Chapter II: Introduction (2)

LUS. Prythee, good bluntness, tell me.

VEN. Why, I would desire but this, my lord--to have all the
fees behind the arras, and all the farthingales that fall plump
about twelve o'clock at night upon the rushes.

LUS. Thou'rt a mad, apprehensive[54] knave; dost think to make
any great purchase of that?

VEN. O, 'tis an unknown thing, my lord; I wonder 't has been
missed so long.

LUS. Well, this night I'll visit her, and 'tis till then
A year in my desires--farewell, attend:
Trust me with thy preferment.

VEN. My lov'd lord!
O, shall I kill him o' th' wrong side now? no!
Sword, thou wast never a backbiter yet.
I'll pierce him to his face; he shall die looking upon me.
Thy veins are swell'd with lust, this shall unfill 'em.
Great men were gods, if beggars could not kill 'em.
Forgive me, heaven, to call my mother wicked!
O, lessen not my days upon the earth,[55]
I cannot honour her. By this, I fear me,
Her tongue has turn'd my sister into use.
I was a villain not to be forsworn
To this our lecherous hope, the duke's son;
For lawyers, merchants, some divines, and all,
Count beneficial perjury a sin small.
It shall go hard yet, but I'll guard her honour,
And keep the ports sure.

_Enter_ HIPPOLITO.

HIP. Brother, how goes the world? I would know news of you.
But I have news to tell you.

VEN. What, in the name of knavery?

HIP. Knavery, faith;
This vicious old duke's worthily abused,
The pen of his bastard writes him cuckold?

VEN. His bastard?

HIP. Pray, believe it; he and the duchess
By night meet in their linen;[56] they have been seen
By stair-foot panders.

VEN. O, sin foul and deep!
Great faults are wink'd at, when the duke's asleep.
See, see, here comes the Spurio.

HIP. Monstrous luxur!

VEN. Unbrac'd! two of his valiant bawds with him!
O, there's a wicked whisper; hell's in his ear.
Stay, let's observe his passage--

_Enter_ SPURIO _and Servants_.

SPU. O, but are you sure on't?

SER. My lord, most sure on't; for 'twas spoke by one,
That is most inward with the duke's son's lust,
That he intends within this hour to steal
Unto Hippolito's sister, whose chaste life
The mother has corrupted for his use.

SPU. Sweet word! sweet occasion! faith, then, brother,
I'll disinherit you in as short time,
As I was when I was begot in haste.
I'll damn you at your pleasure: precious deed!
After your lust, O, 'twill be fine to bleed.
Come, let our passing out be soft and wary. [_Exeunt._

VEN. Mark! there, there, that step! now to the duchess--
This their second meeting writes the duke cuckold
With new additions--his horns newly reviv'd.
Night! thou that look'st like funeral heralds' fees,
Torn down betimes i' th' morning, thou hang'st fitly
To grace those sins that have no grace at all.
Now 'tis full sea abed over the world:
There's juggling of all sides; some that were maids
E'en at sunset, are now perhaps i' th' toll-book.[57]
This woman in immodest thin apparel
Lets in her friend by water; here a dame
Cunning nails leather hinges to a door,
To avoid proclamation,
Now cuckolds are coining, apace, apace, apace, apace!
And careful sisters spin that thread i' th' night,
That does maintain them and their bawds i' th' day.

HIP. You flow well, brother.

VEN. Pish![58] I'm shallow yet;
Too sparing and too modest; shall I tell thee?
If every trick were told that's dealt by night,
There are few here that would not blush outright.

HIP. I am of that belief too. Who's this comes?

VEN.[59] The duke's son up so late? Brother, fall back,
And you shall learn some mischief. My good lord!

_Enter_ LUSURIOSO.

LUS. Piato! why, the man I wished for! Come,
I do embrace this season for the fittest
To taste of that young lady.

VEN. Heart and hell.

HIP. Damn'd villain! [_Aside._

VEN. I have no way now to cross it, but to kill him. [_Aside._

LUS. Come, only thou and I.

VEN. My lord! my lord!

LUS. Why dost thou start us?

VEN. I'd almost forgot--the bastard!

LUS. What of him?

VEN. This night, this hour, this minute, now----

LUS. What? what?

VEN. Shadows the duchess----

LUS. Horrible word!

VEN. And (like strong poison) eats
Into the duke your father's forehead.

LUS. O!

VEN. He makes horn-royal.

LUS. Most ignoble slave!

VEN. This is the fruit of two beds.

LUS. I am mad.

VEN. That passage he trod warily.

LUS. He did.

VEN. And hush'd his villains every step he took.

LUS. His villains? I'll confound them.

VEN. Take 'em finely--finely, now.

LUS. The duchess' chamber-door shall not control me. [_Exeunt._

HIP. Good, happy, swift: there's gunpowder i' th' court,
Wildfire at midnight. In this heedless fury
He may show violence to cross himself.
I'll follow the event.

_Re-enter_ LUSURIOSO _and_ VENDICE.

LUS. Where is that villain?

VEN. Softly, my lord, and you may take 'em twisted.

LUS. I care not how.

VEN. O! 'twill be glorious
To kill 'em doubled, when they're heap'd. Be soft, my lord.

LUS. Away! my spleen is not so lazy: thus and thus
I'll shake their eyelids ope, and with my sword
Shut 'em again for ever. Villain! strumpet!

DUKE. You upper guard, defend us!

DUCH. Treason! treason!

DUKE. O, take me not in sleep!
I have great sins; I must have days,
Nay, months, dear son, with penitential heaves
To lift 'em out, and not to die unclear.
O, thou wilt kill me both in heaven and here.

LUS. I am amaz'd to death.

DUKE. Nay, villain, traitor,
Worse than the foulest epithet; now I'll gripe thee
E'en with the nerves of wrath, and throw thy head
Amongst the loyal[60] guard.

_Enter_ NOBLES _and [Duchess's] Sons_.

1ST NOBLE. How comes the quiet of your grace disturb'd?

DUKE. This boy, that should be myself after me,
Would be myself before me; and in heat
Of that ambition bloodily rush'd in,
Intending to depose me in my bed.

2D NOBLE. Duty and natural loyalty forfend!

DUCH. He call'd his father villain, and me strumpet,
A word that I abhor to file[61] my lips with.

AMB. That was not so well-done, brother.

LUS. I am abus'd--I know there's no excuse can do me good. [_Aside._

VEN. 'Tis now good policy to be from sight;
His vicious purpose to our sister's honour
I cross'd beyond our thought. [_Aside._

HIP. You little dreamt his father slept here.

VEN. O, 'twas far beyond me:
But since it fell so--without frightful words,
Would he had kill'd him, 'twould have eas'd our swords.

DUKE. Be comforted, our duchess, he shall die.

[_Dissemble a fright._[62]

LUS. Where's this slave-pander now? out of mine eye,
Guilty of this abuse.

_Enter_ SPURIO _with his villains_.

SPU. Y' are villains, fablers![63]
You have knaves' chins and harlots' tongues; you lie;
And I will damn you with one meal a day.

1ST SER. O good my lord!

SPU. 'Sblood, you shall never sup.

2D SER. O, I beseech you, sir!

SPU. To let my sword catch cold so long, and miss him!

1ST SER. Troth, my lord, 'twas his intent to meet there.

SPU. 'Heart! he's yonder.
Ha, what news here? is the day out o' th' socket,
That it is noon at midnight? the court up!
How comes the guard so saucy with his elbows?

LUS. The bastard here?
Nay, then the truth of my intent shall out;
My lord and father, hear me.

DUKE. Bear him hence.

LUS. I can with loyalty excuse.

DUKE. Excuse? to prison with the villain!
Death shall not long lag after him.

SPU. Good, i' faith: then 'tis not much amiss.

LUS. Brothers, my best release lies on your tongues;
I pray, persuade for me.

AMB. It is our duties; make yourself sure of us.

SUP. We'll sweat in pleading.

LUS. And I may live to thank you. [_Exit._

AMB. No, thy death shall thank me better.

SPU. He's gone; I'll after him,
And know his trespass; seem to bear a part
In all his ills, but with a puritan heart. [_Exit._

AMB. Now, brother, let our hate and love be woven
So subtlely together, that in speaking one word for his life,
We may make three for his death:
The craftiest pleader gets most gold for breath.

SUP. Set on, I'll not be far behind you, brother.

DUKE. Is't possible a son should be disobedient as far as the
sword? It is the highest: he can go no farther.

AMB. My gracious lord, take pity--

DUKE. Pity, boys!

AMB. Nay, we'd be loth to move your grace too much;
We know the trespass is unpardonable,
Black, wicked, and unnatural.

SUP. In a son? O, monstrous!

AMB. Yet, my lord,
A duke's soft hand strokes the rough head of law,
And makes it lie [more] smooth.

DUKE. But my hand shall ne'er do't.

AMB. That, as you please, my lord.

SUP. We must needs confess.
Some fathers would have entered into hate
So deadly-pointed, that before his eyes
He would ha' seen the execution sound[64]
Without corrupted favour.

AMB. But, my lord,
Your grace may live the wonder of all times,
In pard'ning that offence, which never yet
Had face to beg a pardon.

DUKE. How's this?

AMB. Forgive him, good my lord; he's your own son:
And I must needs say, 'twas the viler done.

SUP. He's the next heir: yet this true reason gathers,
None can possess that dispossess their fathers.
Be merciful!--

DUKE. Here's no step-mother's wit;
I'll try them both upon their love and hate.

[_Aside._

AMB. Be merciful--although--

DUKE. You have prevailed.
My wrath, like flaming wax, hath spent itself;
I know 'twas but some peevish moon[65] in him;
Go, let him be releas'd.

SUP. 'Sfoot, how now, brother?

AMB. Your grace doth please to speak beside your spleen;
I would it were so happy.

DUKE. Why, go, release him.

SUP. O my good lord! I know the fault's too weighty
And full of general loathing: too inhuman,
Rather by all men's voices worthy death.

DUKE. 'Tis true too, here, then, receive this signet.
Doom shall pass;
Direct it to the judges; he shall die
Ere many days. Make haste.

AMB. All speed that may be.
We could have wish'd his burden not so sore:
We knew your grace did but delay before. [_Exeunt._

DUKE. Here's envy[66] with a poor thin cover o'er't;
Like scarlet hid in lawn, easily spied through.
This their ambition by the mother's side
Is dangerous, and for safety must be purg'd,
I will prevent their envies; sure it was
But some mistaken fury in our son,
Which these aspiring boys would climb upon:
He shall be releas'd suddenly.

_Enter_ NOBLES.

1ST NOBLE. Good morning to your grace.

DUKE. Welcome, my lords.

2D NOBLE. Our knees shall take
Away the office of our feet for ever,
Unless your grace bestow a father's eye
Upon the clouded fortunes of your son,
And in compassionate virtue grant him that,
Which makes e'en mean men happy--liberty.

DUKE. How seriously their loves and honours woo
For that which I am about to pray them do!
Arise,[67] my lords; your knees sign his release.
We freely pardon him.

1ST NOBLE. We owe your grace much thanks, and he much duty.

[_Exeunt._

DUKE. It well becomes that judge to nod at crimes,
That does commit greater himself, and lives.
I may forgive a disobedient error,
That expect pardon for adultery,
And in my old days am a youth in lust.
Many a beauty have I turn'd to poison
In the denial, covetous of all.
Age hot is like a monster to be seen;
My hairs are white, and yet my sins are green.

FOOTNOTES:

[34] [Edits., _myself_. Gilchrist's correction.]

[35] [Old copy, _by their_.]

[36] [_i.e._, Next heir.]

[37] [Query, wheel of fortune. Perhaps we should read _weal_.]

[38] [Edits., _fool_.]

[39] See note on p. 40.

[40] [Old copy, _suffering_.]

[41] [A MS. note in one of the former edits., refers us to the closet scene in "Hamlet."]

[42] _i.e._, Embrace it. So again in this play--

"Here in this lodge they meet for damned _clips_."

_i.e._, cursed embraces.--_Steevens._

[43] [Copies, _you_. This emendation was suggested by a MS. note in one of the former edits.]

[44] Alluding to the custom of hanging _hats_ in ancient halls upon _stags' horns_.--_Steevens._

[45] So in Lodge's "Wit's Miserie," p. 24: "What think you to a tender faire young, nay a weakling of womankind _to wear whole Lordships and Manor-houses on her backe without sweating_?" See also note to "The Miseries of Enforced Marriage," [ix. 490.]

[46] [Old copy, _and met again_. The word _mete_ occurs again a little lower down. The meaning may be that they calculated their savings.]

[47] _i.e._, Measured. Petruchio, in "The Taming of the Shrew," calls the tailor's measuring-yard his _mete_-yard.--_Steevens._

[48] _i.e._, Honesty.--_Gilchrist._

[49] ["What splendid power of passion and imagery there is in this!"--_MS. note in one of the former edits._]

[50] _i.e._, Intimate. See note to "The Spanish Tragedy," [v. 168]

[51] [Old copy, _a fellow_.]

[52] I decline, or lessen in courage. So Falstaff says: "Do I not _bate_? Do I not dwindle?" &c.

[53] [Edits., _did me I_.]

[54] _i.e._, Quick to understand. See Mr Steevens's note on "The Second Part of King Henry IV.," act iv. sc. 3.

[55] Alluding to the promise in the Fifth Commandment.

[56] [In their night-clothes.]

[57] Alluding to the custom of entering horses sold at fairs in a book called the "Toll-book." See note to "All's Well that Ends Well," edit. 1766, of Shakespeare, iv. 141.--_Steevens._

[58] [Edits., _Push_.]

[59] Mr Reed assigned these two lines to Hippolito, a decided error, both by the sense and according to the old copy, which gives them to Vendice. He makes his brother stand back, while he addresses Lusurioso: _My good lord_; and Lusurioso naturally observes: _Piato! why, the man I wished for,_ &c.--_Collier_.

[60] [Edits., _lawyer's_.]

[61] [Defile.] See note to "The Miseries of Enforced Marriage," [ix. 511.]

[62] The quarto reads, _flight_.

[63] [Liars.]

[64] [See at p. 53 the passage, _our office shall be sound_. In both places the word means, constant, true.]

[65] Some sudden fit of frenzy. Cotgrave translates "_Avoir un quartier de la_ lune _en la teste_," to be half frantic, or have a spice of lunacy.

[66] [Hatred.]

ACTUS III., SCÆNA 1.

_Enter_ AMBITIOSO _and_ SUPERVACUO.

SUP. Brother, let my opinion sway you once;
I speak it for the best, to have him die;
Surest and soonest, if the signet come
Unto the judge's hand, why then his doom
Will be deferr'd till sittings and court-days,
Juries, and farther. Faiths are bought and sold;
Oaths in these days are but the skin of gold.

AMB. In troth, 'tis true too,

SUP. Then let's set by the judges,
And fall to the officers; 'tis but mistaking
The duke our father's meaning; and where he nam'd
Ere many days--'tis but forgetting that,
And have him die i' th' morning.

AMB. Excellent!
Then am I heir! duke in a minute!

SUP. [_Aside._] Nay,
And he were once puff'd out, here is a pin
Should quickly prick your bladder.

AMB. Bless'd occasion!
He being pack'd, we'll have some trick and wile
To wind our younger brother out of prison,
That lies in for the rape. The lady's dead,
And people's thoughts will soon be buried.

SUP. We may with safety do't, and live and feed:
The duchess' sons are too proud to bleed.

AMB. We are, i' faith, to say true--come let's not linger:
I'll to the officers; go you before,
And set an edge upon the executioner.

SUP. Let me alone to grind him. [_Exit._

AMB. Farewell!
I am next now; I rise just in that place,
Where thou'rt out off; upon thy neck, kind brother;
The falling of one head lifts up another. [_Exit._

_Enter, with the_ NOBLES, LUSURIOSO _from prison_.

LUS. My lords, I am so much indebted to your loves
For this, O, this delivery--

1ST NOBLE. But our duties, my lord, unto the hopes that grow in
you.

LUS. If e'er I live to be myself, I'll thank you.
O liberty, thou sweet and heavenly dame!
But hell for prison is too mild a name. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ AMBITIOSO _and_ SUPERVACUO, _with_ OFFICERS.

AMB. Officers, here's the duke's signet, your firm warrant,
Brings the command of present death along with it
Unto our brother, the duke's son; we are sorry
That we are so unnaturally employ'd
In such an unkind office, fitter far
For enemies than brothers.

SUP. But, you know,
The duke's command must be obey'd.

1ST OFFICER. It must and shall, my lord. This morning, then--
So suddenly?

AMB. Ay, alas! poor, good soul!
He must breakfast betimes; the executioner
Stands ready to put forth his cowardly valour.

2D OFFICER. Already?

SUP. Already, i' faith. O sir, destruction hies,
And that is least imprudent,[68] soonest dies.

1ST OFFICER. Troth, you say true. My lord, we take our leaves:
Our office shall be sound; we'll not delay
The third part of a minute.

AMB. Therein you show
Yourselves good men and upright officers.
Pray, let him die as private as he may;
Do him that favour; for the gaping people
Will but trouble him at his prayers,
And make him curse and swear, and so die black.
Will you be so far kind?

1ST OFFICER. It shall be done, my lord.

AMB. Why, we do thank you; if we live to be--
You shall have a better office.

2D OFFICER. Your good lordship--

SUP. Commend us to the scaffold in our tears.

1ST OFFICER. We'll weep, and do your commendations. [_Exeunt._

AMB. Fine fools in office!

SUP. Things fall out so fit!

AMB. So, happily come, brother! ere next clock,
His head will be made serve a bigger block.[69] [_Exeunt._

_Enter in prison_ JUNIOR BROTHER _and_ KEEPER.

JUN. Keeper!

KEEPER. My lord.

JUN. No news lately from our brothers?
Are they unmindful of us?

KEEPER. My lord, a messenger came newly in,
And brought this from 'em.

JUN. Nothing but paper-comforts?
I look'd for my delivery before this,
Had they been worth their oaths.--Prythee, be from us.
[_Exit_ KEEPER.
Now what say you, forsooth? speak out, I pray.
[_Reads the letter._] _Brother, be of good cheer_;
'Slud, it begins like a whore with good cheer.
_Thou shalt not be long a prisoner._
Not five-and-thirty years, like a bankrupt--I think so.
_We have thought upon a device to get thee out by a trick._
By a trick! pox o' your trick, an' it be so long a playing.
_And so rest comforted, be merry, and expect it suddenly!_
Be merry! hang _merry_, draw and quarter _merry_;

I'll be mad. Is't not strange that a man should lie-in a whole
month for a woman? Well, we shall see how sudden our brothers
will be in their promise. I must expect still a trick: I shall
not be long a prisoner. How now, what news?

_Enter_ KEEPER.

KEEPER. Bad news, my lord; I am discharged of you.

JUN. Slave! call'st thou that bad news? I thank you, brothers.

KEEPER. My lord, 'twill prove so. Here come the officers,
Into whose hands I must commit you.

JUN. Ha, officers! what? why?

_Enter_ OFFICERS.

1ST OFFICER. You must pardon us, my lord:
Our office must be sound: here is our warrant,
The signet from the duke; you must straight suffer.

JUN. Suffer! I'll suffer you to begone; I'll suffer you
To come no more; what would you have me suffer?

2D OFFICER. My lord, those words were better chang'd to prayers.
The time's but brief with you: prepare to die.

JUN. Sure, 'tis not so!

3D OFFICER. It is too true, my lord.

JUN. I tell you 'tis not; for the duke my father
Deferr'd me till next sitting; and I look,
E'en every minute, threescore times an hour,
For a release, a trick wrought by my brothers.

1ST OFFICER. A trick, my lord! if you expect such comfort,
Your hope's as fruitless as a barren woman:
Your brothers were the unhappy messengers,
That brought this powerful token for your death.

JUN. My brothers? no, no.

2D OFFICER. 'Tis most true, my lord.

JUN. My brothers to bring a warrant for my death!
How strange this shows!

3D OFFICER. There's no delaying time.

JUN. Desire 'em hither: call 'em up--my brothers!
They shall deny it to your faces.

1ST OFFICER. My lord,
They're far enough by this; at least at court;
And this most strict command they left behind 'em.
When grief swam in their eyes, they show'd like brothers,
Brimful of heavy sorrow--but the duke
Must have his pleasure.

JUN. His pleasure!

1ST OFFICER. These were the last words, which my memory bears,
_Commend us to the scaffold in our tears_.

JUN. Pox dry their tears! what should I do with tears?
I hate 'em worse than any citizen's son
Can hate salt water. Here came a letter now,
New-bleeding from their pens, scarce stinted[70] yet:
Would I'd been torn in pieces when I tore it:
Look, you officious whoresons, words of comfort,
_Not long a prisoner_.

1ST OFFICER. It says true in that, sir; for you must suffer presently.

JUN. A villainous Duns upon the letter,[71] knavish exposition!
Look you then here, sir: _we'll get thee out by a trick_, says he.

2D OFFICER. That may hold too, sir; for you know a trick is
commonly four cards, which was meant by us four officers.

JUN. Worse and worse dealing.

1ST OFFICER. The hour beckons us.
The headsman waits: lift up your eyes to heaven.

JUN. I thank you, faith; good pretty wholesome counsel!
I should look up to heaven, as you said,
Whilst he behind me cosens me of my head.
Ay, that's the trick.

3D OFFICER. You delay too long, my lord.

JUN. Stay, good authority's bastards; since I must,
Through brothers' perjury, die, O, let me venom
Their souls with curses.

3D OFFICER. Come, 'tis no time to curse.

JUN. Must I bleed then without respect of sign? well--
My fault was sweet sport, which the world approves,
I die for that which every woman loves. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ VENDICE _and_ HIPPOLITO.[72]

VEN. O, sweet, delectable, rare, happy, ravishing!

HIP. Why, what's the matter, brother?

VEN. O, 'tis able to make a man spring up and knock his forehead
Against yon silver ceiling.

HIP. Prythee, tell me;
Why may not I partake with you? you vow'd once
To give me share to every tragic thought.[73]

VEN. By th' mass, I think I did too;
Then I'll divide it to thee. The old duke,
Thinking my outward shape and inward heart
Are cut out of one piece (for he that prates his secrets,
His heart stands o' th' outside), hires me by price
To greet him with a lady
In some fit place, veil'd from the eyes o' th' court,
Some darken'd, blushless angle,[74] that is guilty
Of his forefathers' lust and great folks' riots;
To which I easily (to maintain my shape)
Consented, and did wish his impudent grace
To meet her here in this unsunned lodge,
Wherein 'tis night at noon: and here the rather
Because, unto the torturing of his soul,
The bastard and the duchess have appointed
Their meeting too in this luxurious circle;
Which most afflicting sight will kill his eyes,
Before we kill the rest of him.

HIP. 'Twill, i' faith! Most dreadfully digested!
I see not how you could have miss'd me, brother.

VEN. True; but the violence of my joy forgot it.

HIP. Ay, but where's that lady now?

VEN. O! at that word
I'm lost again; you cannot find me yet:
I'm in a throng of happy apprehensions.
He's suited for a lady; I have took care
For a delicious lip, a sparkling eye--
You shall be witness, brother:
Be ready; stand with your hat off. [_Exit._

HIP. Troth, I wonder what lady it should be!
Yet 'tis no wonder, now I think again,
To have a lady stoop to a duke, that stoops unto his men.
'Tis common to be common through the world:
And there's more private common shadowing vices,
Than those who are known both by their names and prices.
'Tis part of my allegiance to stand bare
To the duke's concubine; and here she comes.

_Enter_ VENDICE, _with the skull of his love dressed up_
_in tires_.

VEN. Madam, his grace will not be absent long.[75]
Secret! ne'er doubt us, madam; 'twill be worth
Three velvet gowns to your ladyship. Known!
Few ladies respect that disgrace: a poor thin shell!
'Tis the best grace you have to do it well.
I'll save your hand that labour: I'll unmask you!

HIP. Why, brother, brother!

VEN. Art thou beguil'd now? tut, a lady can,
As thus all hid, beguile a wiser man.
Have I not fitted the old surfeiter
With a quaint piece of beauty? Age and bare bone
Are e'er allied in action. Here's an eye,
Able to tempt a great man--to serve God:
A pretty hanging lip, that has forgot now to dissemble.
Methinks this mouth should make a swearer tremble;
A drunkard clasp his teeth, and not undo 'em,
To suffer wet damnation to run through 'em.
Here's a cheek keeps her colour, let the wind go whistle:
Spout, rain, we fear thee not: be hot or cold,
All's one with us; and is not he absurd,
Whose fortunes are upon their faces set,
That fear no other god but wind and wet?

HIP. Brother, you've spoke that right:
Is this the form that (living) shone so bright?

VEN. The very same.
And now methinks I could e'en chide myself
For doating on her beauty, though her death
Shall be reveng'd after no common action.
Does the silkworm expend her yellow labours
For thee? For thee does she undo herself?
Are lordships sold to maintain ladyships,
For the poor benefit of a bewitching minute?
Why does yon fellow falsify highways,
And put his life between the judge's lips:
To refine such a thing, keeps horse and men
To beat their valours for her?
Surely we are all mad people, and they
Whom we think are, are not: we mistake those;
'Tis we are mad in sense, they but in clothes.

HIP. Faith, and in clothes too we, give us our due.

VEN. Does every proud and self-affecting dame
Camphire her face for this, and grieve her maker
In sinful baths of milk, when many an infant starves
For her superfluous outside--all for this?
Who now bids twenty pounds a night? prepares
Music, perfumes, and sweetmeats? All are hush'd.
Thou may'st lie chaste now! it were fine, methinks,
To have thee seen at revels, forgetful feasts,
And unclean brothels: sure, 'twould fright the sinner,
And make him a good coward: put a reveller
Out of his antic amble,
And cloy an epicure with empty dishes.
Here might a scornful and ambitious woman
Look through and through herself. See, ladies, with false forms
You deceive men, but cannot deceive worms.
Now to my tragic business. Look you, brother,
I have not fashion'd this only for show
And useless property; no, it shall bear a part
E'en in its own revenge. This very skull,
Whose mistress the duke poison'd with this drug,
The mortal curse of the earth shall be reveng'd
In the like strain, and kiss his lips to death.
As much as the dumb thing can, he shall feel:
What fails in poison, we'll supply in steel.

HIP. Brother, I do applaud thy constant vengeance--
The quaintness of thy malice--above thought.

VEN. So, 'tis laid on [He poisons the lips of the skull]: now
come and welcome, duke,
I have her for thee. I protest it, brother,
Methinks she makes almost as fair a sin,[76]
As some old gentlewoman in a periwig.
Hide thy face now for shame; thou hadst need have a mask now:
'Tis vain when beauty flows; but when it fleets,
This would become graves better than the streets.

HIP. You have my voice in that: hark, the duke's come.

VEN. Peace, let's observe what company he brings,
And how he does absent 'em; for you know
He'll wish all private. Brother, fall you back a little
With the bony lady.

HIP. That I will.

VEN. So, so; now nine years' vengeance crowd into a minute!

_Enter_ DUKE _and_ GENTLEMEN.

DUKE. You shall have leave to leave us, with this charge
Upon your lives, if we be missed by th' duchess
Or any of the nobles, to give out,
We're privately rid forth.

VEN. O happiness!

DUKE. With some few honourable gentlemen, you may say--
You may name those that are away from court.

GEN. Your will and pleasure shall be done, my lord. [Exeunt.

VEN. Privately rid forth!
He strives to make sure work on't. Your good grace!

DUKE. Piato, well-done, hast brought her! what lady is't?

VEN. Faith, my lord, a country lady, a little bashful at first,
as most of them are; but after the first kiss, my lord, the
worst is past with them. Your grace knows now what you have to
do; she has somewhat a grave look with her--but--

DUKE. I love that best; conduct her.

VEN. Have at all. [_Aside._

DUKE. In gravest looks the greatest faults seem less.
Give me that sin that's rob'd in holiness.

VEN. Back with the torch! brother, raise the perfumes.

DUKE. How sweet can a duke breathe! Age has no fault.
Pleasure should meet in a perfumed mist.
Lady, sweetly encountered: I came from court,
I must be bold with you. O, what's this? O!

VEN. Royal villain! white devil!

DUKE. O!

VEN. Brother, place the torch here, that his affrighted eyeballs
May start into those hollows. Duke, dost know
Yon dreadful vizard? View it well; 'tis the skull
Of Gloriana, whom thou poisonedst last.

DUKE. O! 't has poisoned me.

VEN. Didst not know that till now?

DUKE. What are you two?

VEN. Villains all three! the very ragged bone
Has been sufficiently reveng'd.

DUKE. O, Hippolito, call treason!

HIP. Yes, my lord; treason! treason! treason!

[_Stamping on him._

DUKE. Then I'm betray'd.

VEN. Alas! poor lecher: in the hands of kraves,
A slavish duke is baser than his slaves.

DUKE. My teeth are eaten out.

VEN. Hadst any left?

HIP. I think but few.

VEN. Then those that did eat are eaten.

DUKE. O my tongue!

VEN. Your tongue? 'twill teach yon to kiss closer,
Not like a slobbering Dutchman. You have eyes still:
Look, monster, what a lady hast thou made me!
[_Discovers himself._
My once betrothed wife.

DUKE. Is it thou, villain? nay, then--

VEN. Tis I, 'tis Vendice, 'tis I.

HIP. And let this comfort thee: our lord and father
Fell sick upon the infection of thy frowns,
And died in sadness: be that thy hope of life.

DUKE. O!

VEN. He had his tongue, yet grief made him die speechless.
Puh! 'tis but early yet; now I'll begin
To stick thy soul with ulcers. I will make
Thy spirit grievous sore; it shall not rest,
But like some pestilent man toss in thy breast.
Mark me, duke:
Thou'rt a renowned, high and mighty cuckold.

DUKE. O!

VEN. Thy bastard--thy bastard rides a-hunting in thy brow.

DUKE. Millions of deaths!

VEN. Nay, to afflict thee more,
Here in this lodge they meet for damned clips.[77]
Those eyes shall see the incest of their lips.

DUKE. Is there a hell besides this, villains?

VEN. Villain!
Nay, heaven is just; scorns are the hires of scorns:
I ne'er knew yet adulterer without horns.

HIP. Once, ere they die, 'tis quitted.

VEN. Hark! the music:
Their banquet is prepar'd, they're coming--

DUKE. O, kill me not with that sight!

VEN. Thou shalt not lose that sight for all thy dukedom.

DUKE. Traitors! murderers!

VEN. What! is not thy tongue eaten out yet?
Then we'll invent a silence. Brother, stifle the torch.

DUKE. Treason! murder!

VEN. Nay, faith, we'll have you hush'd. Now with thy dagger
Nail down his tongue, and mine shall keep possession
About his heart; if he but gasp, he dies;
We dread not death to quittance injuries.
Brother, if he but wink, not brooking the foul object,
Let our two other hands tear up his lids,
And make his eyes like comets shine through blood
When the bad bleeds, then is the tragedy good.

HIP. Whist, brother! music's at our ear; they come.

_Enter the_ BASTARD, _meeting the_ DUCHESS.

SPU. Had not that kiss a taste of sin, 'twere sweet.

DUCH. Why, there's no pleasure sweet, but it is sinful.

SPU. True, such a bitter sweetness fate hath given;
Best side to us is the worst side to heaven.

DUCH. Pish! come: 'tis the old duke, thy doubtful father:
The thought of him rubs heaven in thy way.
But I protest by yonder waxen fire,
Forget him, or I'll poison him.

SPU. Madam, you urge a thought which ne'er had life.
So deadly do I loathe him for my birth,
That if he took me hasp'd within his bed,
I would add murder to adultery,
And with my sword give up his years to death.

DUCH. Why, now thou'rt sociable; let's in and feast:
Loud'st music sound; pleasure is banquet's guest. [_Exeunt._

DUKE. I cannot brook--

VEN. The brook is turn'd to blood.

HIP. Thanks to loud music.

VEN. 'Twas our friend, indeed.
'Tis state in music for a duke to bleed.
The dukedom wants a head, though yet unknown;
As fast as they peep up, let's cut 'em down. [_Exeunt._

_Enter the Duchess's two sons_, AMBITIOSO _and_ SUPERVACUO.

AMB. Was not his execution rarely plotted?
We are the duke's sons now.

SUP. Ay, you may thank my policy for that.

AMB. Your policy for what?

SUP. Why, was't not my invention, brother,
To slip the judges? and in lesser compass
Did not I draw the model of his death;
Advising you to sudden officers
And e'en extemporal execution?

AMB. Heart! 'twas a thing I thought on too.

SUP. You thought on't too! 'sfoot, slander not your thoughts
With glorious untruth; I know 'twas from you.

AMB. Sir, I say, 'twas in my head.

SUP. Ay, like your brains then,
Ne'er to come out as long as you liv'd.

AMB. You'd have the honour on't, forsooth, that your wit
Led him to the scaffold.

SUP. Since it is my due,
I'll publish't, but I'll ha't in spite of you.

AMB. Methinks, y' are much too bold; you should a little
Remember us, brother, next to be honest duke.

SUP. Ay, it shall be as easy for you to be duke
As to be honest; and that's never, i' faith.

AMB. Well, cold he is by this time; and because
We're both ambitious, be it our amity,
And let the glory be shar'd equally.

SUP. I am content to that.

AMB. This night our younger brother shall out of prison:
I have a trick.

SUP. A trick! prythee, what is't?

AMB. We'll get him out by a wile.

SUP. Prythee, what wile?

AMB. No, sir; you shall not know it, till it be done;
For then you'd swear 'twere yours.

_Enter an_ OFFICER.

SUP. How now, what's he?

AMB. One of the officers.

SUP. Desired news.

AMB. How now, my friend?

OFFICER. My lords, under your pardon, I am allotted
To that desertless office, to present you
With the yet bleeding head--

SUP. Ha, ha! excellent.

AMB. All's sure our own: brother, canst weep, think'st thou?
'Twould grace our flattery much; think of some dame:
'Twill teach thee to dissemble.

SUP. I have thought;--now for yourself.

AMB. Our sorrows are so fluent,
Our eyes o'erflow our tongues; words spoke in tears
Are like the murmurs of the waters--the sound
Is loudly heard, but cannot be distinguish'd.

SUP. How died he, pray?

OFFICER. O, full of rage and spleen.

SUP. He died most valiantly, then; we're glad to hear it.

OFFICER. We could not woo him once to pray.

AMB. He show'd himself a gentleman in that:
Give him his due.

OFFICER. But, in the stead of prayer,
He drew forth oaths.

SUP. Then did he pray, dear heart,
Although you understood him not?

OFFICER. My lords,
E'en at his last, with pardon be it spoke,
He curs'd you both.

SUP. He curs'd us? 'las, good soul!

AMB. It was not in our powers, but the duke's pleasure.
Finely dissembled a both sides, sweet fate;
O happy opportunity! [_Aside._

_Enter_ LUSURIOSO.

LUS. Now, my lords.

BOTH. O!------

LUS. Why do you shun me, brothers?
You may come nearer now;
The savour of the prison has forsook me.
I thank such kind lords as yourselves, I'm free.

AMB. Alive!

SUP. In health!

AMB. Releas'd!
We were both e'en amaz'd with joy to see it.[78]

LUS. I am much to thank to you.

SUP. Faith, we spar'd no tongue unto my lord the duke.

AMB. I know your delivery, brother,
Had not been half so sudden but for us.

SUP. O, how we pleaded!

LUS. Most deserving brothers!
In my best studies I will think of it. [_Exit_ LUSURIOSO.

AMB. O death and vengeance!

SUP. Hell and torment!

AMB. Slave, cam'st thou to delude us?

OFFICER. Delude you, my lords?

SUP. Ay, villain, where's his head now?

OFFICER. Why here, my lord;
Just after his delivery, you both came
With warrant from the duke to behead your brother.

AMB. Ay, our brother, the duke's son.

OFFICER. The duke's son, my lord, had his release before you came.

AMB. Whose head's that, then?

OFFICER. His whom you left command for, your own brother's.

AMB. Our brother's? O furies!

SUP. Plagues!

AMB. Confusions!

SUP. Darkness!

AMB. Devils!

SUP. Fell it out so accursedly?

AMB. So damnedly?

SUP. Villain, I'll brain thee with it.

OFFICER. O my good lord!

SUP. The devil overtake thee!

AMB. O fatal!

SUP. O prodigious to our bloods!

AMB. Did we dissemble?

SUP. Did we make our tears women for thee?

AMB. Laugh and rejoice for thee?

SUP. Bring warrant for thy death.?

AMB. Mock off thy head?

SUP. You had a trick: you had a wile, forsooth.

AMB. A murrain meet 'em; there's none of these wiles that ever
come to good: I see now, there's nothing sure in mortality, but
mortality.

Well, no more words: shalt be revenged, i' faith.
Come, throw off clouds; now, brother, think of vengeance,
And deeper-settled hate; sirrah, sit fast,
We'll pull down all, but thou shalt down at last. [_Exeunt._

FOOTNOTES:

[67] The 4o reads, _Which arise_, &c.--_Collier._

[68] [Edits., _impudent_. _The least imprudent_ is equivalent to the most farsighted or wary.]

[69] _i.e._, Hat.

[70] Stopped. See several instances of the use of this word in Mr Steevens's note on "Romeo and Juliet," act i. sc. 3.

[71] Alluding, I think, to _Duns Scotus_, who commented upon "The Master of the Sentences."--_Pegge._

Duns Scotus was an English Franciscan Friar who, differing from Thomas Aquinas, occasioned a famous scholastic division, known by the titles of Thomists and Scotists. He died at Paris in 1308. Erasmus, who had a very low opinion of this writer, in his "Praise of Folie," 1549, sig. N 3, says: "Lykewise not longe agone I was present at the sermon of an other famous doctour being almost 80 yeres old, and thereto so doctour lyke, as if _Duns_ were new arisen in him, who entending to disclose the mistery of the name of Jesu, with great subtiltie shewed, how evin in the _verie letters was muche pithe included, and might be gathered thereof_."

[72] ["A splendid scene."--_MS. note._]

[73] ["This, I think, is very fine, where we ... words that precede it...."--_MS, note (partly illegible) in one of the former edits._]

[74] It stood in the last edition [1780]: "_Some darken'd blushless angel_," &c., which renders the passage utter nonsense.--_Collier._

[75] ["He imagines her speaking, and answers her."--_MS. note in one of the former edits._]

[76] [Sinner.]

[77] See note at p. 35.

[78] This passage and the preceding exclamation have been restored from the old copy of 1607, having been omitted both by Dodsley and Reed.--_Collier._

ACTUS IV., SCÆNA 1.

_Enter_ LUSURIOSO, _with_ HIPPOLITO.

LUS. Hippolito!

HIP. My lord,
Has your good lordship aught to command me in?

LUS. I prythee, leave us.

HIP. How's this? come, and leave us!

LUS. Hippolito!

HIP. Your honour, I stand ready for any duteous employment.

LUS. Heart! what mak'st thou here?

HIP. A pretty lordly humour!
He bids me be present to depart; something
Has stung his honour.

LUS. Be nearer; draw nearer:
Ye're not so good, methinks; I'm angry with you.

HIP. With me, my lord? I'm angry with myself for't.

LUS. You did prefer a goodly fellow to me:
'Twas wittily elected; 'twas. I thought
H' had been a villain, and he proves a knave--
To me a knave.

HIP. I chose him for the best, my lord:
'Tis much my sorrow, if neglect in him
Breed discontent in you.

LUS. Neglect! 'twas will. Judge of it.
Firmly to tell of an incredible act,
Not to be thought, less to be spoken of,
'Twixt my step-mother and the bastard; of
Incestuous sweets between 'em.

HIP. Fie, my lord!

LUS. I, in kind loyalty to my father's forehead,
Made this a desperate arm; and in that fury
Committed treason on the lawful bed,
And with my sword e'en ras'd my father's bosom,
For which I was within a stroke of death.

HIP. Alack! I'm sorry. 'Sfoot, just upon the stroke,
Jars in my brother; 'twill be villainous music.

_Enter_ VENDICE.

VEN. My honour'd lord.

LUS. Away! prythee, forsake us: hereafter we'll not know thee.

VEN. Not know me, my lord! your lordship cannot choose.

LUS. Begone. I say: thou art a false knave.

VEN. Why, the easier to be known, my lord.

LUS. Pish! I shall prove too bitter, with a word
Make thee a perpetual prisoner,
And lay this iron age upon thee.

VEN. Mum!
For there's a doom would make a woman dumb.
Missing the bastard--next him--the wind's come about:
Now 'tis my brother's turn to stay, mine to go out. [_Aside. Exit._

LUS. H' has greatly mov'd me.

HIP. Much to blame, i' faith.

LUS. But I'll recover, to his ruin. 'Twas told me lately,
I know not whether falsely, that you'd a brother.

HIP. Who, I? yes, my good lord, I have a brother.

LUS. How chance the court ne'er saw him? of what nature?
How does he apply his hours?

HIP. Faith, to curse fates
Who, as he thinks, ordain'd him to be poor--
Keeps at home, full of want and discontent.

LUS. There's hope in him; for discontent and want
Is the best clay to mould a villain of. [_Aside._
Hippolito, wish him repair to us:
If there be aught in him to please our blood,
For thy sake we'll advance him, and build fair
His meanest fortunes; for it is in us
To rear up towers from cottages.

HIP. It is so, my lord: he will attend your honour;
But he's a man in whom much melancholy dwells.

LUS. Why, the better; bring him to court.

HIP. With willingness and speed:
Whom he cast off e'en now, must now succeed.
Brother, disguise must off;
In thine own shape now I'll prefer thee to him:
How strangely does himself work to undo him! [_Aside. Exit._

LUS. This fellow will come fitly; he shall kill
That other slave, that did abuse my spleen,
And made it swell to treason. I have put
Much of my heart into him; he must die.
He that knows great men's secrets, and proves slight,[79]
That man ne'er lives to see his beard turn white.
Ay, he shall speed him: I'll employ the brother;
Slaves are but nails to drive out one another.
He being of black condition, suitable
To want and ill-content, hope of preferment
Will grind him to an edge.[80]

_Enter_ NOBLES.

1ST NOBLE. Good days unto your honour.

LUS. My kind lords, I do return the like.

2D NOBLE. Saw you my lord the duke?

LUS. My lord and father! is he from court?

1ST NOBLE. He's sure from court;
But where--which way his pleasure took, we know not,
Nor can we hear on't.

LUS. Here come those should tell.
Saw you my lord and father?

3D NOBLE. Not since two hours before noon my lord,
And then he privately rode forth.

LUS. O, he's rid forth.

1ST NOBLE. 'Twas wondrous privately.

2D NOBLE. There's none i' th' court had any knowledge on't.

LUS. His grace is old and sudden: 'tis no treason
To say the duke, my father, has a humour,
Or such a toy about him; what in us
Would appear light, in him seems virtuous.

3D NOBLE. 'Tis oracle, my lord. [_Exeunt._

_Enter_ VENDICE _and_ HIPPOLITO. VENDICE _out of_
_his disguise._

HIP. So, so, all's as it should be, y' are yourself.

VEN. How that great villain puts me to my shifts!

HIP. He that did lately in disguise reject thee,
Shall, now thou art thyself, as much respect thee.

VEN. 'Twill be the quainter fallacy. But, brother,
'Sfoot, what use will he put me to now, think'st thou?

HIP. Nay, you must pardon me in that: I know not.
H' has some employment for you: but what 'tis,
He and his secretary (the devil) know best.

VEN. Well, I must suit my tongue to his desires,
What colour soe'er they be; hoping at last
To pile up all my wishes on his breast.

HIP. Faith, brother, he himself shows the way.

VEN. Now the duke is dead, the realm is clad in clay.
His death being not yet known, under his name
The people still are govern'd. Well, thou his son
Art not long-liv'd: thou shalt not joy his death;
To kill thee, then, I should most honour thee;
For 'twould stand firm in every man's belief,
Thou'st a kind child, and only died'st with grief.

HIP. You fetch about well; but let's talk in present.
How will you appear in fashion different,
As well as in apparel, to make all things possible?
If you be but once tripp'd, we fall for ever.
It is not the least policy to be double;
You must change tongue: familiar was your first.

VEN. Why, I'll bear me in some strain of melancholy,
And string myself with heavy-sounding wire,
Like such an instrument, that speaks merry things sadly.

HIP. That is as I meant;
I gave you out at first in discontent.

VEN. I'll tune myself, and then------

HIP. 'Sfoot, here he comes. Hast thought upon't?

VEN. Salute him; fear not me.

_Enter_ LUSURIOSO.

LUS. Hippolito!

HIP. Your lordship------

LUS. What's he yonder?

HIP. 'Tis Vendice, my discontented brother,
Whom, 'cording to your will, I've brought to court.

LUS. Is that thy brother? Beshrew me, a good presence;
I wonder h' has been from the court so long.
Come nearer.

HIP. Brother! Lord Lusurioso, the duke's son.

LUS. Be more to us; welcome; nearer yet.

VEN. How don you? gi'[81] you good den.

[_Snatches off his hat, and makes legs to him._

LUS. We thank thee.
How strangely such a coarse homely salute
Shows in the palace, where we greet in fire--
Nimble and desperate tongues: should we name
God in a salutation, 'twould ne'er be stood on,[82] heaven!
Tell me, what has made thee so melancholy?

VEN. Why, going to law.

LUS. Why, will that make a man melancholy?

VEN. Yes, to look long upon ink and black buckram. I went me to
law in _anno quadragesimo secundo_, and I waded out of it in
_anno sexagesimo tertio_.

LUS. What, three-and-twenty years in law?

VEN. I have known those that have been five-and-fifty, and all
about pullen[83] and pigs.

LUS. May it be possible such men should breathe, To vex the
terms so much?

VEN. Tis food to some, my lord. There are old men at the
present, that are so poisoned with the affectation of law-words
(having had many suits canvassed), that their common talk is
nothing but Barbary Latin. They cannot so much as pray but in
law, that their sins may be removed with a writ of error, and
their souls fetched up to heaven with a sasarara.[84]

HIP.[85] It seems most strange to me;
Yet all the world meets round in the same bent:
Where the heart's set, there goes the tongue's consent.
How dost apply thy studies, fellow?

VEN. Study? why, to think how a great rich man lies a-dying,
and a poor cobbler tolls the bell for him. How he cannot
depart the world, and see the great chest stand before him,
when he lies speechless. How he will point you readily to all
the boxes; and when he is past all memory, as the gossips
guess, then thinks he of forfeitures and obligations; nay, when
to all men's hearings he whurls and rattles in the throat,
he's busy threatening his poor tenants. And this would last me
now some seven years' thinking, or thereabouts. But I have a
conceit a-coming in picture upon this; I draw it myself, which,
i' faith, la, I'll present to your honour; you shall not choose
but like it, for your honour shall give me nothing for it.

LUS. Nay, you mistake me, then,
For I am publish'd bountiful enough.
Let's taste of your conceit.

VEN. In picture, my lord?

LUS. Ay, in picture.

VEN. Marry, this it is--_A usuring father to be boiling in
hell, and his son and heir with a whore dancing over him._

HIP. H' has par'd him to the quick. [_Aside._

LUS. The conceit's pretty, i' faith;
But, take't upon my life, 'twill ne'er be lik'd.

VEN. No? why I'm sure the whore will be lik'd well enough.

HIP. If she were out o' the picture, he'd like her then himself.

[_Aside._

VEN. And as for the son and heir, he shall be an eyesore to
no young revellers, for he shall be drawn in cloth-of-gold
breeches.

LUS. And thou hast put my meaning in the pockets,
And canst not draw that out? My thought was this:
To see the picture of a usuring father
Boiling in hell--our rich men would never like it.

VEN. O, true, I cry you heartily mercy.
I know the reason, for some of them had rather
Be damned in deed than damned in colours.

LUS. A parlous melancholy! h' has wit enough
To murder any man, and I'll give him means.
[_Aside._
I think thou art ill-moneyed?

VEN. Money! ho, ho![86]
'T has been my want so long, 'tis now my scoff:
I've e'en forgot what colour silver's of.

LUS. It hits as I could wish. [_Aside._

VEN. I get good clothes
Of those that dread my humour; and for table-room
I feed on those that cannot be rid of me.

LUS. Somewhat to set thee up withal.

[_Gives him money._

VEN. O mine eyes!

LUS. How now, man?

VEN. Almost struck blind;
This bright unusual shine to me seems proud;
I dare not look till the sun be in a cloud.

LUS. I think I shall affect[87] his melancholy.
How are they now?[88]

VEN. The better for your asking.

LUS. You shall be better yet, if you but fasten
Truly on my intent. Now y' are both present,
I will unbrace such a close private villain
Unto your vengeful swords, the like ne'er heard of,
Who hath disgrac'd you much, and injur'd us.

HIP. Disgrac'd us, my lord?

LUS. Ay, Hippolito.
I kept it here till now, that both your angers
Might meet him at once.

VEN. I'm covetous
To know the villain.

LUS. You know him: that slave-pander
Piato, whom we threaten'd last
With irons in perpetual 'prisonment.

VEN. All this is I. [_Aside._

HIP. Is't he, my lord?

LUS. I'll tell you, you first preferr'd him to me.

VEN. Did you, brother? [_Aside._

HIP. I did indeed.

LUS. And the ungrateful villain,
To quit that kindness, strongly wrought with me--
Being, as you see, a likely man for pleasure--
With jewels to corrupt your virgin sister.

HIP. O villain!

VEN. He shall surely die that did it. [_Aside._

LUS. I, far from thinking any virgin harm,
Especially knowing her to be as chaste
As that part which scarce suffers to be touch'd--
The eye--would not endure him.

VEN. Would you not, my lord?
'Twas wondrous honourably done.

LUS. But with some few[89] frowns kept him out.

VEN. Out, slave! [_Aside._

LUS. What did me he, but in revenge of that,
Went of his own free will to make infirm
Your sister's honour (whom I honour with my soul
For chaste respect) and not prevailing there,
(As 'twas but desperate folly to attempt it)
In mere spleen, by the way, waylays your mother,
Whose honour being a coward as it seems,
Yielded by little force.

VEN. Coward indeed! [_Aside._

LUS. He, proud of this advantage (as he thought),
Brought me this news for happy. But I, heaven forgive me for't!----

VEN. What did your honour?

LUS. In rage push'd him from me,
Trampled beneath his throat, spurn'd him, and bruis'd:
Indeed I was too truel, to say troth.

HIP. Most nobly manag'd!

VEN. Has not heaven an ear? is all the lightning wasted? [_Aside._

LUS. If I now were so impatient in a modest cause,
What should you be?

VEN. Full mad: he shall not live
To see the moon change.

LUS. He's about the palace;
Hippolito, entice him this way, that thy brother
May take full mark of him.

HIP. Heart! that shall not need, my lord:
I can direct him so far.