The Duchess of Malfi

by Frank Kermode

  E’en in its own revenge. This very skull,

  Whose mistress the duke poisoned, with this drug,

  The mortal curse of the earth, shall be revenged

  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 quaintness103 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 fine,

  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,104

  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.

  Retires

  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 the duchess

  Or any of the nobles, to give out,

  We’re privately rid forth.

  VEN. O happiness!

  DUKE. With some few honorable gentlemen, you may say—

  You may name those that are away from court.

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

  Exeunt Gentlemen

  VEN. “Privately rid forth!”

  He strives to make sure work on’t. Your good grace!

  [Advances]

  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. [Aside] Have at all.105

  DUKE. In gravest looks the greatest faults seem less.

  Give me that sin that’s robed in holiness.

  VEN. [Aside] Back with the torch! brother, raise the perfumes.

  DUKE. How sweet can a duke breathe! Age has no fault.

  Pleasure should meet in a perfumèd 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 revenged.

  DUKE. O, Hippolito, call treason!

  [He sinks down]

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

  [Stamping on him]

  DUKE. Then I’m betrayed.

  VEN. Alas! poor lecher: in the hands of knaves,

  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 you 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 betrothèd 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.

  Pooh! ’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 pestilent106 man toss in thy breast.

  Mark me, duke:

  Thou art a renownèd, 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 damnèd clips.107

  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 hire108 of scorns:

  I ne’er knew yet adulterer without horns.

  HIP. Once, ere they die, ’tis quitted.109

  VEN. Hark! the music;

  Their banquet is prepared, 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 hushed. 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 quittance110 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! the music’s at our ear; they come.

  Enter Spurio, 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,111

  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 hasped112 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 Duchess and Spurio

  DUKE. I cannot brook—

  Dies

  VEN. The brook is turned 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

  SCENE V

  Enter Ambitioso and Supervacuo

  AMB. Was not his execution rarely plotted?

  We are the duke’s sons now.

  SUP. Ay, you may thank my policy113 for that.

  AM
B. Your policy for what?

  SUP. Why, was’t not my invention, brother,

  To slip the judges? and in lesser compass

  Did I not 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 glorious114 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 lived.

  AMB. You’d have the honor 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 honest115 duke.

  SUP. [Aside] 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 shared equally.

  SUP. I am content to that.

  AMB. This night our younger brother shall out of prison:

  I have a trick.

  SUP. A trick! prithee, 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?

  OFF. 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 distinguished.

  SUP. How died he, pray?

  OFF. O, full of rage and spleen.

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

  OFF. We could not woo him once to pray.

  AMB. He showed himself a gentleman in that:

  Give him his due.

  OFF. But, in the stead of prayer,

  He drew forth oaths.

  SUP. Then did he pray, dear heart,

  Although you understood him not.

  OFF. My lords,

  E’en at his last, with pardon be it spoke,

  He cursed you both.

  SUP. He cursed us? ’las, good soul!

  AMB. It was not in our powers, but the duke’s pleasure.

  [Aside] Finely dissembled a both sides, sweet fate;

  O happy opportunity!

  Enter Lussurioso

  LUS. Now, my lords.

  AMB. AND SUP. O!—

  LUS. Why do you shun me, brothers?

  You may come nearer now:

  The savor of the prison has forsook me.

  I thank such kind lords as yourselves, I’m free.

  AMB. Alive!

  SUP. In health!

  AMB. Released!

  We were both e’en amazed with joy to see it.

  LUS. I am much to thank to you.

  SUP. Faith, we spared 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

  AMB. O death and vengeance!

  SUP. Hell and torments!

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

  OFF. Delude you, my lords?

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

  OFF. 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.

  OFF. The duke’s son, my lord, had his release before you came.

  AMB. Whose head’s that, then?

  OFF. 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.

  OFF. O my good lord!

  SUP. The devil overtake thee!

  AMB. O fatal!

  SUP. O prodigious116 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 murrain117 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,118 sit fast,

  We’ll pull down all, but thou shalt down at last.

  Exeunt

  ACT IV, SCENE I

  Enter Lussurioso 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 honor, I stand ready for any duteous employment.

  LUS. Heart! what mak’st thou here?

  HIP. A pretty lordly humor!

  He bids me be present to depart; something

  Has stung his honor.

  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

  He 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; oh!

  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 raced119 my father’s bosom,

  For which I was within a stroke of death.

  HIP. Alack! I’m sorry. [Aside] ’Sfoot, just upon the stroke,

  Jars in my brother; ’twill be villainous music.

  Enter Vendice, disguised

  VEN. My honored lord.

  LUS. Away! prithee, 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 ironage120 upon thee.

  VEN. [Aside] Mum!

  For there’s a doom would make a woman121 dumb.

  Missing the bastard—next him—the wind’s come about:

  Now ’tis my brother’s turn to stay, mine to go out.

  Exit

  LUS. He has greatly moved 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, ordained him to be poor—

  Keeps at home, full of want and discontent.

  LUS. [Aside] There’s hope in him; for discontent and want

  Is the best clay to mould a villain of.

  Hippolito, wish him repair to us:

  If there be ought 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 honor;

  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.

  [Aside] Brother, disguise must off;

  In thine own shape now I’ll prefer thee to him:

  How strangely does himself work to undo him!

  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,122

  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.

  Enter Nobles

  1ST NOBLE. Good days unto your honor.

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

  2ND 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.