The Duchess of Malfi - John Webster (ebook reader with internet browser .txt) 📗
- Author: John Webster
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Access to private lodgings, where yourself
May, like a politic dormouse— Bosola
As I have seen some
Feed in a lord’s dish, half asleep, not seeming
To listen to any talk; and yet these rogues
Have cut his throat in a dream. What’s my place?
The provisorship o’ the horse? Say, then, my corruption
Grew out of horse-dung: I am your creature.
Away!
Exit. BosolaLet good men, for good deeds, covet good fame,
Since place and riches oft are bribes of shame.
Sometimes the devil doth preach.
Malfi. Gallery in the Duchess’ palace.
Enter Ferdinand, Duchess, Cardinal, and Cariola. CardinalWe are to part from you; and your own discretion
Must now be your director.
You are a widow:
You know already what man is; and therefore
Let not youth, high promotion, eloquence—
No,
Nor anything without the addition, honour,
Sway your high blood.
Marry! they are most luxurious16
Will wed twice.
O, fie!
FerdinandTheir livers are more spotted
Than Laban’s sheep.17
Diamonds are of most value,
They say, that have pass’d through most jewellers’ hands.
Whores by that rule are precious.
DuchessWill you hear me?
I’ll never marry.
So most widows say;
But commonly that motion lasts no longer
Than the turning of an hourglass: the funeral sermon
And it end both together.
Now hear me:
You live in a rank pasture, here, i’ the court;
There is a kind of honeydew that’s deadly;
’T will poison your fame; look to’t. Be not cunning;
For they whose faces do belie their hearts
Are witches ere they arrive at twenty years,
Ay, and give the devil suck.
This is terrible good counsel.
FerdinandHypocrisy is woven of a fine small thread,
Subtler than Vulcan’s engine:18 yet, believe’t,
Your darkest actions, nay, your privat’st thoughts,
Will come to light.
You may flatter yourself,
And take your own choice; privately be married
Under the eaves of night—
Think’t the best voyage
That e’er you made; like the irregular crab,
Which, though’t goes backward, thinks that it goes right
Because it goes its own way: but observe,
Such weddings may more properly be said
To be executed than celebrated.
The marriage night
Is the entrance into some prison.
And those joys,
Those lustful pleasures, are like heavy sleeps
Which do fore-run man’s mischief.
Fare you well.
Wisdom begins at the end: remember it.
I think this speech between you both was studied,
It came so roundly off.
You are my sister;
This was my father’s poniard, do you see?
I’d be loth to see’t look rusty, ’cause ’twas his.
I would have you give o’er these chargeable revels:
A visor and a mask are whispering-rooms
That were never built for goodness—fare ye well—
And women like variety of courtship.
What cannot a neat knave with a smooth tale
Make a woman believe? Farewell, lusty widow.
Shall this move me? If all my royal kindred
Lay in my way unto this marriage,
I’d make them my low footsteps. And even now,
Even in this hate, as men in some great battles,
By apprehending danger, have achiev’d
Almost impossible actions (I have heard soldiers say so),
So I through frights and threatenings will assay
This dangerous venture. Let old wives report
I wink’d and chose a husband.—Cariola,
To thy known secrecy I have given up
More than my life—my fame.
Both shall be safe;
For I’ll conceal this secret from the world
As warily as those that trade in poison
Keep poison from their children.
Thy protestation
Is ingenious and hearty; I believe it.
Is Antonio come?
He attends you.
DuchessGood dear soul,
Leave me; but place thyself behind the arras,
Where thou mayst overhear us. Wish me good speed;
For I am going into a wilderness,
Where I shall find nor path nor friendly clue
To be my guide.
I sent for you: sit down;
Take pen and ink, and write: are you ready?
Yes.
DuchessWhat did I say?
AntonioThat I should write somewhat.
DuchessO, I remember.
After these triumphs and this large expense
It’s fit, like thrifty husbands,19 we inquire
What’s laid up for tomorrow.
So please your beauteous excellence.
DuchessBeauteous!
Indeed, I thank you. I look young for your sake;
You have ta’en my cares upon you.
I’ll fetch your grace
The particulars of your revenue and expense.
O, you are
An upright treasurer: but you mistook;
For when I said I meant to make inquiry
What’s laid up for tomorrow, I did mean
What’s laid up yonder for me.
Where?
DuchessIn heaven.
I am making my will (as ’tis fit princes should,
In perfect memory), and, I pray, sir, tell me,
Were not one better make it smiling, thus,
Than in deep groans and terrible ghastly looks,
As if the gifts we parted with procur’d20
That violent distraction?
O, much better.
DuchessIf I had a husband now, this care were quit:
But I intend to make you overseer.
What good deed shall we first remember? Say.
Begin with that first good deed began i’ the world
After man’s creation, the sacrament of marriage;
I’d have you first provide for a good husband;
Give him all.
All!
AntonioYes, your excellent self.
DuchessIn a winding-sheet?
AntonioIn a couple.
DuchessSaint Winifred, that were a strange will!
Antonio’Twere stranger21 if there were no will in you
To marry again.
What do you think of marriage?
AntonioI take’t, as those that deny purgatory,
It locally contains or heaven or hell;
There’s no third place in’t.
How do you affect it?
AntonioMy banishment, feeding my melancholy,
Would often reason thus.
Pray, let’s hear it.
AntonioSay a man never marry, nor have children,
What takes that from him? Only the bare name
Of being a father, or the weak delight
To see the little wanton ride a-cock-horse
Upon a painted stick, or hear him chatter
Like a taught starling.
Fie, fie, what’s
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