Enter Diaphanta and Alsemero
DIA. The place is my charge; you have kept your hour,
And the reward of a just meeting bless you!
I hear my lady coming: complete gentleman,
I dare not be too busy with my praises,
They’re dangerous things to deal with.
ALS. This goes well;
These women are the ladies’ cabinets,
Things of most precious trust are locked into ’em.
Enter Beatrice
BEAT. I have within mine eye all my desires:
Requests that holy prayers ascend Heaven for,
And brings ’em down to furnish our defects,
Come not more sweet to our necessities
Than thou unto my wishes.
ALS. We’re so like
In our expressions, lady, that unless I borrow
The same words, I shall never find their equals.
BEAT. How happy were this meeting, this embrace,
If it were free from envy! this poor kiss
It has an enemy, a hateful one,
That wishes poison to’t: how well were I now,
If there were none such name known as Piracquo,
Nor no such tie as the command of parents!
I should be but too much blessed.
ALS. One good service
Would strike off both your fears, and I’ll go near’t too,
Since you are so distressed; remove the cause,
The command ceases; so there’s two fears blown out
With one and the same blast.
BEAT. Pray, let me find you, sir:
What might that service be, so strangely happy?
ALS. The honorablest piece about man, valor:
I’ll send a challenge to Piracquo instantly.
BEAT. How? call you that extinguishing of fear,
When ’tis the only way to keep it flaming?
Are not you ventured42 in the action,
That’s all my joys and comforts? pray, no more, sir:
Say you prevailed, you’re danger’s and not mine43 then:
The law would claim you from me, or obscurity
Be made the grave to bury you alive.
I’m glad these thoughts come forth; O, keep not one
Of this condition, sir! here was a course
Found to bring sorrow on her way to death;
The tears would ne’er ha’ dried, till dust had choked ’em.
Blood-guiltiness becomes a fouler visage;—
[Aside] And now I think on one;44 I was to blame,
I ha’ marred so good a market with my scorn;
’Thad been done questionless: the ugliest creature
Creation framed for some use: yet to see
I could not mark45 so much where it should be!
ALS. Lady—
BEAT. [Aside] Why, men of art make much of poison,
Keep one to expel another; where was my art?
ALS. Lady, you hear not me.
BEAT. I do especially, sir:
The present times are not so sure of our side
As those hereafter may be; we must use ’em then
As thrifty folks their wealth, sparingly now,
Till the time opens.
ALS. You teach wisdom, lady.
BEAT. Within there! Diaphanta!
Re-enter Diaphanta
DIA. Did you call, madam?
BEAT. Perfect your service, and conduct this gentleman
The private way you brought him.
DIA. I shall, madam.
ALS. My love’s as firm as love e’er built upon.
Exit with Diaphanta
Enter De Flores
DE F. [Aside] I’ve watched this meeting, and do wonder much
What shall become of t’other; I’m sure both
Cannot be served unless she transgresses; haply
Then I’ll put in for one; for if a woman
Fly from one point, from him she makes a husband,
She spreads and mounts then like arithmetic;
One, ten, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand.
Proves in time sutler46 to an army royal.
Now do I look to be most richly railed at,
Yet I must see her.
BEAT. [Aside] Why, put case I loathed him
As much as youth and beauty hates a sepulchre,
Must I needs show it? cannot I keep that secret,
And serve my turn upon him? See, he’s here.—
De Flores.
DE F. [Aside] Ha, I shall run mad with joy!
She called me fairly by my name De Flores,
And neither rogue nor rascal.
BEAT. What ha’ you done
To your face a’ late? you’ve met with some good physician;
You’ve pruned yourself, methinks: you were not wont
To look so amorously.
DE F. Not I;—
[Aside] ’Tis the same physnomy, to a hair and pimple,
Which she called scurvy scarce an hour ago:
How is this?
BEAT. Come hither; nearer, man.
DE F. [Aside] I’m up to the chin in Heaven!
BEAT. Turn, let me see;
Faugh, ’tis but the heat of the liver, I perceive’t;
I thought it had been worse.
DE F. [Aside] Her fingers touched me!
She smells all amber.47
BEAT. I’ll make a water for you shall cleanse this
Within a fortnight.
DE F. With your own hands, lady?
BEAT. Yes, mine own, sir; in a work of cure
I’ll trust no other.
DE F. [Aside] ’Tis half an act of pleasure
To hear her talk thus to me.
BEAT. When we’re used
To a hard face, it is not so unpleasing;
It mends still in opinion, hourly mends;
I see it by experience.
DE F. [Aside] I was blessed
To light upon this minute; I’ll make use on’t.
BEAT. Hardness becomes the visage of a man well;
It argues service, resolution, manhood,
If cause were of employment.
DE F. ’Twould be soon seen
If e’er your ladyship had cause to use it;
I would but wish the honor of a service
So happy as that mounts to.
BEAT. We shall try you:
O my De Flores!
DE F. [Aside] How’s that? she calls me hers!
Already, my De Flores!—You were about
To sigh out somewhat, madam?
BEAT. No, was I?
I forgot,—O!—
DE F. There ’tis again, the very fellow on’t.
BEAT. You are too quick, sir.
DE F. There’s no excuse for’t now; I heard it twice, madam;
That sigh would fain have utterance: take pity on’t,
And lend it a free word; ’las, how it labors
For liberty! I hear the murmur yet
Beat at your bosom.
BEAT. Would creation—
DE F. Ay, well said, that is it.
BEAT. Had formed me man!
DE F. Nay, that’s not it.
BEAT. O, ’tis the soul of freedom!
I should not then be forced to marry one
I hate beyond all depths; I should have power
Then to oppose my loathings, nay, remove ’em
For ever from my sight.
DE F. [Aside] O blessed occasion!
Without change to your sex you have your wishes;
Claim so much man in me.
BEAT. In thee, De Flores?
There is small cause for that.
DE F. Put it not from me,
It is a service that I kneel for to you.
[Kneels]
BEAT. You are too violent to mean faithfully:
There’s horror in my service, blood and danger;
Can those be things to sue for?
DE F. If you knew
How sweet it were to me to be employed
In any act of yours, you would say then
I failed, and used not reverence enough
When I received the charge on’t.
BEAT. [Aside] This is much, methinks;
Belike his wants are greedy; and to such
Gold tastes like angel’s food.—De Flores, rise.
DE F. I’ll have the work first.
BEAT. [Aside] Possible his need
Is strong upon him.—There’s to encourage thee;
[Gives money]
As thou art forward, and thy service dangerous,
Thy reward shall be precious.
DE F. That I’ve thought on;
I have assured myself of that beforehand,
And know it will be precious; the thought ravishes!
BEAT. Then take him to thy fury!
DE F. I thirst for him.
BEAT. Alonzo de Piracquo.
DE F. [Rising] His end’s upon him;
He shall be seen no more.
BEAT. How lovely now
Dost thou appear to me! never was man
Dearlier rewarded.
DE F. I do think of that.
BEAT. Be wondrous careful in the execution.
DE F. Why, are not both our lives upon the cast?
BEAT. Then I throw all my fears upon thy service.
DE F. They ne’er shall rise to hurt you.
BEAT. When the deed’s done,
I’ll furnish thee with all things for thy flight;
Thou may’st live bravely in another country.
DE F. Ay, ay;
We’ll talk of that hereafter.
BEAT. [Aside] I shall rid myself
Of two inveterate loathings at one time,
Piracquo, and his dog-face.
Exit
DE F. O my blood!
Methinks I feel her in mine arms already;
Her wanton fingers combing out this beard,
And, being pleasèd, praising this bad face.
Hunger and pleasure, they’ll commend sometimes
Slovenly dishes, and feed heartily on ’em.
Nay, which is stranger, refuse daintier for ’em:
Some women are odd feeders.—I am too loud.
Here comes the man goes supperless to bed,
Yet shall not rise to-morrow to his dinner.
Enter Alonzo
ALON. De Flores.
DE F. My kind, honorable lord?
ALON. I’m glad I ha’ met with thee.
DE F. Sir?
ALON. Thou canst show me
The full strength of the castle?
DE F. That I can, sir.
ALON. I much desire it.
DE F. And if the ways and straits
Of some of the passages be not too tedious for you,
I’ll assure you, worth your time and sight, my lord.
ALON. Pooh, that shall be no hindrance.
DE F. I’m your servant, then:
’Tis now near dinner-time; ’gainst your lordship’s rising
I’ll have the keys about me.
ALON. Thanks, kind De Flores.
DE F. [Aside] He’s safely thrust upon me beyond hopes.
Exeunt severally
ACT III, SCENE I
Enter Alonzo and De Flores. (In the act-time48 De Flores hides a naked rapier behind a door)
DE FLORES. Yes, here are all the keys;
I was afraid, my lord,
I’d wanted for the postern, this is it:
I’ve all, I’ve all, my lord: this for the sconce.49
ALON. ’Tis a most spacious and impregnable fort.
DE F. You will tell me more, my lord: this descent
Is somewhat narrow, we shall never pass
Well with our weapons, they’ll but trouble us.
ALON. Thou sayest true.
DE F. Pray, let me help your lordship.
ALON. ’Tis done: thanks, kind De Flores.
DE F. Here are hooks, my lord,
To hang such things on purpose.
[Hanging up his own sword and that of Alonzo]
ALON. Lead, I’ll follow thee.
Exeunt
SCENE II
Enter Alonzo and De Flores
DE F. All this is nothing; you shall see anon
A place you little dream on.
ALON. I am glad
I have this leisure; all your master’s house
Imagine I ha’ taken a gondola.
DE F. All but myself, sir, [Aside]—which makes up my safety.
My lord, I’ll place you at a casement here
Will show you the full strength of all the castle.
Look, spend your eye awhile upon that object.
ALON. Here’s rich variety, De Flores.
DE F. Yes, sir.
ALON. Goodly munition.
DE F. Ay, there’s ordnance, sir,
No bastard metal, will ring you a peal like bells
At great men’s funerals: keep your eye straight, my lord;
Take special notice of that sconce before you,
There you may dwell awhile.
[Takes the rapier which he had hid behind the door]
ALON. I am upon’t.
DE F. And so am I.
[Stabs him]
ALON. De Flores! O De Flores!
Whose malice hast thou put on?
DE F. Do you question
A work of secrecy? I must silence you.
[Stabs him]
ALON. O, O, O!
DE F. I must silence you.
[Stabs him]
So here’s an undertaking well accomplished:
This vault serves to good use now: ha, what’s that
Threw sparkles in my eye? O, ’tis a diamond
He wears upon his finger; ’twas well found,
This will approve the work.50 What, so fast on?
Not part in death? I’ll take a speedy course then.
Finger and all shall off. [Cuts off the finger] So, now I’ll clear
The passages from all suspect or fear.
Exit with body
SCENE III
Enter Isabella and Lollio
ISA. Why, sirrah, whence have you commission
To fetter the doors against me?
If you keep me in a cage, pray, whistle to me,51
Let me be doing something.
LOL. You shall be doing, if it please you; I’ll whistle to you, if you’ll pipe after.
ISA. Is it your master’s pleasure, or your own,
To keep me in this pinfold?52
LOL. ’Tis for my master’s pleasure, lest being taken in another man’s corn, you might be pounded in another place.
ISA. ’Tis very well, and he’ll prove very wise.
LOL. He says you have company enough in the house, if you please to be sociable, of all sorts of people.
ISA. Of all sorts? why, here’s none but fools and madmen.
LOL. Very well: and where will you find any other, if you should go abroad? there’s my master, and I to boot too.
ISA. Of either sort one, a madman and a fool.
LOL. I would even participate of both then if I were as you; I know you’re half mad already, be half foolish too.
ISA. You’re a brave saucy rascal! come on, sir,
Afford me then the pleasure of your bedlam;
You were commending once to-day to me
Your last-come lunatic; what a proper53
Body there was without brains to guide it,
And what a pitiful delight appeared
In that defect, as if your wisdom had found
A mirth in madness; pray, sir, let me partake,
If there be such a pleasure.
LOL. If I do not show you the handsomest, discreetest madman, one that I may call the understanding madman, then say I am a fool.
ISA. Well, a match, I will say so.
LOL. When you have had
a taste of the madman, you shall, if you please, see Fool’s College, o’ th’ other side. I seldom lock there; ’tis but shooting a bolt or two, and you are amongst ’em. [Exit, and brings in Franciscus]—Come on, sir; let me see how handsomelyyou’ll behave yourself now.
FRAN. How sweetly she looks! O, but there’s a wrinkle in her brow as deep as philosophy. Anacreon,54 drink to my mistress’ health, I’ll pledge it; stay, stay, there’s a spider in the cup! no, ’tis but a grapestone; swallow it, fear nothing, poet; so, so, lift higher.
ISA. Alack, alack, it is too full of pity
To be laughed at! How fell he mad? canst thou tell?
LOL. For love, mistress: he was a pretty poet too, and that set him forwards first: the muses then forsook him; he ran mad for a chambermaid, yet she was but a dwarf neither.
FRAN. Hail, bright Titania!
Why stand’st thou idle on these flowery banks?
Oberon is dancing with his Dryades;
I’ll gather daisies, primrose, violets,
And bind them in a verse of poesy.
LOL. [Holding up a whip] Not too near! you see your danger.
FRAN. O, hold thy hand, great Diomede!55
Thou feed’st thy horses well, they shall obey thee:
Get up, Bucephalus56 kneels.
[Kneels]
LOL. You see how I awe my flock; a shepherd has not his dog at more obedience.
ISA. His conscience is unquiet; sure that was
The cause of this: a proper gentleman!
FRAN. Come hither, Æsculapius;57 hide the poison.
LOL. Well, ’tis hid.
[Hides the whip]
FRAN. Didst thou ne’er hear of one Tiresias,58
A famous poet?
LOL. Yes, that kept tame wild geese.
FRAN. Tha’s he; I am the man.
LOL. No?
FRAN. Yes; but make no words on’t: I was a man
Seven years ago.
LOL. A stripling, I think, you might.
FRAN. Now I’m a woman, all feminine.
LOL. I would I might see that!
FRAN. Juno struck me blind.
LOL. I’ll never believe that: for a woman, they say, has an eye more than a man.
FRAN. I say she struck me blind.
LOL. And Luna made you mad: you have two trades to beg with.
FRAN. Luna is now big-bellied, and there’s room
For both of us to ride with Hecate;
I’ll drag thee up into her silver sphere,
And there we’ll kick the dog—and beat the bush—
That barks against the witches of the night;
The swift lycanthropi59 that walks the round,
We’ll tear their wolvish skins, and save the sheep.
[Attempts to seize Lollio]
The Duchess of Malfi Page 59