CARD. You fly beyond your reason, FERD. Go to, mistress! 'Tis not your whore's milk that shall quench my wild-fire, CARD. How idly shews this rage, which carries you, As men convey'd by witches through the air, On violent whirlwinds! this intemperate noise Fitly resembles deaf men's shrill discourse, Who talk aloud, thinking all other men To have their imperfection. FERD. Have not you My palsy? CARD. Yes, I can be angry Without this rupture: there is not in nature FERD. So, I will only study to seem It is some sin in us, heaven doth revenge CARD. Are you stark mad? FERD. I would have their bodies Burnt in a coal-pit with the ventage stopp'd, *shall] The 4to. of 1640, "can." That their curs'd smoke might not ascend to heaven ; And give't his lecherous father, to renew CARD. I'll leave you. FERD. Nay, I have done. I am confident, had I been damn'd in hell, And should have heard of this, it would have put me Into a cold sweat. In, in, I'll go sleep. Till I know who leaps my sister, I'll not stir: That known, I'll find scorpions to string+ my whips, And fix her in a general eclipse. [Exeunt. ACT III.-SCENE I. Enter ANTONIO, and DELIO. ANT. Our noble friend, my most beloved Delio! have been a stranger long at court: O, you Came you along with the lord Ferdinand? DELIO. I did, sir: and how fares your noble dutchess? ANT. Right fortunately well: she's an excellent Feeder of pedigrees; since you last saw her, She hath had two children more, a sun and daughter. * cullis] See note † p. 220. string] The 4to of 1640, "sting." "Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue Thy lingering."- VOL. I. DELIO. Methinks 'twas yesterday; let me but wink, And not behold your face, which to mine eye Is somewhat leaner, verily I should dream It were within this half hour. ANT. You have not been in law, friend Delio, Nor in prison, nor a suitor at the court, Nor begg'd the reversion of some great man's place, Nor troubled with an old wife, which doth make Your time so insensibly hasten. DELIO. Pray, sir, tell me, Hath not this news arriv'd yet to the ear Of the lord Cardinal? ANT. I fear it hath : The lord Ferdinand, that's newly come to court, DELIO. Pray, why? ANT. He is so quiet, that he seems to sleep The tempest out, as dormice do in winter: Those houses that are haunted, are most still Till the devil be up. DELIO. What say the common people? ANT. The common rabble do directly say She is a strumpet. DELIO. And your graver heads, Which would be politick, what censure they? * purchase] This word is generally used by old dramatists as a cant term for stolen goods, but here it seems to mean riches, valuable property: our author in The Devil's Law Case has; "Tailors in France, they grow to great abominable purchase, and become great officers." Act II. Sc. 1. The left hand way; and all suppose the dutchess Of love or marriage, between her and me, DELIO. The lord Ferdinand Is going to bed. Enter DUTCHESS, FERDINAND, BOSOLA, and Attendants. FERD. I'll instantly to bed, For I am weary. I am to bespeak A husband for you. DUTCH. For me, sir! pray who is't? FERD. The great count Malateste. DUTCH. Fie upon him: A count! he's a mere stick of sugar-candy ;* You may look quite thorough him. When I chuse A husband, I will marry for your honour. FERD. You shall do well in't. Antonio ? How is't, worthy DUTCH. But, sir, I am to have private conference with you About a scandalous report is spread Touching mine honour. * he's a mere stick of sugar candy, &c.] Repeated almost verbatim in The Devil's Law Case, Act II. Sc. I. FERD. Let me be ever deaf to't: One of Pasquil's paper-bullets, court-calumny, Are seldom purg'd of. Yet, say that it were true DUTCH. O bless'd comfort! This deadly air is purg'd. [Exeunt Dutchess, Antonio, Delio, and Attendants. FERD. Her guilt treads on Hot burning culters. Now, Bosola How thrives our intelligence? Bos. Sir, uncertainly: 'Tis rumour'd she hath had three bastards, but By whom, we may go read i'th' stars. FERD. Why some Hold opinion, all things are written there. Bos. Yes, if we could find spectacles to read them. I do suspect, there hath been some sorcery Us'd on the dutchess. FERD. Sorcery! to what purpose? Bos. To make her dote on some desertless fellow, She shames to acknowledge. FERD. Can your faith give way To think there's power in potions, or in charms, Bos. Most certainly. |