  Enter the Duchess, arm in arm with Spurio: he seemeth lasciviously to look on her. After them, enter Supervacuo running, with a rapier; Ambitioso stops him. Spu. Madam, unlock yourself; Should it be seen, your arm would be suspected. Duch. Who is't that dares suspect or this or these? May not we deal our favours where we please? Spu. I'm confident you may. [Exeunt. Amb. 'Sfoot, brother, hold. Sup. Woult let the bastard shame us? Amb. Hold, hold, brother! there's fitter time than now. Sup. Now, when I see it! Amb. 'Tis too much seen already. Sup. Seen and known; The nobler she's, the baser is she grown. Amb. If she were bent lasciviously (the fault Of mighty women, that sleep soft)—O death! Must she needs choose such an unequal sinner, To make all worse?— Sup. A bastard! the duke's bastard! shame heap'd on shame! Amb. O our disgrace! Most women have small waists the world throughout; But their desires are thousand miles about. Sup. Come, stay not here, let's after, and prevent, Or else they'll sin faster than we'll repent. [Exeunt. Enter Vendice and Hippolito, bringing out their mother, one by one shoulder, and the other by the other, with daggers in their hands. Enter Castiza. Cas. Now, mother, you have wrought with me so strongly, That what for my advancement, as to calm The trouble of your tongue, I am content. Gra. Content, to what? Cas. To do as you have wish'd me; To prostitute my breast to the duke's son; And put myself to common usury. Gra. I hope you will not so! Cas. Hope you I will not? That's not the hope you look to be sav'd in. Gra. Truth, but it is. Cas. Do not deceive yourself, I am as you, e'en out of marble wrought. What would you now? are ye not pleas'd yet with me? You shall not wish me to be more lascivious Than I intend to be. Gra. Strike not me cold. Cas. How often have you charg'd me on your blessing To be a cursed woman? When you knew Your blessing had no force to make me lewd, You laid your curse upon me; that did more, The mother's curse is heavy; where that lights, Suns set in storm, and daughters lose their rights. Gra. Good child, dear maid, if there be any spark O, let my breath revive it to a flame! Put not all out with woman's wilful follies. I am recover'd of that foul disease, That haunts too many mothers; kind, forgive me, Make me not sick in health! If then My words prevail'd, when they were wickedness, How much more now, when they are just and good? Cas. I wonder what you mean! are not you she, For whose infect persuasions I could scarce Kneel out my prayers, and had much ado In three hours' reading to untwist so much Of the black serpent as you wound about me? Gra. 'Tis unfruitful, child, What's past; I'm now your present mother. Cas. Pish! now 'tis too late. Gra. Bethink again: thou know'st not what thou say'st. Cas. No! deny advancement! treasure! the duke's son! Gra. O, cease! What will the deed do then? Advancement? true; as high as shame can pitch! For treasure! who e'er knew a harlot rich? Or could build by the purchase of her sin An hospital to keep her The duke's son! O, when women are young courtiers, They are sure to be old beggars; To know the miseries most harlots taste, Thou'dst wish thyself unborn, when thou art unchaste. Cas. O mother, let me twine about your neck, And kiss you, till my soul melt on your lips! I did but this to try you. Gra. O, speak truth! Cas. Indeed I did but; To alter me from honest. If maidens would, men's words could have no power; A virgin's honour is a crystal tower Which (being weak) is guarded with good spirits; Until she basely yields, no ill inherits. Gra. O happy child! faith, and thy birth hath sav'd me. 'Mong thousand daughters, happiest of all others: Be Enter Vendice and Hippolito. Ven. So, so, he leans well; take heed you wake him not, brother. Hip. I warrant you my life for yours. Ven. That's a good lay, for I must kill myself. Brother, that's I, that sits for me: do you mark it? And I must stand ready here to make away myself yonder. I must sit to be killed, and stand to kill myself. I could vary it not so little as thrice over again; 't has some eight returns, like Michaelmas term. Hip. That's enou', o' conscience. Ven. But, sirrah, does the duke's son come single? Hip. No; there's the hell on't: his faith's too feeble to go alone. He brings flesh-flies after him, that will buzz against supper-time, and hum for his coming out. Ven. Ah, the fly-flap of vengeance beat 'em to pieces! Here was the sweetest occasion, the fittest hour, to have made my revenge familiar with him; show him the body of the duke his father, and how quaintly he died, like a politician, in hugger-mugger, Hip. Nay, pish! prythee, be content! there's no remedy present; may not hereafter times open in as fair faces as this? Ven. They may, if they can paint so well. Hip. Come now: to avoid all suspicion, let's forsake this room, and be going to meet the duke's son. Ven. Content: I'm for any weather. Heart! step close: here he comes. Enter Lusurioso. Hip. My honour'd lord! Lus. O me! you both present? Ven. E'en newly, my lord, just as your lordship entered now: about this place we had notice given he should be, but in some loathsome plight or other. Hip. Came your honour private? Lus. Private enough for this; only a few Attend my coming out. Hip. Death rot those few! [Aside. Lus. Stay, yonder's the slave. Ven. Mass, there's the slave indeed, my lord. 'Tis a good child: he calls his father slave! [Aside. Lus. Ay, that's the villain, the damn'd villain. Softly. Tread easy. Ven. Puh! I warrant you, my lord, we'll stifle-in our breaths. Lus. That will do well: Base rogue, thou sleepest thy last; 'tis policy To have him kill'd in's sleep; for, if he wak'd, He would betray all to them. Ven. But, my lord—— Lus. Ha, what say'st? Ven. Shall we kill him now he's drunk? Lus. Ay, best of all. Ven. Why, then he will ne'er live to be sober. Lus. No matter, let him reel to hell. Ven. But being so full of liquor, I fear he will put out all the fire. Lus. Thou art a mad beast. Ven. And leave none to warm your lordship's golls Lus. Come, be ready: nake your swords: Ven. Troth, so he has, and he has paid well for't. Lus. Meet with him now. Ven. You'll bear us out, my lord? Lus. Puh! am I a lord for nothing, think you? quickly now! Ven. Sa, sa, sa, thump—there he lies. Lus. Nimbly done.—Ha! O villains! murderers! 'Tis the old duke my father. Ven. That's a jest. Lus. What, stiff and cold already! O, pardon me to call you from your names: 'Tis none of your deed: that villain Piato, Whom you thought now to kill, has murdered And left him thus disguis'd. Hip. And not unlikely. Ven. O rascal! was he not asham'd To put the duke into a greasy doublet? Lus. He has been cold and stiff—who knows how long? Ven. Marry, that I do. [Aside. Lus. No words, I pray, of anything intended. Ven. O my lord. Hip. I would fain have your lordship think that we have small reason to prate. Lus. Faith, thou say'st true; I'll forthwith send to court For all the nobles, bastard, duchess; tell, How here by miracle we found him dead, And in his raiment that foul villain fled. Ven. That will be the best way, my lord, To clear us all; let's cast about to be clear. Lus. Ho! Nencio, Sordido, and the rest! Enter All. 1st Noble. My lord. 2d Noble. My lord. Lus. Be witnesses of a strange spectacle. Choosing for private conference that sad room, We found the duke my father geal'd in blood. 1st Noble. My lord the duke! run, hie thee, Nencio, Ven. This much by wit a deep revenger can: When murder's known, to be the clearest man. We're farthest off, and with as bold an eye Survey his body as the standers-by. [Aside. Lus. My royal father, too basely let blood By a malevolent slave! Hip. Hark! he calls thee slave again. [Aside. Ven. He has lost: he may. [Aside. Lus. O sight! look hither, see, his lips are gnawn With poison. Ven. How! his lips? by the mass, they be. O villain! O rogue! O slave! O rascal! Hip. O good deceit! he quits him with like terms. Amb. [Within.] Where? Sup. [Within.] Which way? Enter Ambitioso and Supervacuo. Amb. Over what roof hangs this prodigious comet In deadly fire? Lus. Behold, behold, my lords, the duke my father's murdered by a vassal that owes this habit, and here left disguised. Enter Duchess and Spurio. Duch. My lord and husband? 2d Noble. Reverend majesty! 1st Noble. I have seen these clothes often attending on him. Ven. That nobleman has been i' th' country, for he does not lie. [Aside. Sup. Learn of our mother; let's dissemble too: I am glad he's vanish'd; so, I hope, are you. Amb. Ay, you may take my word for't. Spu. Old dad dead? I, one of his cast sins, will send the Fates Most hearty commendations by his own son; I'll tug in the new stream, till strength be done. Lus. Where be those two that did affirm to us, My lord the duke was privately rid forth? 1st Noble. O, pardon us, my lords; he gave that charge— Upon our lives, if he were miss'd at court, To answer so; he rode not anywhere; We left him private with that fellow here. Ven. Confirmed. [Aside. Lus. O heavens! that false charge was his death. Impudent beggars! durst you to our face Maintain such a false answer? Bear him straight To execution. 1st Noble. My lord! Lus. Urge me no more. In this the excuse may be call'd half the murder. Ven. You've sentenc'd well. [Aside. Lus. Away; see it be done. Ven. Could you not stick? See what confession doth! Who would not lie, when men are hang'd for truth? [Aside. Hip. Brother, how happy is our vengeance! [Aside. Ven. Why, it hits past the apprehension of Indifferent wits. [Aside. Lus. My lord, let post-horses be sent Into all places to entrap the villain. Ven. Post-horses, ha, ha! [Aside. Noble. My lord, we're something bold to know our duty. Your father's accidentally departed; Lus. Meet me! I'm not at leisure, my good lord. I've many griefs to despatch out o' th' way. Welcome, sweet titles!— [Aside. Talk to me, my lords, Of sepulchres and mighty emperors' bones; That's thought for me. Ven. So one may see by this How foreign markets go; Courtiers have feet o' th' nines, and tongues o' th' twelves; They flatter dukes, and dukes flatter themselves. [Aside. Noble. My lord, it is your shine must comfort us. Lus. Alas! I shine in tears, like the sun in April. Noble. You're now my lord's grace. Lus. My lord's grace! I perceive you'll have it so. Noble. 'Tis but your own. Lus. Then, heavens, give me grace to be so! Ven. He prays well for himself. [Aside. Noble. Madam, all sorrows Must run their circles into joys. No doubt but time Will make the murderer bring forth himself. Ven. He were an ass then, i' faith. [Aside. Noble. In the mean season, Let us bethink the latest funeral honours Due to the duke's cold body. And withal, Calling to memory our new happiness Speed Prepare for revels. Ven. Revels. [Aside. Noble. Time hath several falls. Griefs lift up joys: feasts put down funerals. Lus. Come then, my lords, my favour's to you all. The duchess is suspected foully bent; I'll begin dukedom with her banishment. [Exeunt Duke, Nobles, and Duchess. Hip. Revels! Ven. Ay, that's the word: we are firm yet; Strike one strain more, and then we crown our wit. [Exeunt Hippolito and Vendice. Spu. Well, have at the fairest mark And if I miss his heart, or near about, Then have at any; a bastard scorns to be out. Sup. Note'st thou that Spurio, brother? Ant. Yes, I note him to our shame. Sup. He shall not live: his hair shall not grow much longer. In this time of revels, tricks may be set afoot. See'st thou yon new moon? it shall outlive the new duke by much; this hand shall dispossess him. Then we're mighty. A mask is treason's licence, that build upon: 'Tis murder's best face, when a vizard's on. [Exit. Amb. Is't so? 'tis very good! And do you think to be duke then, kind brother? I'll see fair play; drop one, and there lies t'other. [Aside. Exit. Enter Vendice and Hippolito, with Piero and other Lords. Ven. My lords, be all of music, strike old griefs into other countries That flow in too much milk, and have faint livers, Not daring to stab home their discontents. Let our hid flames break out as fire, as lightning, To blast this villainous dukedom, vex'd with sin; Wind up your souls to their full height again. Piero. How? 1st Lord. Which way? 3d Lord. Any way: our wrongs are such, We cannot justly be reveng'd too much. Ven. You shall have all enough. Revels are toward, And those few nobles that have long suppress'd you, Are busied to the furnishing of a masque, And do affect to make a pleasant tale on't; The masquing suits are fashioning: now comes in That which must glad us all. We too take pattern Of all those suits, the colour, trimming, fashion, E'en to an undistinguish'd hair almost: Then entering first, observing the true form, Within a strain or two we shall find leisure To steal our swords out handsomely; And when they think their pleasure sweet and good, In midst of all their joys they shall sigh blood. Piero. Weightily, effectually! Third. Before the t'other masquers come—— Ven. We're gone, all done and past. Piero. But how for the duke's guard? Ven. Let that alone, By one and one their strengths shall be drunk down. Hip. There are five hundred gentlemen in the action, That will apply themselves, and not stand idle. Piero. O, let us hug your bosoms! In a dumb show, the procession 1st Noble. Many harmonious hours and choicest pleasures Fill up the royal number of your years! Lus. My lords, we're pleas'd to thank you, though we know 'Tis but your duty now to wish it so. 1st Noble. That shine makes us all happy. 3d Noble. His grace frowns. 2d Noble. Yet we must say he smiles. 1st Noble. I think we must. Lus. That foul incontinent duchess we have banish'd; The bastard shall not live. After these revels, I'll begin strange ones: he and the step-sons Shall pay their lives for the first subsidies; We must not frown so soon, else't had been now. [Aside. 1st Noble. My gracious lord, please you prepare for pleasure. The masque is not far off. Lus. We are for pleasure. Thou hast committed treason. A blazing star! 1st Noble. A blazing star! O, where, my lord? Lus. Spy out. 2d Noble. See, see, my lords, a wondrous dreadful one! Lus. I am not pleas'd at that ill-knotted fire, That bushing, flaring star. Am not I duke? It should not quake me now. Had it appear'd Before, I might then have justly fear'd; But yet they say, whom art and learning weds, When stars wear locks, they threaten great men's heads: Is it so? you are read, my lords. 1st Noble. May it please your grace, It shows great anger. Lus. That does not please our grace. 2d Noble. Yet here's the comfort, my lord: many times, When it seems most near, it threatens farthest off. Lus. Faith, and I think so too. 1st Noble. Beside, my lord, You're gracefully establish'd with the loves Of all your subjects; and for natural death, I hope it will be threescore years a-coming. Lus. Do you? 1st Noble. Fourscore, I hope, my lord. 2d Noble. And fivescore, I. 3d Noble. But 'tis my hope, my lord, you shall ne'er die. Lus. Give me thy hand; these others I rebuke: He that hopes so is fittest for a duke: Thou shalt sit next me; take your places, lords; You thing! we shall forget you quite anon! 3d Noble. I hear 'em coming, my lord. Enter the masque of Revengers, the two brothers, and two Lords more. [The Revengers' dance: at the end steal out their [Exit Vendice. Lus. O, O! Enter the other masque of intended murderers, step-sons, Bastard, and a fourth man, coming in dancing. The duke recovers a little in voice, and groans, calls, A guard! treason! at which they all start out of their measure, and, turning towards the table, they find them all to be murdered. Spu. Whose groan was that? Lus. Treason! a guard! Amb. How now? all murder'd! Sup. Murder'd! 4th Noble. And those his nobles? Amb. Here's a labour sav'd; I thought to have sped him. 'Sblood, how came this? Spu. Then I proclaim myself; now I am duke. Amb. Thou duke! brother, thou liest. Spu. Slave! so dost thou. 4th Noble. Base villain! hast thou slain my lord and master? Enter the first men. Ven. Pistols! treason! murder! Help! guard my lord the duke! Hip. Lay hold upon these traitors. Lus. O! Ven. Alas! the duke is murder'd. Hip. And the nobles. Ven. Surgeons! surgeons! Heart! does he breathe so long? [Aside. Ant. A piteous tragedy! able to make An old man's eyes bloodshot. Lus. O! Ven. Look to my lord the duke. A vengeance throttle him! [Aside. Confess, thou murd'rous and unhallow'd man, Didst thou kill all these? 4th Noble. None but the bastard, I. Ven. How came the duke slain, then? 4th Noble. We found him so. Lus. O villain! Ven. Hark! Lus. Those in the masque did murder us. Ven. La you now, sir— O marble impudence! will you confess now? 4th Noble. 'Sblood, 'tis all false. Ant. Away with that foul monster, Dipp'd in a prince's blood. 4th Noble. Heart! 'tis a lie. Ant. Let him have bitter execution. Ven. New marrow! no, it cannot be express'd. How fares my lord the duke? Lus. Farewell to all; He that climbs highest has the greatest fall. My tongue is out of office. Ven. Air, gentlemen, air. Now thou'lt not prate on't, 'twas Vendice murder'd thee. [Whispers in his ear. Lus. O! Ven. Murder'd thy father. [Whispers. Lus. O! [Dies. Ven. And I am he: tell nobody—so, so, the duke's departed. Ant. It was a deadly hand that wounded him. The rest, ambitious who should rule and sway After his death, were so made all away. Ven. My lord was unlikely—— Hip. Now the hope Of Italy lies in your reverend years. Ven. Your hair will make the silver age again, When there were fewer, but more honest men. Ant. The burthen's weighty, and will press age down; May I so rule, that heaven may keep the crown! Ven. The rape of your good lady has been quitted With death on death. Ant. Just is the law above. But of all things it put me most to wonder How the old duke came murder'd! Ven. O my lord! Ant. It was the strangeliest carried: I not heard of the like. Hip. 'Twas all done for the best, my lord. Ven. All for your grace's good. We may be bold to speak it now, 'Twas we two murder'd him. Ant. You two? Ven. None else, i' faith, my lord. Nay, 'twas well-manag'd. Ant. Lay hands upon those villains! Ven. How! on us? Ant. Bear 'em to speedy execution. Ven. Heart! was't not for your good, my lord? Ant. My good! Away with 'em: such an old man as he! You, that would murder him, would murder me. Ven. Is't come about? Hip. 'Sfoot, brother, you begun. Ven. May not we set as well as the duke's son? Thou hast no conscience, are we not reveng'd? Is there one enemy left alive amongst those? 'Tis time to die, when we ourselves our foes: When murderers shut deeds close, this curse does seal 'em: If none disclose 'em, they themselves reveal 'em! This murder might have slept in tongueless brass But for ourselves, and the world died an ass. Now I remember too, here was Piato Brought forth a knavish sentence once; No doubt (said he), but time Will make the murderer bring forth himself. 'Tis well he died; he was a witch. And now, my lord, since we are in for ever, And if we list, we could have nobles clipp'd, And go for less than beggars; but we hate To bleed so cowardly: we have enough, I' faith, we're well, our mother turn'd, our sister true, We die after a nest of dukes. Adieu. [Exeunt. Ant. How subtlely was that murder clos'd! Those tragic bodies: 'tis a heavy season; Pray heaven their blood may wash away all treason! [Exit. FINIS. FOOTNOTES:"Ground quarelis sharpe of steele." —Steevens. [The two words are the same, quarled being a contracted form of quarell'd.] |
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