BENTIVOGLIO (STEM BENT)

So, ho, o, ho, ho, murder, murder, murder, Rogues base rogues, scabby rogues, pocky Grutty and Cassio stepped behind the hangings. rogues, out, our rascals, abuse his Majesties Physi tian, offer to play under my nose, foh, how the rogues stink: farts, poisoned farts, foh, these meager-chapt rascals eat so much brimstone, and salt butter, that they outstinke hell: had these farts been let in Wales, they would have bred the plague there, — let me see— who should this be. that should abuse me thus, let me but find him out, and be he the best i'th Court, it shall go hard but I'll have a quaint poison for him, shall work a little oh therwise with him than this has done with me. Nay good Gentlemen, what shall I do? I'm undone. In troth, Signiours, I meant it not. Do but conceal me.— May I be hanged if I do; beside, what ever secret disease you have about you, I'll cure you gratis. I forgive you, and pray Gentlemen use me for your Physician when ever the state of your bodies requires it. I'll learn secrecy of you. O! o! o! I can hold no longer, furies, devils, o! o! I am abused, grossly abused, but i'll be revenged — Sir Your pardon. As I was telling you, you must in every thing humour her; in each word, each Actium, the nature of her disease re quires it, which yields not unto cure, till it be wrought up to'th height. Pray unbind her. Marry was it. A mere skeleton. I say, ben't you a coxcomb. My Lord, a word— you are not privileged To do men wrong: you have done me one, Pray take notice — Fourscore, and ten, you cannot be less Madame. My Lord, you'd play the fool in't, and old doting fool rarely. A very rich one Madame; I'll ensure you they're about it, with stately columns, curious antics, & glorious imagery. Now let me alone with her. Whence this sudden fit? — My Lord Ferrando: She lives, Calantha lives. No more distracted: next hour shall render Calantha to your bosom fair, and well; As rich in all the ornaments of mind, As when she first blessed Naples with her presence. So you supposed; and I have caused her women To wrap her in her shroud, then fit down by her, To weep, and pray, as if 'twere for the dead. After a strict enquiry into the nature Of her disease, I find it by each symptom, A melancholy deep, not dangerous: The parents which produced it, grief and abstinence From meat, and sleep; which as it hath encrea'st. Has brought her now to such and extreme dotage, That she do's verily suppose her self, While living dead: In which false supposition I've caused her women to continue her, By shrouding her to her own desire, Strewing her over with flowers, then weeping over her Nay, good my Lord, touch no more upon that string; but d'ee hear? I came to carry you to one. In my Lodgings. A draught to provoke. Be moderate; you'll take the next beggar you meet else; & then the Ladies expectation yonder will be frustrate. Let's have him to bed quickly, and b'ele him warm; Bonum erit si sudaverit, Signior 'tis not perfumed: —now will I go fetch these Ladies to him; & if he have courage enough but to speak to they; I'll forfeit my art, and turn toothdrawer. Here, here, on with my gown: —this cap, so, so. Heigh, for a wench, for a wench, to bumfiddle now; Ah! would! Do'e remember you'd play the fool in my gown, and cap excellently. Then a noise of Musicians would do rarely. Fast, fast a sleep, so, so, this charm last's till Midnight, and then he wakes. Dance up and down the Court Like the ghost of old Hippocrates. This, and the rare cures I've done upon you two shall be my theme.—Good night.— Ladies I'm your servant. — My doughty placket-hunter lie thee there, and e'ne awake when thy stomach serves thee; to morrow morning I'm for Padua. — Well, remember this. Much Sir, this will work her Into a strong opinion, that she's dead Indeed, to confirm which I have prepared Some two or three, tricked up in the same fashion With shrowds, and chaplets, who shall fit down by her, Walk, talk, eat, drink, sleep, in all which actions Calantha will straight imitate them: Now I have prepared A potion which they shall give her, To make her sleep, the only remedy Of her disease; this I lately practised in the French Court, Yet lost no credit by the experiment. These over your Court promises, I'll only study some revenge, for you old Lord, Then I'll return to'th University, & dream on they. Revenge! were't thou more ugly than ere Painter Limbed witch or fury, I could kiss thee now, For thy so opportunely prompting me; These brace of Courtiers here, my trim complotters, Have tried my skill upon their bodies; and now I'm dearer to them, then their confessor, Both these have sworn to further my design, I have against this Lord, this dotard; who Hath heat his blood so with carousing healths, That he's grown wild and furious; believes His strength more able in these love-firkes, Than when he was i'th pride, and prime of youth; Him are these two according to instructions Leading into the snares, that I've spread for him; Into which, if they, and blind fortune conduct him, I'll use him less gently, than I would a noise Of gowty-cheek't trumpeters:—They're here. I'll be with you straight.— Hold up, hold up Sir, the Ladies are coming this way,— for shame,—God's me, they're here; why do'e tremble so Sir? Discredited for ever, (here take this staff Sir)— have I boasted your strength to them? — fortified you forth' in counter, and you fail me thus? — undone, undone! Here Sir, on with they; they're somewhat dirty, they'll keep you the warmer; — now shall I be called Mountebanke; Quackesalver, Pispot-peeper: and all the ugly mangy names can be invented.— come in, come in.— Why Sir, you won't disgrace me? go towards they.