DUCHESS

To me, Sir? Yes, I know him: Your knowledge of him, Commends him, and prefers him. Bring the Caroches: we'll bring you down to the Haven. Diamonds are of most valve They say; that have passed through most Jewellers hands. Will you hear me? I'll never marry: This is terrible good council: I think this speech between you both was studied, It came so roundly off. Fie Sir: Shall this move me? if all my royal kindred Lay in my way, unto this marriage: I'll'd make them my low footsteps: And even now, Even in this hate (as men in some great battles By apprehending danger, have achieved Almost impossible actions: I have herd Soldiers say so, So I, through frights, and threatenings, will assay This dangerous venture: Let old wives report I winked, and chosen a husband: Cariola, To thy known secricy, I have given up More then my life, my fame: Thy protestation Is ingenious, and hearty: I believe it. Is Antonio come? Good deer soul, Leave me: but place thy self behind the Arras, Where thou mayest overhear us: wish me good speed For I am going into a wilderness, Where I shall find nor path, nor friendly clewe To be my guide, I sent for you, Sir down: Take Pen and Ink, and write: are you ready? What did I say? O, I remember: After this triumphs, and this large expense It's fit (Like thrifty husbands) we inquire What's laid up for to morrow: Beauteous? Indeed I thank you: I look the g for your sake. You have taken my cares upon you. O, you are and upright treasurer: but you mistook, For when I said I meant to make enquiry, What's laid up for to morrow: I did mean What's laid up yonder for me. In Heaven, I am making my will, (as it's fit Princes should In perfect memory) and I pray Sir, tell me Were not one better make it smiling, thus? Then in deep groans, and terrible ghastly looks, As if the gifts we parted with, procured That violent destruction? If I had a husband now, this care were quit: But I intend to make yond Overseer; What good deed, shall we first remember? say. All? In a winding sheet ? St. Winfred, that were a strange will. What do you think of marriage? How do you affect it? Pray let's hear it. Fie, fie, what's all this? One of your eyes is bloodshot, use my Ring to't, They say it's very sovereign, 'twas my wedding Ring, And I did vow never to partly with it, But to my second husband. Yes, to help your eyesight. How? Remove him. There needs small conjuration, when your finger May do it: thus, is it fit? Sir, This goodly roose of yours, it too low built, I cannot stand upright in't, nor discourse, Without I raise it higher: raise your self, Or if you please, my hand to help you: so. So, now the ground's broke, You may discover what a wealthy Mine, I make you Lord off. You were ill to fell your self, This darkening of your worth, is not Like that Which tradesmen use i'th'City, their false lights Are to rid bade wares off: and I must tell you If you will know where breathes a complete man, (I speak it without flattery) turn your eyes, And progress through your self. Now she pays it, The misery of us, that are born great, We are forced to woe, because none dare woe us: And as a Tyrant doubles with his words, And fearfully equivocates: so we Are forced to express our violent passion In riddles, and in dreams, and leave the path Of simple virtue, which was never made To seem the thing it is not: Go, go brag You have left me heartless, mine is in your bosom, I hope it'll multiply love there: You do tremble: Make not your heart so dead a piece of flesh To fear, more then to love me: Sir, be confident, What is't distracts you? This is flesh, and blood, (Sir,) It's not the figure cut in Allablaster Kneels at my husbands tomb: Awake, awake (man) I do here put of all vain ceremony, And only do appear to you, a young widow That claims you for her husband, and Like a widow, I use but half a blush in't. I thank you (gentle love) And because you shall not come to me, in debt, (Being now my Steward) here upon your lips I sign your Quietus est: This you should have begged now, I have seen children oft eat sweetmeats thus, As fearful to devour them too soon. Do not think of them, All discord, without this circumference, Is only to be pitied, and not feared: Yet, should they know it, time will easily Scatter the tempest. Kneel. Be not amazed, this woman's of my Council, I have herd Lawyers say, a contract in a Chamber, ( Per verba presenti ) is absolute marriage: Bless (Heaven) this sacred Gordian, which, let violence Never untwine. Quickening, and make The Like soft Music. What can the Church force more? How can the Church built faster? We now are man, and wife, and it's the Church That must but echo this: Maid, stand a partly, I now am blind. I would have you lead your Fortune by the hand. Unto your marriage bed: (You speak in me this, for we now are one) We'll only lie, and talk together, and plot T'appease my humorous kindred; and if you please (Like the old tale, in Alexander and Lodewicke ) Lay a naked sword between us, keep us chased: O, let me shroud my blushes in your bosom, Since it's the treasury of all my secrets. Your arm Antonio, do I not grow fat? I am exceeding short-winded: Bosola, I would have you (Sir) provide for me a Littor, Such a one, as the Duchess of Florence road in. I think she did: come hither, mend my ruff, Here, when? thou art such a tedious Lady; and Thy breath smells of Lymmon pills, would thou hadst done, Shall I owned under thy fingers? I am So troubled with the mother. I have herd you say, that the French Courries Wear their hats on before the King. In the Presence? For me sir? Oh sir, where are they? I have herd of none to year. Indeed I thank you: they are wondrous fair ones: What and unskilful fellow is our Gardener? We shall have none this month. No, they taste of musk (me thinks) indeed they do: Why? Sir, you are loath To rob us of our dainties: it's a delicate fruit, They say they are restorative? It's so: a bettering of nature. I thank you (Bosola:) they were right good ones, If they do not make me sick. This green fruit: and may stomach are not friend How they swell me? O, I am in and extreme cold sweat. Lights to my chamber: Oh, good Antonio, I fear I am undone. Exit Duchess. For me (Sir?) pray who is't? Fie upon him, A Count? he's a mere stick of sugarcandy, (You may look quite through him) when I choose A husband, I will marry for your honour. But (Sir) I am to have private conference with you, About a scandalous report, is spread Touching mine honour. O blessed comfort, This deadly air is purged. Exeunt. Very good: I hope in time it'll grow into a custom, That Noble men shall come with cap, and knee, To purchase a nights lodging, of their wives. I'll stop your mouth. O, that's soon answered. Did you ever in your life know and ill Painter Desire to have his dwelling next door to the shop Of and excellent Picture-maker? 'twould disgrace His face-making, and undo him: I prithee When were we so merry? my hair tangles. Does not the colour of my hair begin to change? When I wax grey, I shall have all the Court Powder their hair, with Arras, to be Like me: You have cause to love me, I entered you into my heart Before you would vouchsafe to call for the keys. We shall one day have my brother's take you napping: Me thinks his Presence (being now in Court) Should make you keep your own Bed: but you'll say Love mixed with fear, is sweetest: I'll assure you You shall get no more children till my brother's Consent to be your Ghossips: have you lost your tongue? it's well come: For know whither I am doomed to live, or die, I can do both Like a Prince. Ferdinand gives her a poigniard. pray sir hear me: Sir: No sir: I will plant my soul in mine cares, to hear you. I pray sir, hear me: I am married, Happily, not to your liking: but for that Alas: your sheeres do come untimely now To clip the birds wings, that's already flown: Will you see my Husband? Sure, you came hither By his confideracy. Why might not I marry? I have not gone about, in this, to create Any new world, or custom. Poor? he hath amply filled his cose S. But he was basely descended. O, you render me excellent Music. This good one that you speak of, is my husband. I have had three children by him. As I taste comfort, in this friendly speech, So would I find concealment. You shall take charge of all my coin, and jewels, And follow him, for he retires himself To Ancona. Whither, within few days, I mean to follow thee. Sir, your direction Shall led me, by the hand. Thou superstitious fool, Prepare us instantly for our departure: Passed sorrows, let us moderately lament them, For those to come, seek wisely, to prevent them. Exit. Banished Ancona? Is all our train Shrunk to this poor remainder? They have done wisely, This puts me in mind of death, Physicians thus, With their hands full of money, use to give over Their Patients. I had a very strange dream to night. Me thought I wore my Coronet of State And on a sudden all the Diamonds Were changed to Pearls. From my brother? Let me look upon you once more: for that speech Came from a dying father: your kiss is colder Then that I have seen and holy Anchorite Give to a dead men skull. My Laurel is all withered. Oh, they are very welcome: When Fortune's wheel, is overcharged with Princes, The weight makes it move swift. I would have my ruin Be sudden: I am your adventure, am I not. What Devil art thou, that counterfeits heavens thunder? Oh misery: Like to a rusty over-chared Carnon, Shall I never sly in pieces? come: to what Prison? Whither then? I have herd that Charon's boat, serves to convey All over the dismal Lake, but brings none back again. At his pleasure: Take hence the lights: he's come. Whom? Do you visit me for this? You violate a Sacrament o'th' Church Shall make you howl in hell for't. I affectionately kiss it: There is not between heaven, and earth one wish I stay for after this: it wastes me more, Then were't my picture, fashioned out of wax, Stuck with a magical needle, and then buried In some fowl dunghill: and yond's and excellent property For a tyrant, which I would account mercy, I would thou Wertenberg hanged for the horrible curse Thou hast given me: I shall shortly grow one Of the miracles of pity: I'll go pray: No, I'll go curse: Wha oyse was that? Indeed I thank him: nothing but noise, and folly Can keep me in my right wits, whereas reason And silence, make me stark mad: Fit down, Discourse to me some dismal Tragedy. Thou art deceived, To hear of greater grief, would lessen mine, This is a prison? Thou art a fool, The Robin redbreast, and the Nightingale, Never live long in cages. Of nothing When I muse thus, I sleep. Dost thou think we shall know one and other, In th'other world? Oh that it were possible we might But hold some two days conference with the dead. From them, I should learn somewhat I am sure I never shall know here: I'll tell thee a miracle, I am not mad yet, to my cause of sorrow. Heaven over my head, seems made of molten brass. The earth of flaming sulphur, yet I am not mad: I am acquainted with sad misery, As the tan'd galleyslave, is with his Oar, Necessity makes me suffer constantly, And custom makes it easy, who do I look Like now? Very proper: And Fortune seems only to have her eyesight, To behold my Tragedy: How now, What noise is that? Let them come in. Fit Cariola: let them lose when you please, For I am chained to endure all your tyranny. Is he mad to? Hah, my tomb? Thou speakest, as if I lay upon my death bed, Gasping for breath: dost thou perceive me sick? Thou art not mad sure, dost know me? Who am I? Am not I, thy Duchess? I am Duchess of Malfy still. Thou art very plain. And thou comest to make my tomb? Let me be a little merry, Of what stuff wilt thou make it? Why, do we grow fantastical in our deathbed? Do we affect fashion in the graven? Let me know fully therefore the effect Of this thy dismal preparation, This talk, fit for a charnel? Let me see it, I have so much obedience, in my blood, I wish it in there veins, to do them good. Peace, it affrights not me. To whom, to our next neighbours? they are mad-folkes. Farewell Cariola, In my last will, I have not much to give A many hungry guests, have fed upon me, Thine will be a poor reversion. I pray-thee look thou givest my little boy Some syrup, for his cold, and let the girl Say her prayers, ere she sleep. Now what you please, What death? I forgive them: The apoplexy, cathar, or cough o'th'loongs, Would do as much as they do. Who would be afraid on't? Knowing to meet such excellent company In th'other world. Not a whit, What would it pleasure me, to have my throat cut With diamonds? or to be smothered With C ssiam? or to be shot to death, with pearls? I know death hath ten thousand several doors For men to take their Exits: and it's found They go on such strange geometrical hinges, You may open them both ways: any way, (for heaven sake) So I were out of your whispering: Tell my b others, That I erceiue death, (now I am well a wake) Best gift is, they can give, or I can take, I would feign put off my last woman's-fault, Ill not be tedious to you. Dispose my breath, how please you, but my body Bestow upon my women, will you? Pull, and pull strongly, for your able strength, Most pull down heaven upon me: Yet stay, heaven gates are not so highly arched As Princes palaces, they that enter there Must go upon their knees: Come violent death, Serve for Mandragora, to make me sleep; Go tell my brother's, when I am laid out, They strangle her. They then may feed in quiet. Oh you jest: You shall judge: pray taste one. Bring me the Casket hither, and the Glass; You get no lodging here, to night (my Lord.) Must? you are a Lord of Miss-rule. To what use will you put me, la , what pleasure can two Lovers find in sleep? Mine bleeds for't. You are, in this Too strict: and were you not my Princely brother I would say to wilful: My reputation Is safe. Why should only I, Of all the other Princes of the World Be cas'de-vp, Like a holy Relic? I have youth, And a little beauty. You saw this apparition. That Gallery gave him entrance. He left this with me: she shows the poniard. His Actium Seemed to intend so much. I stand As if a Mine, beneath my feet, were ready To be blown up. Away, O misery, me thinks unjust actions Should wear these masques, and curtains; and not we: You must instantly partly hence: I have fashioned it already. Ex. Ant. So late? Indeed, I am very near it. Antonio, the master of our household Hath dealt so falsely with me, in's accounts: My brother stood engaged with me for money Taken up of certain Neopolitane Jews, And Antonio let's the Bonds be forfeit. And hereupon My brother's Bills at Naples are protested Against: call up our Officers. The place that you must fly to, is Ancona, Hire a house there. I'll send after you My Treasure, and my Jew ls: our weak safety Runs upon engenous wheels: short syllables, Must stand for periods: I must now accuse you Of such a feigned crime, as Tasso calls Magnanima Mensogna: a Noble Lie, Because it must shield our honours: hark they are coming. I have God well by you: you have yielded me A million of lose; I am Like to inherit The peoples curse for your Stewardship: You had the trick, in Audit time to be sick, Till I had signed your Quietus ; and that cured you Without help of a Doctor. Gentlemen, I would have this man be and example to you all: So shall you hold my favour: I pray let him; For has done that (alas) you would not think of, And (because I intend to be rid of him) I mean not to publish: use your fortune elsewhere. We do confifcate (Towards the satisfying of your accounts) All that you have. So, sir; you have your Pass. I would know what are your opinions Of this Antonio. Leave us: what do you think of these? The Birds, that live i'th field On the wild benefit of Nature, live Happier then we; for they may choose their Mates, And carol their sweet pleasures to the Spring: Thou dost blanch mischief Wouldst make it white: See, see; Like to calm weather At Sea, before a tempest, false hearts speak fair To those they intend most mischief. A Letter. Send Antonio to me; I want his head in a business: (a poli tick equivocation) He does not want your council, but your head; That is, he cannot sleep till you be dead. And here's another Pitfall, that's strewed over With Roses: mark it, it's a cunning one. I stand engaged for your husband, for several debts at Naples: let not That trouble him, I had rather have his heart, then his money. And I believe so too. That he so much distrusts my husbands love, He will by no means believe his heart is with him Until he see it: The Devil is not cunning enough To circumvent us in Riddles. Their league is Like that of some politic Kings Only to make themselves of strength, and pour To be our after-ruin: tell them so; I suspect some Ambush: Therefore by all my love; I do conjure you To take your eldest son, and fly towards Milan ; Let us not venture all this poor remainder In one unlucky bottom. I know not which is best, To see you dead, or partly with you: Farewell Boy. Thou art happy, that thou hast not understanding To know thy misery: For all our wit And reading, brings us to a truer sense Of sorrow: In the eternal Church, Sir, I do hope we shall not partly thus. Must I Like to a slave-borne Russian, Account it praise to suffer tyranny? And yet (Oh Heaven) thy heavy hand is in't. I have seen my little boy, oft scourge his top, And compared my self to't: nought made me ere go right, But Heavens scourge-stick. Pity? with such a pity men preserve alive Pheasmes, and Quails, when they are not fat enough To be eaten. No: But I intend, since they were born accur worser; Curses shall be their first language. Were I a man: I'll'd Beatrice that counterfeit face, into thy other Say that he was born mean. Man is most happy, when's own actions Be arguments, and examples of his Virtue. I prithee who is greatest, can you tell? Sad tales befit my woe: I'll tell you one. A Salmon, as she swam unto the Sea, Met with a Dogfish; who encounters her With this rough language: why art thou so bold To mix thy self with our high state of floods Being no eminent Courtier, but one That for the calmest, and fresh time o'th' year Dost live in shallow Rivers, rankest thy self With silly Smylts, and Shrympes? and darest thou Pass by our Dogship, without reverence? Oh (Quoth the Salmon) sister, be at peace: Thank Jupiter, we both have passed the Net, Our valve never can be truly known, Till in the Fishers basket we be shown, I'th' Market then my price may be the higher, Even when I am nearest to the Cook, and fire. So, to Great men, the Moral may be stretched. ,,Men oft are valued high, when th'are most wretched. But come: whither you please: I am armed against misery: Bent to all sways of the Oppressors' will. There's no deep Valley, but near some great Hill. Ex. I will have none: Pray-thee, why dost thou wrap thy poisoned Pills In Gold, and Sugar? Here sir: I would ask you pardon: You are very cold. I fear you are not well after your travel: Hah? lights: o horrible: What witchcraft does he practice, that he hath left A dead-mans hand here? — Here is discovered, (behind a Travers;) the artificial figures of Antonio, and his children, ap pearing as if they were dead. If they would bind me to that lifeless trunk, And let me freeze to death. That's the greatest torture souls feel in hell, In hell: that they must live, and cannot die: Portia, I'll new kindle thy Coals again, And revive the rare, and almost dead example Of a loving wife. The Church enjoins fasting: I'll starve my self to death. Good comfortable fellow Persuade a wretch that's broke upon the wheel To have all his bones new set: entreat him live, To be executed again: who must dispatch me? I account this world a tedious Theatre, For I do play a partly in't against my will. Indeed I have not leisure to tend so small a busi nes. Thou art a fool then, To wast thy pity on a thing so wretched As cannot pity it: I am full of daggers: Puff: let me blow these vipers from one. What are you? I could curse the Stars. And those three smiling seasons of the year Into a Russian winter: nay the world To its first Chaos. O, but you must remember, my curse hath a great way to go: Plagues, (that make lanes through largest families) Consume them: Let them Like tyrants Never be remembered, but for the ill they have done: Let all the zealous prayers of mortefied Churchmen forget them, Let heaven, a little while, cease crowning Martyrs To punish them: Go, howl them this: and say I long to bleed ,,It is some mercy, when men kill with speed. Exit. Antonio. Mercy. she die, Yes: Even now thou saidst, Thou wast a tomb-maker?