CASTRUCCIO

How can it choose But choke the very Soul, and bruise the Heart To think that such a giddy Snipe: a Fool (That merely lives to disparage Nature) Should creep to this ambitious government. Still he rules the Ruler. The Duke is Ward Unto a Page; whose Eyebrows wear more Beard, Then does his Chin: And there's his Instrument, A dark fellow; that with worser sguised Looks Cou worser cheat and Hypocrite, older then Time. R port is then become a Bawd to Luck; Whom Fortune do henrich, Fame does flatter. Royal dotard, Like tinder, thou dost waste Thy forced fire: to give another light Whose saucy flame will darken thine. Monstrous! What is't? And not yet signed: This t'is to be modest. Had I had reputation in thy Creed It had been done long since. There's my agent. Hence and provide me thanks. Save you Signior. Am I in your remembrance sir? The same. Because I never did desire To gain by being troublesome, I lost The deer benefit of the practic partly. Custom's a suitors safe encourager. I the Duke have served, since I was able To serve my self. Yet never had the luck To get by it: and as the times promise, Never shall: Unless I imitate the Crab, And find my way (as he does his) backwards. That is. to make petition to the foot That he will please instruct, and teach the head When to comiserate my affair. If you will move my Lord (the Count) To get the Dukes fair hand, subscribed here; Then shall I feel my self well understood. Only this Sir. There is and Engine made Which spends its strength by force of nimble wheels, For they once screwed up, in their return Will rive on Oak: but with such subtle force That motion gives no leisure to impediment. The large and ponderous Log is soon consumed, To shavings more transparent then a Glass. Of these the skillull Boxes make, Scabbards, Sheathes, Cheasts, and molds for children's Cabinets. Faith Signior, nought but a Monopoly For all those wares, his Engine makes. Very good Sir. My Lord the Count, your self (His servile Instrument) and some others, Of this new faction that now, engross All Offices, and send your Scouts abroad Intelligencers strict, that bring you home The number, and the rate of what your selves, Or others in the dark can put to sale. Nature hath not altered yet: the first And antic method to preserve our breathes. We must eat bred if we intend to live; Which how to get (unless this humble way That you deride) In troth I cannot tell. It makes me mad to think you should expose Us Men of Heart, to those fastidious helps That escape your own acceptance. Your wide Threats, That soon will swallow any thing which fills Although it nourish not. A pox upon you all! Very well Sir! Come sir! We may exchange one thrust unseen. They draw fight, close, For stings down Case & disarms him. Yet we may meet i'th' dark. You have a throat And there are Knives in Italy. But sure the Duke Enables error in their fancy, by some Behaviour equivalent to what The Master, and the Man expect: for else Folly cannot be so sickely-Eied; but time Will give it strength to know it self. The world is altered Dorido, Forest Is stepped beyond my reach: we cannot meet In Duel: The Heralds stand between. But my sine Thrush, can sing you a new Libel. Why Signior, what Faction are you of: Yo'ld feign make me angry. Cry you mercy (precious Cox) Hath Forest, So great a share in your tongue too? Sympathy Is corrupted. Behold society Amongst the wicked: while a virtuous man, Is left alone to resist his bade fate. Let him chide the fulsome Age, rail against The Times, aloud; though in a Vault: or'tweene Two Hills. He shall find no zealous ecchoe, To second his bold Language. When I die, I die a Martyr to the Commonweal. For the Peripatetics being Butchers Here in Sienna:— Derin'd their Angury from the warm Entrails Of a Calf. Seignior Lothario, the great Minion To our Duke: I greet your health, with all joy. What accident of dire portent is fallen? Why we, will furnish him with Suits. Use no choler Amorous child. But if Thou wantest suits, thy Lord being near the Duke, May furnish thee with— Or else search Saint Peters patrimony, Lay Prebendrys are good, and Simony Is and old Paradox. Why this, is fit, and requisite. Who could perish in a better cause? How can preferment hurt thy memory? He has intelligence from Spain, and fortifies, To no purpose gainst the next Spring. I'll not discredit my patience, talk on. No Sir. They blush to see a Fool. Yet I have herd nothing, but what deserves More pity, then anger. Sir Knight, beleeu't Forest is the Man That duls your reputation with the Duke. And subbornes the Count against you. Ask honest Borachio else. In this Garden he walks continually After dinner. Here stay, and expect him. And Signior in this skin of parchment; mark What pains I take, to perfect your revenge. I'th' shape of tree (which takes root in Hell) You shall discover all his base dissent. On that branch appears a Hangman. Then, A Iakes-man, then, a Tynker. On's Mother's side A Bawd professed. then, a Tybb. then a Trypewife. A Synagogue of Welsh Rabbys; could not Express more skill in Genealogies, Then this includes. Sir, show it him, and he Insaniates strait. Excellent rage! but not a word of me. I humbly take my leave. These fancies are not old: the whole Court Observes him strangely altered. But why Am I sent for? that I must know, by safe, And cautelous insinuation. Hah! still upon that string? I Like it well, T'is musical. I have but one life, it is some error In your Grace, thus t'oblige me to the lose Of more, in your deer service. My gracious Lord! I shall conceive much grief, If my zeal mistake in accusation Of those Men, which th'vncertaine Tongue of Fame Delivers to my charge. Heaven forbid: I'de rather far disgrace The skill of my subject; call accusation Slander: then that the busy multitude Should note inconstancy in you, I humbly beg, your Grace would not mistake The conditions of my duty. I hope my skill in servitude, will not Provoke my Prince to tempt my honour. Your Grace will give me leave; since that I know I not deserve to share in your high secrets, To doubt my safety in knowing this. My gracious Lord, I have some interest In her woman. She is. Perhaps— Perhaps I knew her, beyond the modest strain. Must it be this night? I cannot say her self shall porter be Unto your entrance; but her woman shall. I will instruct your Grace ever long: both when, And how to make this armorous assault. The night grows aged now. T'were fit the Duke Would hasten his departure. In troth Wench, Thy service to him exceeds requital. But what; she took it willingly! Pox Oh these modest Lies! I say she did, Then thou couldst have Kissed heartily. Is't possible! what means did the Duke use To stifle up this noise? What, repent! I prithee sweet Duarte Wrong not Divinity so much: waste not A virtue, that would more profit others: And to suppose that the Lady was ravished, Is and heresy, which my Soul must never Be guilty of. Do not I know Women Are a kind of soft wax, that will receive Any impression? But those workmen are harder far Then that hard wax. And t'is hardest of all To find those workmen: unless by Russia Where the people freeze, till they spit snow. Come, Kiss me Chuck. Again, once more— Your greatest Thieves, are commonly begotten When Parents do their lechery by stealth. Men get Cowards, when frighted in the Act. And by such vulgar consequence: t'is now A proper time to beget a Pander. One, that may hereafter do other men The same office: which we do the Duke now. Come. Shall we, in and try? Faith Wench: I've some interest in every Child That playsi'th' street, The Dukes come down. Go, go, Give your Lady a Cawdle: and let me hear How she likes her new Bedfellow. I'll meet His Grace two hours hence: when he hath dismissed Those thoughts, which still succeed unlawful lust. How now! the World is wide enough: wherefore Dost thou jostle me? Sig ior Dorido is it you? 'Tis much To see you appear before the Sun. Why Signior use a means more absolute; It is true, Forest does all: but how? As instrument governed i'th' workman's hand. Instruct me with conveniency of time, And I will work the Duke in thy behalf. At supper, when you departed from me, You gave demonstrations of discontent: Who knows, but while the soul's employed within; The body might neglect some outward form, Which curiosity prefers to custom. Custom to abuse. It was my business Not disrespect of you, that did deprive My compliment of vanity. I shall Rejoice when I can show you kindness. I'de have thee built thy Mansion on a Rock. Favorites are served in with those Dishes The Prince best loves. And meat we most affect We soonest surfeit on. Instruct thy soul. The Count is but a glorious trifle. And to be factious without benefit— Well, think vpon't. I know a way to get The Dukes best Ear, without Foreste's help. Farewell. My time was spent to more advantage. I have declared my interest in your blood. If you assist my plots; you needs must share Success, that hath already warranted A large requital. T'is well. But now you undertake business: You must be as serious as a Musle. That is: wear your Beard, upon your tongue: talk, Bravely. But of all avoid Dorido As you would to drink A violent poison. There's fresh encouragement— I thought to meet thy Master here. I'm sure I saw the warrant signed for his release. But thou prayest ill, in praying the Devil To take me. A bitter fool. With all my heart, translate thy meaning. I'll defer and answer of this, until Thy own Eyes be a little elder. Why he shall shortly govern all at Court, And be a very Mote in the Duke's eye. But what then? Or else I had been much dishonoured. And let me alone so to facilitate The project, by search of fit time, and means: As shall declare the act less troublesome, Then thus to threaten it with words. What a p rnicious Calf is this? Even so (Sir) my intelligence imports. For since her Woman, was dismissed: she sent A Messenger unto Lucca; to urge, Her Lords return: whom (by a laboured consequence) I do expect within this Hour. He'll choose To travail in the Night for privacy. Most royal Sir, you then may guess what frights Such opposition in these messages Will nourish in his Heart. And being young, He cannot feed on doubts. He'll rather think His interest in you his preuiledge to err: So, slight your Mandate, and come home, To settle his suspense. My gracious Lord; my apprehension lies Not in my Ears but in my Brain. I can Conceive without the noise of words. It shows Apparent to my intellect: the Count Presuming on that free address, he still Hath had unto your person: will hither bring Corsa, and Forest to show the shape, And quality, of his new sufferance. Be you within your bed, to free you from The world's suspicion: while I do place Behind the Gallery door (which leads unto Your Closet Chapel) such trusty spirits, As shall dare to thrust their weapons home. May slumber cease upon your toyall Eyes With gentle closure. Know, poor Forest! The bag that holds my Gall is so immense, That when I steep thee in it thou art drowned. Shall I not strike him here; between the Ribs? This is a silly kind of love! But let me think—So to contrive this plot: That Lothario may destroy Forest, And him to make his silence safe! humh— My royal Lord! Most gracious Sir, were his person bulwarked With the Alps: were he hidden in S own fear; He could not be more safe, then you have made him. A plague upon this turdy love. Such thoughts When first your Blood did make your Veins to swell (Like Bridges'ore your flesh) had prevented My employment. Softly, softly. Fear, and suspicion ever walk on Eggs. Signior Lothario! I am here too. Why are we scattered thus? Let him be damned unthought of. Have you herd, Or seen a Passenger. Well Gentlemen, I have intelligence (By my Boy) that Forest, and the Count, Are coming hither. Look to't. But let the Count Be safe. You know his voice Lothario? Well, any Man (but he) that stirs his Tongue, Invites his own ruin Give me your Hands I'll bring you to a door: through which, if they Do pass, it must be over us. Hell, and the Pillary take such dull Ears. It cannot be, but they have passed the Cloisters, And ever this, with help of private Keys, Entered the Dukes Bedchamber. The very same. A pox upon demurs. It is Forest sure. Let's make safe work Kill Lothario, lay him by him, and depart, Another Forest. Fly Cosime, fly. I hope, I've not so much Blood left, as will preserve Me for and answeere. Hang him, worser ll, open slave, His thoughts may be Discerned, through the shaving of a deal bo worser. I'll sift and winnow him, in and old hat. How (Knave!) was that the word? My gracious Lord.