The Duchess of Malfi - John Webster (ebook reader with internet browser .txt) 📗

Some fellows, they say, are possessed with the devil, but this great fellow were able to possess the greatest devil, and make him worse. Antonio He hath denied thee some suit? Bosola He and his brother are like plum-trees that grow crooked over standing-pools; they are rich and o’erladen with fruit, but none but crows, pies, and caterpillars feed on them. Could I be one of their flattering panders, I would hang on their ears like a horseleech, till I were full, and then drop off. I pray, leave me. Who would rely upon these miserable dependencies, in expectation to be advanc’d tomorrow? What creature ever fed worse than hoping Tantalus? Nor ever died any man more fearfully than he that hoped for a pardon. There are rewards for hawks and dogs when they have done us service; but for a soldier that hazards his limbs in a battle, nothing but a kind of geometry is his last supportation. Delio Geometry? Bosola Ay, to hang in a fair pair of slings, take his latter swing in the world upon an honourable pair of crutches, from hospital to hospital. Fare ye well, sir: and yet do not you scorn us; for places in the court are but like beds in the hospital, where this man’s head lies at that man’s foot, and so lower and lower. Exit. Delio

I knew this fellow seven years in the galleys
For a notorious murder; and ’twas thought
The cardinal suborn’d it: he was releas’d
By the French general, Gaston de Foix,
When he recover’d Naples.

Antonio

’Tis great pity
He should be thus neglected: I have heard
He’s very valiant. This foul melancholy
Will poison all his goodness; for, I’ll tell you,
If too immoderate sleep be truly said
To be an inward rust unto the soul,
If then doth follow want of action
Breeds all black malcontents; and their close rearing,
Like moths in cloth, do hurt for want of wearing.

Scene II

The same.

Antonio, Delio. Enter Silvio, Castruccio, Julia, Roderigo and Grisolan. Delio

The presence ’gins to fill: you promis’d me
To make me the partaker of the natures
Of some of your great courtiers.

Antonio

The lord cardinal’s
And other strangers’ that are now in court?
I shall.⁠—Here comes the great Calabrian duke.

Enter Ferdinand and Attendants. Ferdinand Who took the ring oftenest?3 Silvio Antonio Bologna, my lord. Ferdinand Our sister duchess’ great-master of her household? Give him the jewel.⁠—When shall we leave this sportive action, and fall to action indeed? Castruccio Methinks, my lord, you should not desire to go to war in person. Ferdinand Now for some gravity.⁠—Why, my lord? Castruccio It is fitting a soldier arise to be a prince, but not necessary a prince descend to be a captain. Ferdinand No? Castruccio No, my lord; he were far better do it by a deputy. Ferdinand Why should he not as well sleep or eat by a deputy? This might take idle, offensive, and base office from him, whereas the other deprives him of honour. Castruccio Believe my experience, that realm is never long in quiet where the ruler is a soldier. Ferdinand Thou toldest me thy wife could not endure fighting. Castruccio True, my lord. Ferdinand And of a jest she broke of4 a captain she met full of wounds: I have forgot it. Castruccio She told him, my lord, he was a pitiful fellow, to lie, like the children of Ismael, all in tents.5 Ferdinand Why, there’s a wit were able to undo all the chirurgeons6 o’ the city; for although gallants should quarrel, and had drawn their weapons, and were ready to go to it, yet her persuasions would make them put up. Castruccio That she would, my lord.⁠—How do you like my Spanish gennet?7 Roderigo He is all fire. Ferdinand I am of Pliny’s opinion, I think he was begot by the wind; he runs as if he were ballass’d8 with quicksilver. Silvio True, my lord, he reels from the tilt often. Roderigo Ha, ha, ha! Grisolan Ferdinand Why do you laugh? Methinks you that are courtiers should be my touchwood, take fire when I give fire; that is, laugh when I laugh, were the subject never so witty. Castruccio True, my lord: I myself have heard a very good jest, and have scorn’d to seem to have so silly a wit as to understand it. Ferdinand But I can laugh at your fool, my lord. Castruccio He cannot speak, you know, but he makes faces; my lady cannot abide him. Ferdinand No? Castruccio Nor endure to be in merry company; for she says too much laughing, and too much company, fills her too full of the wrinkle. Ferdinand I would, then, have a mathematical instrument made for her face, that she might not laugh out of compass.⁠—I shall shortly visit you at Milan, Lord Silvio. Silvio Your grace shall arrive most welcome. Ferdinand You are a good horseman, Antonio; you have excellent riders in France: what do you think of good horsemanship? Antonio Nobly, my lord: as out of the Grecian horse issued many famous princes, so out of brave horsemanship arise the first sparks of growing resolution, that raise the mind to noble action. Ferdinand You have bespoke it worthily. Silvio Your brother, the lord cardinal, and sister duchess. Enter Cardinal, with Duchess and Cariola. Cardinal

Are the galleys come about?

Grisolan

They are, my lord.

Ferdinand Here’s the Lord Silvio is come to take his leave. Delio

Now, sir, your promise: what’s that cardinal?
I mean his temper? They say he’s a brave fellow,
Will play his five thousand crowns at tennis, dance,
Court ladies, and one that hath fought single combats.

Antonio Some such flashes superficially hang on him for form; but observe his inward character: he is a melancholy churchman. The spring in his face is nothing but the engend’ring of toads; where he is jealous of any man, he lays worse plots for them than ever was impos’d on Hercules, for he strews in his way flatterers, panders, intelligencers, atheists, and a thousand such political monsters. He