy Church receive him duly,
聽聽Since he paid the church-tithes truly.
聽聽His wealth is summ'd, and this is all his store,
聽聽This poor men get, and great men get no more.
聽聽Now the wares are gone, we may shut up shop.
聽聽Bless you all, good people. [Exeunt Cornelia and Ladies.

Flam. I have a strange thing in me, to th' which
聽聽I cannot give a name, without it be
聽聽Compassion. I pray leave me. [Exit Francisco.
聽聽This night I 'll know the utmost of my fate;
聽聽I 'll be resolv'd what my rich sister means
聽聽T' assign me for my service. I have liv'd
聽聽Riotously ill, like some that live in court,
聽聽And sometimes when my face was full of smiles,
聽聽Have felt the maze of conscience in my breast.
聽聽Oft gay and honour'd robes those tortures try:
聽聽We think cag'd birds sing, when indeed they cry.

Enter Brachiano's Ghost, in his leather cassock and breeches, boots, a
聽聽cowl, a pot of lily flowers, with a skull in 't

聽聽Ha! I can stand thee: nearer, nearer yet.
聽聽What a mockery hath death made thee! thou look'st sad.
聽聽In what place art thou? in yon starry gallery?
聽聽Or in the cursed dungeon? No? not speak?
聽聽Pray, sir, resolve me, what religion 's best
聽聽For a man to die in? or is it in your knowledge
聽聽To answer me how long I have to live?
聽聽That 's the most necessary question.
聽聽Not answer? are you still, like some great men
聽聽That only walk like shadows up and down,
聽聽And to no purpose; say------
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[The Ghost throws earth upon him, and shows him the skull.
聽聽What 's that? O fatal! he throws earth upon me.
聽聽A dead man's skull beneath the roots of flowers!
聽聽I pray speak, sir: our Italian churchmen
聽聽Make us believe dead men hold conference
聽聽With their familiars, and many times
聽聽Will come to bed with them, and eat with them. [Exit Ghost.
聽聽He 's gone; and see, the skull and earth are vanish'd.
聽聽This is beyond melancholy. I do dare my fate
聽聽To do its worst. Now to my sister's lodging,
聽聽And sum up all those horrors: the disgrace
聽聽The prince threw on me; next the piteous sight
聽聽Of my dead brother; and my mother's dotage;
聽聽And last this terrible vision: all these
聽聽Shall with Vittoria's bounty turn to good,
聽聽Or I will drown this weapon in her blood. [Exit.

Enter Francisco, Lodovico, and Hortensio

Lodo. My lord, upon my soul you shall no further;
聽聽You have most ridiculously engag'd yourself
聽聽Too far already. For my part, I have paid
聽聽All my debts: so, if I should chance to fall,
聽聽My creditors fall not with me; and I vow,
聽聽To quit all in this bold assembly,
聽聽To the meanest follower. My lord, leave the city,
聽聽Or I 'll forswear the murder. [Exit.

Fran. Farewell, Lodovico:
聽聽If thou dost perish in this glorious act,
聽聽I 'll rear unto thy memory that fame,
聽聽Shall in the ashes keep alive thy name. [Exit.

Hort. There 's some black deed on foot. I 'll presently
聽聽Down to the citadel, and raise some force.
聽聽These strong court-factions, that do brook no checks,
聽聽In the career oft break the riders' necks. [Exit.

Enter Vittoria with a book in her hand, Zanche; Flamineo following them

Flam. What, are you at your prayers? Give o'er.

Vit. How, ruffian?

Flam. I come to you 'bout worldly business.
聽聽Sit down, sit down. Nay, stay, blowze, you may hear it:
聽聽The doors are fast enough.

Vit. Ha! are you drunk?

Flam. Yes, yes, with wormwood water; you shall taste
聽聽Some of it presently.

Vit. What intends the fury?

Flam. You are my lord's executrix; and I claim
聽聽Reward for my long service.

Vit. For your service!

Flam. Come, therefore, here is pen and ink, set down
聽聽What you will give me.

Vit. There. [She writes.

Flam. Ha! have you done already?
聽聽'Tis a most short conveyance.

Vit. I will read it:
聽聽I give that portion to thee, and no other,
聽聽Which Cain groan'd under, having slain his brother.

Flam. A most courtly patent to beg by.

Vit. You are a villain!

Flam. Is 't come to this? they say affrights cure agues:
聽聽Thou hast a devil in thee; I will try
聽聽If I can scare him from thee. Nay, sit still:
聽聽My lord hath left me yet two cases of jewels,
聽聽Shall make me scorn your bounty; you shall see them. [Exit.

Vit. Sure he 's distracted.

Zan. Oh, he 's desperate!
聽聽For your own safety give him gentle language.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[He enters with two cases of pistols.

Flam. Look, these are better far at a dead lift,
聽聽Than all your jewel house.

Vit. And yet, methinks,
聽聽These stones have no fair lustre, they are ill set.

Flam. I 'll turn the right side towards you: you shall see
聽聽How they will sparkle.

Vit. Turn this horror from me!
聽聽What do you want? what would you have me do?
聽聽Is not all mine yours? have I any children?

Flam. Pray thee, good woman, do not trouble me
聽聽With this vain worldly business; say your prayers:
聽聽Neither yourself nor I should outlive him
聽聽The numbering of four hours.

Vit. Did he enjoin it?

Flam. He did, and 'twas a deadly jealousy,
聽聽Lest any should enjoy thee after him,
聽聽That urged him vow me to it. For my death,
聽聽I did propound it voluntarily, knowing,
聽聽If he could not be safe in his own court,
聽聽Being a great duke, what hope then for us?

Vit. This is your melancholy, and despair.

Flam. Away:
聽聽Fool thou art, to think that politicians
聽聽DO use to kill the effects or injuries
聽聽And let the cause live. Shall we groan in irons,
聽聽Or be a shameful and a weighty burthen
聽聽To a public scaffold? This is my resolve:
聽聽I would not live at any man's entreaty,
聽聽Nor die at any's bidding.

Vit. Will you hear me?

Flam. My life hath done service to other men,
聽聽My death shall serve mine own turn: make you ready.

Vit. Do you mean to die indeed?

Flam. With as much pleasure,
聽聽As e'er my father gat me.

Vit. Are the doors lock'd?

Zan. Yes, madam.

Vit. Are you grown an atheist? will you turn your body,
聽聽Which is the goodly palace of the soul,
聽聽To the soul's slaughter-house? Oh, the cursed devil,
聽聽Which doth present us with all other sins
聽聽Thrice candied o'er, despair with gall and stibium;
聽聽Yet we carouse it off. [Aside to Zanche.] Cry out for help!
聽聽Makes us forsake that which was made for man,
聽聽The world, to sink to that was made for devils,
聽聽Eternal darkness!

Zan. Help, help!

Flam. I 'll stop your throat
聽聽With winter plums.

Vit. I pray thee yet remember,
聽聽Millions are now in graves, which at last day
聽聽Like mandrakes shall rise shrieking.

Flam. Leave your prating,
聽聽For these are but grammatical laments,
聽聽Feminine arguments: and they move me,
聽聽As some in pulpits move their auditory,
聽聽More with their exclamation than sense
聽聽Of reason, or sound doctrine.

Zan. [Aside.] Gentle madam,
聽聽Seem to consent, only persuade him to teach
聽聽The way to death; let him die first.

Vit. 'Tis good, I apprehend it.---
聽聽To kill one's self is meat that we must take
聽聽Like pills, not chew'd, but quickly swallow it;
聽聽The smart o' th' wound, or weakness of the hand,
聽聽May else bring treble torments.

Flam. I have held it
聽聽A wretched and most miserable life,
聽聽Which is not able to die.

Vit. Oh, but frailty!
聽聽Yet I am now resolv'd; farewell, affliction!
聽聽Behold, Brachiano, I that while you liv'd
聽聽Did make a flaming altar of my heart
聽聽To sacrifice unto you, now am ready
聽聽To sacrifice heart and all. Farewell, Zanche!

Zan. How, madam! do you think that I 'll outlive you;
聽聽Especially when my best self, Flamineo,
聽聽Goes the same voyage?

Flam. O most loved Moor!

Zan. Only, by all my love, let me entreat you,
聽聽Since it is most necessary one of us
聽聽Do violence on ourselves, let you or I
聽聽Be her sad taster, teach her how to die.

Flam. Thou dost instruct me nobly; take these pistols,
聽聽Because my hand is stain'd with blood already:
聽聽Two of these you shall level at my breast,
聽聽The other 'gainst your own, and so we 'll die
聽聽Most equally contented: but first swear
聽聽Not to outlive me.

Vit. and Zan. Most religiously.

Flam. Then here 's an end of me; farewell, daylight.
聽聽And, O contemptible physic! that dost take
聽聽So long a study, only to preserve
聽聽So short a life, I take my leave of thee. [Showing the pistols.
聽聽These are two cupping-glasses, that shall draw
聽聽All my infected blood out. Are you ready?

Both. Ready.

Flam. Whither shall I go now? O Lucian, thy ridiculous purgatory! to
聽聽find Alexander the Great cobbling shoes, Pompey tagging points, and
聽聽Julius C忙sar making hair-buttons, Hannibal selling blacking, and
聽聽Augustus crying garlic, Charlemagne selling lists by the dozen, and
聽聽King Pepin crying apples in a cart drawn with one horse!
聽聽Whether I resolve to fire, earth, water, air,
聽聽Or all the elements by scruples, I know not,
聽聽Nor greatly care.---Shoot! shoot!
聽聽Of all deaths, the violent death is best;
聽聽For from ourselves it steals ourselves so fast,
聽聽The pain, once apprehended, is quite past.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[They shoot, and run to him, and tread upon him.

Vit. What, are you dropped?

Flam. I am mix'd with earth already: as you are noble,
聽聽Perform your vows, and bravely follow me.

Vit. Whither? to hell?

Zan. To most assur'd damnation?

Vit. Oh, thou most cursed devil!

Zan. Thou art caught------

Vit. In thine own engine. I tread the fire out
聽聽That would have been my ruin.

Flam. Will you be perjured? what a religious oath was Styx, that the
聽聽gods never durst swear by, and violate! Oh, that we had such an oath
聽聽to minister, and to be so well kept in our courts of justice!

Vit. Think whither thou art going.

Zan. And remember
聽聽What villainies thou hast acted.

Vit. This thy death
聽聽Shall make me, like a blazing ominous star,
聽聽Look up and tremble.

Flam. Oh, I am caught with a spring!

Vit. You see the fox comes many times short home;
聽聽'Tis here prov'd true.

Flam. Kill'd with a couple of braches!

Vit. No fitter offing for the infernal furies,
聽聽Than one in whom they reign'd while he was living.

Flam. Oh, the way 's dark and horrid! I cannot see:
聽聽Shall I have no company?

Vit. Oh, yes, thy sins
聽聽Do run before thee to fetch fire from hell,
聽聽To light thee thither.

Flam. Oh, I smell soot,
聽聽Most stinking soot! the chimney 's afire:
聽聽My liver 's parboil'd, like Scotch holly-bread;
聽聽There 's a plumber laying pipes in my guts, it scalds.
聽聽Wilt thou outlive me?

Zan. Yes, and drive a stake
聽聽Through thy body; for we 'll give it out,
聽聽Thou didst this violence upon thyself.

Flam. Oh, cunning devils! now I have tried your love,
聽聽And doubled all your reaches: I am not wounded.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽[Flamineo riseth.
聽聽The pistols held no bullets; 'twas a plot
聽聽To prove your kindness to me; and I live
聽聽To punish your ingratitude. I knew,
聽聽One time or other, you would find a way
聽聽To give me a strong potion. O men,
聽聽That lie upon your death-beds, and are haunted
聽聽With howling wives! ne'er trust them; they 'll re-marry
聽聽Ere the worm pierce your winding-sheet, ere the spider
聽聽Make a thin curtain for your epitaphs.
聽聽How cunning you were to discharge! do you practise at the Artillery
聽聽yard? Trust a woman? never, never; Brachiano be my precedent. We lay
聽聽our souls to pawn to the devil for a little pleasure, and a woman makes
聽聽the bill of sale. That ever man should marry! For one Hypermnestra
聽聽that saved her lord and husband, forty-nine of her sisters cut their
聽聽husbands' throats all in one night. There was a shoal of virtuous
聽聽horse leeches! Here are two other instruments.

Enter Lodovico, Gasparo, still disguised as Capuchins

Vit. Help, help!

Flam. What noise is that? ha! false keys i' th 'court!

Lodo. We have brought you a mask.

Flam. A matachin it seems by your drawn swords.
聽聽Churchmen turned revelers!

Gas. Isabella! Isabella!

Lodo. Do you know us now?

Flam. Lodovico! and Gasparo!

Lodo. Yes; and that Moor the duke gave pension to
聽聽Was the great Duke of Florence.

Vit. Oh, we are lost!

Flam. You shall not take justice forth from my hands,
聽聽Oh, let me kill her!---I 'll cut my safety
聽聽Through your coats of steel. Fate 's a spaniel,
聽聽We cannot beat it from us. What remains now?
聽聽Let all that do ill, take this precedent:
聽聽Man may his fate foresee, but not prevent;
聽聽And of all axioms this shall win the prize:
聽聽'Tis better to be fortunate than wise.

Gas. Bind him to the pillar.

Vit. Oh, your gentle pity!
聽聽I have seen a blackbird that would sooner fly
聽聽To a man's bosom, than to stay the gripe
聽聽Of the fierce sparrow-hawk.

Gas. Your hope deceives you.

Vit. If Florence be i' th' court, would he would kill me!

Gas. Fool! Princes give rewards with their own hands,
聽聽But death or punishment by the hands of other.

Lodo. Sirrah, you once did strike me; I 'll strike you
聽聽Unto the centre.

Flam. Thou 'lt do it like a hangman, a base hangman,
聽聽Not like a noble fellow, for thou see'st
聽聽I cannot strike again.

Lodo. Dost laugh?

Flam. Wouldst have me die, as I was born, in whining?

Gas. Recommend yourself to heaven.

Flam. No, I will carry mine own commendations thither.

Lodo. Oh, I could kill you forty times a day,
聽聽And use 't four years together, 'twere too little!
聽聽Naught grieves but that you are too few to feed
聽聽The famine of our vengeance. What dost think on?

Flam. Nothing; of nothing: leave thy idle questions.
聽聽I am i' th' way to study a long silence:
聽聽To prate were idle. I remember nothing.
聽聽There 's nothing of so infinite vexation
聽聽As man's own thoughts.

Lodo. O thou glorious strumpet!
聽聽Could I divide thy breath from this pure air
聽聽When 't leaves thy body, I would suck it up,
聽聽And breathe 't upon some dunghill.

Vit. You, my death's-man!
聽聽Methinks thou dost not look horrid enough,
聽聽Thou hast too good a face to be a hangman:
聽聽If thou be, do thy office in right form;
聽聽Fall down upon thy knees, and ask forgiveness.

Lodo. Oh, thou hast been a most prodigious comet!
聽聽But I 'll cut off your train. Kill the Moor first.

Vit. You shall not kill her first; behold my breast:
聽聽I will be waited on in death; my servant
聽聽Shall never go before me.

Gas. Are you so brave?

Vit. Yes, I shall welcome death,
聽聽As princes do some great ambassadors;
聽聽I 'll meet thy weapon half-way.

Lodo. Thou dost tremble:
聽聽Methinks, fear should dissolve thee into air.

Vit. Oh, thou art deceiv'd, I am too true a woman!
聽聽Conceit can never kill me. I 'll tell thee what,
聽聽I will not in my death shed one base tear;
聽聽Or if look pale, for want of blood, not fear.

Gas. Thou art my task, black fury.

Zan. I have blood
聽聽As red as either of theirs: wilt drink some?
聽聽'Tis good for the falling-sickness. I am proud:
聽聽Death cannot alter my complexion,
聽聽For I shall ne'er look pale.

Lodo. Strike, strike,
聽聽With a joint motion. [They strike.

Vit. 'Twas a manly blow;
聽聽The next thou giv'st, murder some sucking infant;
聽聽And then thou wilt be famous.

Flam. Oh, what blade is 't?
聽聽A Toledo, or an English fox?
聽聽I ever thought a culter should distinguish
聽聽The cause of my death, rather than a doctor.
聽聽Search my wound deeper; tent it with the steel
聽聽That made it.

Vit. Oh, my greatest sin lay in my blood!
聽聽Now my blood pays for 't.

Flam. Th' art a noble sister!
聽聽I love thee now; if woman do breed man,
聽聽She ought to teach him manhood. Fare thee well.
聽聽Know, many glorious women that are fam'd
聽聽For masculine virtue, have been vicious,
聽聽Only a happier silence did betide them:
聽聽She hath no faults, who hath the art to hide them.

Vit. My soul, like to a ship in a black storm,
聽聽Is driven, I know not whither.

Flam. Then cast anchor.
聽聽Prosperity doth bewitch men, seeming clear;
聽聽But seas do laugh, show white, when rocks are near.
聽聽We cease to grieve, cease to be fortune's slaves,
聽聽Nay, cease to die by dying. Art thou gone?
聽聽And thou so near the bottom? false report,
聽聽Which says that women vie with the nine Muses,
聽聽For nine tough durable lives! I do not look
聽聽Who went before, nor who shall follow me;
聽聽No, at my self I will begin the end.
聽聽While we look up to heaven, we confound
聽聽Knowledge with knowledge. Oh, I am in a mist!

Vit. Oh, happy they that never saw the court,
聽聽Nor ever knew great men but by report! [Vittoria dies.

Flam. I recover like a spent taper, for a flash,
聽聽And instantly go out.
聽聽Let all that belong to great men remember th' old wives' tradition, to
聽聽be like the lions i' th' Tower on Candlemas-day; to mourn if the sun
聽聽shine, for fear of the pitiful remainder of winter to come.
聽聽'Tis well yet there 's some goodness in my death;
聽聽My life was a black charnel. I have caught
聽聽An everlasting cold; I have lost my voice
聽聽Most irrecoverably. Farewell, glorious villains.
聽聽This busy trade of life appears most vain,
聽聽Since rest breeds rest, where all seek pain by pain.
聽聽Let no harsh flattering bells resound my knell;
聽聽Strike, thunder, and strike loud, to my farewell! [Dies.

Enter Ambassadors and Giovanni

Eng. Ambass. This way, this way! break open the doors! this way!

Lodo. Ha! are we betray'd?
聽聽Why then let 's constantly all die together;
聽聽And having finish'd this most noble deed,
聽聽Defy the worst of fate, nor fear to bleed.

Eng. Ambass. Keep back the prince: shoot! shoot!

Lodo. Oh, I am wounded!
聽聽I fear I shall be ta'en.

Giov. You bloody villains,
聽聽By what authority have you committed
聽聽This massacre?

Lodo. By thine.

Giov. Mine!

Lodo. Yes; thy uncle, which is a part of thee, enjoined us to 't:
聽聽Thou know'st me, I am sure; I am Count Lodowick;
聽聽And thy most noble uncle in disguise
聽聽Was last night in thy court.

Giov. Ha!

Lodo. Yes, that Moor thy father chose his pensioner.

Giov. He turn'd murderer!
聽聽Away with them to prison, and to torture:
聽聽All that have hands in this shall taste our justice,
聽聽As I hope heaven.

Lodo. I do glory yet,
聽聽That I can call this act mine own. For my part,
聽聽The rack, the gallows, and the torturing wheel,
聽聽Shall be but sound sleeps to me: here 's my rest;
聽聽I limn'd this night-piece, and it was my best.

Giov. Remove these bodies. See, my honour'd lord,
聽聽What use you ought make of their punishment.
聽聽Let guilty men remember, their black deeds
聽聽Do lean on crutches made of slender reeds.