Part 3
VEN. O, think upon the pleasure of the palace! Secured ease and state! the stirring meats, Ready to move out of the dishes, that e'en now Quicken when they are eaten! Banquets abroad by torchlight! music! sports! Bareheaded vassals, that had ne'er the fortune To keep on their own hats, but let horns[44] wear 'em! Nine coaches waiting--hurry, hurry, hurry----
CAS. Ay, to the devil.
VEN. Ay, to the devil! [_Aside._] To the duke, by my faith.
GRA. Ay, to the duke: daughter, you'd scorn to think o' the devil, and you were there once.
VEN. True, for most there are as proud as he for his heart, i' faith. [_Aside._
Who'd sit at home in a neglected room, Dealing her short-liv'd beauty to the pictures, That are as useless as old men, when those Poorer in face and fortune than herself Walk with a hundred acres on their backs,[45] Fair meadows cut into green foreparts? O, It was the greatest blessing ever happen'd to women: When farmers' sons agreed to mete their gain,[46] To wash their hands, and come up gentlemen! The commonwealth has flourished ever since: Lands that were mete[47] by the rod, that labour's spar'd: Tailors ride down, and measure 'em by the yard. Fair trees, those comely foretops of the field, Are cut to maintain head-tires--much untold-- All thrives but chastity; she lies a-cold. Nay, shall I come nearer to you? mark but this:
Why are there so few honest women, but because tis the poorer profession? that's accounted best that's best followed; least in trade, least in fashion; and that's not honesty, believe it; and do but note the love and dejected price of it--
_Lose but a pearl, we search, and cannot brook it:_ _But that,[48] once gone, who is so mad to look it?_
GRA. Troth, he says true.
CAS. False! I defy you both: I have endur'd you with an ear of fire; Your tongues have struck hot irons on my face. Mother, come from that poisonous woman there.[49]
GRA. Where?
CAS. Do you not see her? she's too inward,[50] then: Slave, perish in thy office! you heavens, please Henceforth to make the mother a disease, Which first begins with me: yet I've outgone you. [_Exit._
VEN. O angels, clap your wings upon the skies, And give this virgin crystal plaudites!
GRA. Peevish, coy, foolish!--but return this answer, My lord shall be most welcome, when his pleasure Conducts him this way. I will sway mine own: Women with women can work best alone. [_Exit._
VEN. Indeed, I'll tell him so. O, more uncivil, more unnatural, Than those base-titled creatures that look downward; Why does not heaven turn black, or with a frown Undo the world? Why does not earth start up, And strike the sins that tread upon't? O, Were't not for gold and women, there would be no damnation. Hell would look like a lord's great kitchen without fire in't. But 'twas decreed, before the world began, That they should be the hooks to catch at man. [_Exit._
_Enter_ LUSURIOSO, _with_ HIPPOLITO.
LUS. I much applaud Thy judgment; thou art well-read in thy fellows,[51] And 'tis the deepest art to study man. I know this, which I never learnt in schools, The world's divided into knaves and fools.
HIP. Knave in your face--my lord behind your back. [_Aside._
LUS. And I much thank thee, that thou hast preferr'd A fellow of discourse, well-mingled, And whose brain time hath season'd.
HIP. True, my lord, We shall find season once, I hope. O villain! To make such an unnatural slave of me--but----
[_Aside._
LUS. Mass, here he comes.
HIP. And now shall I have free leave to depart.
[_Aside._
LUS. Your absence, leave us.
HIP. Are not my thoughts true? [_Aside._ I must remove; but, brother, you may stay. Heart! we are both made bawds a new-found way! [_Exit._
_Enter_ VENDICE.
LUS. Now we're an even number, a third man's dangerous, Especially her brother;--say, be free, Have I a pleasure toward------
VEN. O my lord!
LUS. Ravish me in thine answer; art thou rare? Hast thou beguil'd her of salvation, And rubb'd hell o'er with honey? Is she a woman?
VEN. In all but in desire.
LUS. Then she's in nothing--I bate[52] in courage now.
VEN. The words I brought Might well have made indifferent honest naught. A right good woman in these days is chang'd Into white money with less labour far: Many a maid has turn'd to Mahomet With easier working: I durst undertake, Upon the pawn and forfeit of my life, With half those words to flat a Puritan's wife. But she is close and good;--yet 'tis a doubt By this time. O, the mother, the mother!
LUS. I never thought their sex had been a wonder, Until this minute. What fruit from the mother?
VEN. Now must I blister my soul, be forsworn, Or shame the woman that receiv'd me first. I will be true: thou liv'st not to proclaim. Spoke to a dying man, shame has no shame. [_Aside._ My lord.
LUS. Who's that?
VEN. Here's none but I, my lord.
LUS. What should thy haste utter?
VEN. Comfort.
LUS. Welcome.
VEN. The maid being dull, having no mind to travel Into unknown lands, what did I[53] straight, But set spurs to the mother; golden spurs Will put her to a false gallop in a trice.
LUS. Is't possible that in this The mother should be damn'd before the daughter?
VEN. O, that's good manners, my lord; the mother for her age must go foremost, you know.
LUS. Thou'st spoke that true! but where comes in this comfort?
VEN. In a fine place, my lord,--the unnatural mother Did with her tongue so hard beset her honour, That the poor fool was struck to silent wonder; Yet still the maid, like an unlighted taper, Was cold and chaste, save that her mother's breath Did blow fire on her cheeks. The girl departed; But the good ancient madam, half mad, threw me These promising words, which I took deeply note of: My lord shall be most welcome----
LUS. Faith, I thank her.
VEN. When his pleasure conducts him this way----
LUS. That shall be soon, i' faith.
VEN. I will sway mine own----
LUS. She does the wiser: I commend her for't.
VEN. Women with women can work best alone.
LUS. By this light, and so they can; give 'em their due, men are not comparable to 'em.
VEN. No, that's true; for you shall have one woman knit more in an hour, than any man can ravel again in seven-and-twenty years.
LUS. Now my desires are happy; I'll make 'em freemen now. Thou art a precious fellow; faith, I love thee; Be wise and make it thy revenue; beg, beg; What office couldst thou be ambitious for?
VEN. Office, my lord! marry, if I might have my wish, I would have one that was never begged yet.
LUS. Nay, then, thou canst have none.
VEN. Yes, my lord, I could pick out another office yet; nay, and keep a horse and drab upon't.
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?