Part 4
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.