In seeking to reduce both state and people And infamous persons,-which he sweetly terms Is like a common fountain, whence should flow And what is't makes this blessèd government What they ought to foresee.-Here comes Bosola, Indeed, he rails at those things which he wants; If he had means to be so.-Here's the cardinal. Enter CARDINAL and BoSOLA. Bos. I do haunt you still. Card. So. Bos. I have done you better service than to be slighted thus. Miserable age, where only the reward of doing well is the doing of it! Card. You enforce your merit too much. Bos. I fell into the galleys in your service; where, for two years together, I wore two towels instead of a shirt, with a knot on the shoulder, after the fashion of a Roman mantle. Slighted thus! I will thrive some way: blackbirds fatten best in hard weather; why not I in these dogdays? Card. Would you could become honest! Bos. With all your divinity do but direct me the way to it. I have known many travel far for it, and yet return as arrant knaves as they went forth, because they carried themselves always along with them. [Exit Cardinal.] Are you gone? Some fellows, they say, are possessed with the devil, but this great fellow were able to possess the greatest devil, and make him worse. Ant. He hath denied thee some suit? Bos. 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 advanced to-morrow? 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 1 quits-clears. To make me the partaker of the natures Ant. The lord cardinal's, And other strangers that are now in court? Ferd. Our sister duchess' great-master of her household? give him the jewel.-When shall we leave this sportive action, and fall to action indeed? Cast. Methinks, my lord, you should not desire to go to war in person. Ferd. Now for some gravity:-why, my lord? Cast. It is fitting a soldier arise to be a prince, but not necessary a prince descend to be a captain. Ferd. Why do you laugh? methinks you that are courtiers should be my touch-wood, take fire when I give fire; that is, not laugh but when I laugh, were the subject never so witty. Cast. True, my lord. I myself have heard a very good jest, and have scorned to seem to have so silly a wit as to understand it. Ferd. But I can laugh at your fool, my lord. Cast. He cannot speak, you know, but he makes faces: my lady cannot abide him. Ferd. No? Cast. Nor endure to be in merry company; for she says too much laughing and too much company fills her too full of the wrinkle. Ferd. 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. Sil. Your grace shall arrive most welcome. Ferd. You are a good horseman, Antonio: you have excellent riders in France: what do you think of good horsemanship? Ant. 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. Ferd. You have bespoke it worthily. Sil. Your brother the lord cardinal, and sister duchess. Re-enter CARDINAL, with DUCHESS, CARIOLA, and Card. Are the galleys come about? Ferd. Here's the Lord Silvio is come to take his leave. Del. 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. Ant. 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 engendering of toads; where he is jealous of any man, he lays worse plots for them than ever was imposed on Hercules, for he strews in his way flatterers, panders, intelligencers, atheists, and a thousand such political monsters. He should have been Pope; but instead of coming to it by the primitive decency of the church, he did bestow bribes so largely and so impudently as if he would have carried it away without Heaven's knowledge. Some good he hath done 1 tent is a roll of lint or other material used in searching or dilating a wound; from Lat. tendo, to stretch. He never pays debts unless they be shrewd turns, But for their sister, the right noble duchess, She held it less vainglory to talk much, She throws upon a man so sweet a look, Del. Fie, Antonio, You play the wire-drawer with her commendations. Ant. I'll case the picture up: only thus much; All her particular worth grows to this sum,She stains the time past, lights the time to come. Cari. You must attend my lady in the gallery, Some half an hour hence. Ant. I shall. [Exeunt ANTONIO and DELIO. Ferd. A gentleman here, Daniel de Bosola, Duch. Yes, I know him. Ferd. A worthy fellow he is: pray, let me entreat for The provisorship of your horse. [Exit Attendant. Sil. Sir, I shall. Ferd. You are for Milan? Sil. I am. 1 galliard-a lively, leaping, nimble French dance; from gaillard, gay.-NARES. Ferd. Be yourself; Keep your old garb of melancholy; 'twill express Bos. 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. Bos. Let good men, for good deeds, covet good fame, Since place and riches oft are bribes of shame: Sometimes the devil doth preach. [Exit. Bos. Why, a very quaint invisible devil in And it end both together. flesh, An intelligencer. Ferd. Such a kind of thriving thing Ferd. Now hear me: You live in a rank pasture, here, i' the court; There is a kind of honey-dew that's deadly; I would wish thee; and ere long thou mayst "Twill poison your fame; look to't: be not arrive cunning; For they whose faces do belie their hearts Duch. This is terrible good counsel. 1 luxurious-wanton, lascivious. 2 Vulcan's engine-ie. the net in which he caught Mars and Venus.-DYCE. our darkest actions, nay, your privat'st thoughts, Will come to light. Card. You may flatter yourself, And take your own choice; privately be married Under the eves of night Ferd. Think't the best voyage That e'er you made; like the irregular crab, Ant. So please your beauteous excellence. Duch. Beauteous! Indeed, I thank you: I look young for your sake; The particulars of your revenue and expense. Which, though't goes backward, thinks that it An upright treasurer: but you mistook ; goes right, Because it goes its own way: but observe, Such weddings may more properly be said To be executed than celebrated. Card. The marriage night Is the entrance into some prison. Those lustful pleasures, are like heavy sleeps [Exit. [kindred Duch. Shall this move me? If all my royal 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 Cari. Both shall be safe; For I'll conceal this secret from the world As warily as those that trade in poison Duch. Thy protestation Is ingenious' and hearty: I believe it. Is Antonio come? Cari. He attends you. Duch. Good dear soul, Leave me; but place thyself behind the arras, Enter ANTONIO. I sent for you: sit down; Take pen and ink, and write: are you ready? Ant. Yes. Duch. What did I say? Ant. That I should write somewhat. After these triumphs and this large expense, 1 ingenious-for ingenuous. The terms were often transposed by early writers.-HALLWELL. For when I said I meant to make inquiry What's laid up for to-morrow, I did mean, What's laid up yonder for me. Ant. Where? Duch. In heaven. |