Scene + 

II + 

A gallery in the residence of the Cardinal and Ferdinand. + 

Enter Pescara and Doctor. + 

Pescara + 

Now, doctor, may I visit your patient? + 

Doctor + 

If’t please your lordship; but he’s instantly + 

To take the air here in the gallery + 

By my direction. + 

Pescara + 

Pray thee, what’s his disease? + 

Doctor + 

A very pestilent disease, my lord, + 

They call lycanthropia. + 

Pescara + 

What’s that? + 

I need a dictionary to’t. + 

Doctor + 

I’ll tell you. + 

In those that are possess’d with’t there o’erflows + 

Such melancholy humour they imagine + 

Themselves to be transformed into wolves; + 

Steal forth to churchyards in the dead of night, + 

And dig dead bodies up: as two nights since + 

One met the duke ’bout midnight in a lane + 

Behind Saint Mark’s church, with the leg of a man + 

Upon his shoulder; and he howl’d fearfully; + 

Said he was a wolf, only the difference + 

Was, a wolf’s skin was hairy on the outside, + 

His on the inside; bade them take their swords, + 

Rip up his flesh, and try. Straight I was sent for, + 

And, having minister’d to him, found his grace + 

Very well recover’d. + 

Pescara + 

I am glad on’t. + 

Doctor + 

Yet not without some fear + 

Of a relapse. If he grow to his fit again, + 

I’ll go a nearer way to work with him + 

Than ever Paracelsus dream’d of; if + 

They’ll give me leave, I’ll buffet his madness out of him. + 

Stand aside; he comes. + 

Enter Ferdinand, Cardinal, Malatesti, and Bosala. + 

Ferdinand + 

Leave me. + 

Malatesti + 

Why doth your lordship love this solitariness? + 

Ferdinand + 

Eagles commonly fly alone: they are crows, daws, and starlings that flock together. Look, what’s that follows me? + 

Malatesti + 

Nothing, my lord. + 

Ferdinand + 

Yes. + 

Malatesti + 

’Tis your shadow. + 

Ferdinand + 

Stay it; let it not haunt me. + 

Malatesti + 

Impossible, if you move, and the sun shine. + 

Ferdinand + 

I will throttle it. Throws himself down on his shadow. + 

Malatesti + 

O, my lord, you are angry with nothing. + 

Ferdinand + 

You are a fool: how is’t possible I should catch my shadow, unless I fall upon’t? When I go to hell, I mean to carry a bribe; for, look you, good gifts evermore make way for the worst persons. + 

Pescara + 

Rise, good my lord. + 

Ferdinand + 

I am studying the art of patience. + 

Pescara + 

’Tis a noble virtue. + 

Ferdinand + 

To drive six snails before me from this town to Moscow; neither use goad nor whip to them, but let them take their own time;⁠—the patient’st man i’ th’ world match me for an experiment:⁠—an I’ll crawl after like a sheep-biter. + 

Cardinal + 

Force him up. + 

They raise him. + 

Ferdinand + 

Use me well, you were best. What I have done, I have done: I’ll confess nothing. + 

Doctor + 

Now let me come to him.⁠—Are you mad, my lord? + 

Are you out of your princely wits? + 

Ferdinand + 

What’s he? + 

Pescara + 

Your doctor. + 

Ferdinand + 

Let me have his beard saw’d off, and his eyebrows fil’d more civil. + 

Doctor + 

I must do mad tricks with him, for that’s the only way on’t.⁠—I have brought your grace a salamander’s skin to keep you from sunburning. + 

Ferdinand + 

I have cruel sore eyes. + 

Doctor + 

The white of a cockatrix’s egg is present remedy. + 

Ferdinand + 

Let it be a new-laid one, you were best. Hide me from him: physicians are like kings⁠—They brook no contradiction. + 

Doctor + 

Now he begins to fear me: now let me alone with him. + 

Cardinal + 

How now! put off your gown! + 

Doctor + 

Let me have some forty urinals filled with rosewater: he and I’ll go pelt one another with them.⁠—Now he begins to fear me.⁠—Can you fetch a frisk, sir?⁠—Let him go, let him go, upon my peril: I find by his eye he stands in awe of me; I’ll make him as tame as a dormouse. + 

Ferdinand + 

Can you fetch your frisks, sir!⁠—I will stamp him into a cullis, flay off his skin to cover one of the anatomies this rogue hath set i’ th’ cold yonder in Barber-Chirurgeon’s-hall. —Hence, hence! you are all of you like beasts for sacrifice. Throws the Doctor down and beats him. There’s nothing left of you but tongue and belly, flattery and lechery. + 

Exit. + 

Pescara + 

Doctor, he did not fear you thoroughly. + 

Doctor + 

True; I was somewhat too forward. + 

Bosola + 

Mercy upon me, what a fatal judgment + 

Hath fall’n upon this Ferdinand! + 

Pescara + 

Knows your grace + 

What accident hath brought unto the prince + 

This strange distraction? + 

Cardinal + 

Aside. I must feign somewhat.⁠—Thus they say it grew. + 

You have heard it rumour’d, for these many years + 

None of our family dies but there is seen + 

The shape of an old woman, which is given + 

By tradition to us to have been murder’d + 

By her nephews for her riches. Such a figure + 

One night, as the prince sat up late at’s book, + 

Appear’d to him; when crying out for help, + 

The gentleman of’s chamber found his grace + 

All on a cold sweat, alter’d much in face + 

And language: since which apparition, + 

He hath grown worse and worse, and I much fear + 

He cannot live. + 

Bosola + 

Sir, I would speak with you. + 

Pescara + 

We’ll leave your grace, + 

Wishing to the sick prince, our noble lord, + 

All health of mind and body. + 

Cardinal + 

You are most welcome. + 

Exeunt Pescara, Malatesti, and Doctor. + 

Are you come? so.⁠—Aside. This fellow must not know + 

By any means I had intelligence + 

In our duchess’ death; for, though I counsell’d it, + 

The full of all th’ engagement seem’d to grow + 

From Ferdinand.⁠—Now, sir, how fares our sister? + 

I do not think but sorrow makes her look + 

Like to an oft-dy’d garment: she shall now + 

Take comfort from me. Why do you look so wildly? + 

O, the fortune of your master here the prince + 

Dejects you; but be you of happy comfort: + 

If you’ll do one thing for me I’ll entreat, + 

Though he had a cold tombstone o’er his bones, + 

I’d make you what you would be. + 

Bosola + 

Anything; + 

Give it me in a breath, and let me fly to’t. + 

They that think long small expedition win, + 

For musing much o’ th’ end cannot begin. + 

Enter Julia. + 

Julia + 

Sir, will you come into supper? + 

Cardinal + 

I am busy; leave me. + 

Julia + 

Aside. What an excellent shape hath that fellow! + 

Exit. + 

Cardinal + 

’Tis thus. Antonio lurks here in Milan: + 

Inquire him out, and kill him. While he lives, + 

Our sister cannot marry; and I have thought + 

Of an excellent match for her. Do this, and style me + 

Thy advancement. + 

Bosola + 

But by what means shall I find him out? + 

Cardinal + 

There is a gentleman call’d Delio + 

Here in the camp, that hath been long approv’d + 

His loyal friend. Set eye upon that fellow; + 

Follow him to mass; may be Antonio, + 

Although he do account religion + 

But a school-name, for fashion of the world + 

May accompany him; or else go inquire out + 

Delio’s confessor, and see if you can bribe + 

Him to reveal it. There are a thousand ways + 

A man might find to trace him; as to know + 

What fellows haunt the Jews for taking up + 

Great sums of money, for sure he’s in want; + 

Or else to go to the picture-makers, and learn + 

Who bought her picture lately: some of these + 

Happily may take. + 

Bosola + 

Well, I’ll not freeze i’ th’ business: + 

I would see that wretched thing, Antonio, + 

Above all sights i’ th’ world. + 

Cardinal + 

Do, and be happy. + 

Exit. + 

Bosola + 

This fellow doth breed basilisks in’s eyes, + 

He’s nothing else but murder; yet he seems + 

Not to have notice of the duchess’ death. + 

’Tis his cunning: I must follow his example; + 

There cannot be a surer way to trace + 

Than that of an old fox. + 

Reenter Julia, with a pistol. + 

Julia + 

So, sir, you are well met. + 

Bosola + 

How Now! + 

Julia + 

Nay, the doors are fast enough: + 

Now, sir, I will make you confess your treachery. + 

Bosola + 

Treachery! + 

Julia + 

Yes, confess to me + 

Which of my women ’twas you hir’d to put + 

Love-powder into my drink? + 

Bosola + 

Love-powder! + 

Julia + 

Yes, when I was at Malfi. + 

Why should I fall in love with such a face else? + 

I have already suffer’d for thee so much pain, + 

The only remedy to do me good + 

Is to kill my longing. + 

Bosola + 

Sure, your pistol holds + 

Nothing but perfumes or kissing-comfits. + 

Excellent lady! + 

You have a pretty way on’t to discover + 

Your longing. Come, come, I’ll disarm you, + 

And arm you thus: yet this is wondrous strange. + 

Julia + 

Compare thy form and my eyes together, + 

You’ll find my love no such great miracle. + 

Now you’ll say + 

I am wanton: this nice modesty in ladies + 

Is but a troublesome familiar + 

That haunts them. + 

Bosola + 

Know you me, I am a blunt soldier. + 

Julia + 

The better: + 

Sure, there wants fire where there are no lively sparks + 

Of roughness. + 

Bosola + 

And I want compliment. + 

Julia + 

Why, ignorance + 

In courtship cannot make you do amiss, + 

If you have a heart to do well. + 

Bosola + 

You are very fair. + 

Julia + 

Nay, if you lay beauty to my charge, + 

I must plead unguilty. + 

Bosola + 

Your bright eyes + 

Carry a quiver of darts in them sharper + 

Than sunbeams. + 

Julia + 

You will mar me with commendation, + 

Put yourself to the charge of courting me, + 

Whereas now I woo you. + 

Bosola + 

Aside. I have it, I will work upon this creature.⁠— + 

Let us grow most amorously familiar: + 

If the great cardinal now should see me thus, + 

Would he not count me a villain? + 

Julia + 

No; he might count me a wanton, + 

Not lay a scruple of offence on you; + 

For if I see and steal a diamond, + 

The fault is not i’ th’ stone, but in me the thief + 

That purloins it. I am sudden with you. + 

We that are great women of pleasure use to cut off + 

These uncertain wishes and unquiet longings, + 

And in an instant join the sweet delight + 

And the pretty excuse together. Had you been i’ th’ street, + 

Under my chamber-window, even there + 

I should have courted you. + 

Bosola + 

O, you are an excellent lady! + 

Julia + 

Bid me do somewhat for you presently + 

To express I love you. + 

Bosola + 

I will; and if you love me, + 

Fail not to effect it. + 

The cardinal is grown wondrous melancholy; + 

Demand the cause, let him not put you off + 

With feign’d excuse; discover the main ground on’t. + 

Julia + 

Why would you know this? + 

Bosola + 

I have depended on him, + 

And I hear that he is fall’n in some disgrace + 

With the emperor: if he be, like the mice + 

That forsake falling houses, I would shift + 

To other dependance. + 

Julia + 

You shall not need + 

Follow the wars: I’ll be your maintenance. + 

Bosola + 

And I your loyal servant: but I cannot + 

Leave my calling. + 

Julia + 

Not leave an ungrateful + 

General for the love of a sweet lady! + 

You are like some cannot sleep in featherbeds, + 

But must have blocks for their pillows. + 

Bosola + 

Will you do this? + 

Julia + 

Cunningly. + 

Bosola + 

Tomorrow I’ll expect th’ intelligence. + 

Julia + 

Tomorrow! get you into my cabinet; + 

You shall have it with you. Do not delay me, + 

No more than I do you: I am like one + 

That is condemn’d; I have my pardon promis’d, + 

But I would see it seal’d. Go, get you in: + 

You shall see my wind my tongue about his heart + 

Like a skein of silk. + 

Exit Bosala. + 

Reenter Cardinal. + 

Cardinal + 

Where are you? + 

Enter Servants. + 

Servants + 

Here. + 

Cardinal + 

Let none, upon your lives, have conference + 

With the Prince Ferdinand, unless I know it.⁠— + 

Aside. In this distraction he may reveal + 

The murder. + 

Exeunt Servants. + 

Yond’s my lingering consumption: + 

I am weary of her, and by any means + 

Would be quit of. + 

Julia + 

How now, my lord! what ails you? + 

Cardinal + 

Nothing. + 

Julia + 

O, you are much alter’d: + 

Come, I must be your secretary, and remove + 

This lead from off your bosom: what’s the matter? + 

Cardinal + 

I may not tell you. + 

Julia + 

Are you so far in love with sorrow + 

You cannot part with part of it? Or think you + 

I cannot love your grace when you are sad + 

As well as merry? Or do you suspect + 

I, that have been a secret to your heart + 

These many winters, cannot be the same + 

Unto your tongue? + 

Cardinal + 

Satisfy thy longing⁠— + 

The only way to make thee keep my counsel + 

Is, not to tell thee. + 

Julia + 

Tell your echo this, + 

Or flatterers, that like echoes still report + 

What they hear though most imperfect, and not me; + 

For if that you be true unto yourself, + 

I’ll know. + 

Cardinal + 

Will you rack me? + 

Julia + 

No, judgment shall + 

Draw it from you: it is an equal fault, + 

To tell one’s secrets unto all or none. + 

Cardinal + 

The first argues folly. + 

Julia + 

But the last tyranny. + 

Cardinal + 

Very well: why, imagine I have committed + 

Some secret deed which I desire the world + 

May never hear of. + 

Julia + 

Therefore may not I know it? + 

You have conceal’d for me as great a sin + 

As adultery. Sir, never was occasion + 

For perfect trial of my constancy + 

Till now: sir, I beseech you⁠— + 

Cardinal + 

You’ll repent it. + 

Julia + 

Never. + 

Cardinal + 

It hurries thee to ruin: I’ll not tell thee. + 

Be well advis’d, and think what danger ’tis + 

To receive a prince’s secrets. They that do, + 

Had need have their breasts hoop’d with adamant + 

To contain them. I pray thee, yet be satisfi’d; + 

Examine thine own frailty; ’tis more easy + 

To tie knots than unloose them. ’Tis a secret + 

That, like a ling’ring poison, may chance lie + 

Spread in thy veins, and kill thee seven year hence. + 

Julia + 

Now you dally with me. + 

Cardinal + 

No more; thou shalt know it. + 

By my appointment the great Duchess of Malfi + 

And two of her young children, four nights since, + 

Were strangl’d. + 

Julia + 

O heaven! sir, what have you done! + 

Cardinal + 

How now? How settles this? Think you your bosom + 

Will be a grave dark and obscure enough + 

For such a secret? + 

Julia + 

You have undone yourself, sir. + 

Cardinal + 

Why? + 

Julia + 

It lies not in me to conceal it. + 

Cardinal + 

No? + 

Come, I will swear you to’t upon this book. + 

Julia + 

Most religiously. + 

Cardinal + 

Kiss it. She kisses the book. + 

Now you shall never utter it; thy curiosity + 

Hath undone thee; thou ’rt poison’d with that book. + 

Because I knew thou couldst not keep my counsel, + 

I have bound thee to’t by death. + 

Reenter Bosala. + 

Bosola + 

For pity-sake, hold! + 

Cardinal + 

Ha, Bosola! + 

Julia + 

I forgive you + 

This equal piece of justice you have done; + 

For I betray’d your counsel to that fellow. + 

He overheard it; that was the cause I said + 

It lay not in me to conceal it. + 

Bosola + 

O foolish woman, + 

Couldst not thou have poison’d him? + 

Julia + 

’Tis weakness, + 

Too much to think what should have been done. I go, + 

I know not whither. Dies. + 

Cardinal + 

Wherefore com’st thou hither? + 

Bosola + 

That I might find a great man like yourself, + 

Not out of his wits, as the Lord Ferdinand, + 

To remember my service. + 

Cardinal + 

I’ll have thee hew’d in pieces. + 

Bosola + 

Make not yourself such a promise of that life + 

Which is not yours to dispose of. + 

Cardinal + 

Who plac’d thee here? + 

Bosola + 

Her lust, as she intended. + 

Cardinal + 

Very well: + 

Now you know me for your fellow-murderer. + 

Bosola + 

And wherefore should you lay fair marble colours + 

Upon your rotten purposes to me? + 

Unless you imitate some that do plot great treasons, + 

And when they have done, go hide themselves i’ th’ grave + 

Of those were actors in’t? + 

Cardinal + 

No more; there is + 

A fortune attends thee. + 

Bosola + 

Shall I go sue to Fortune any longer? + 

’Tis the fool’s pilgrimage. + 

Cardinal + 

I have honours in store for thee. + 

Bosola + 

There are a many ways that conduct to seeming + 

Honour, and some of them very dirty ones. + 

Cardinal + 

Throw to the devil + 

Thy melancholy. The fire burns well; + 

What need we keep a stirring of’t, and make + 

A greater smother? Thou wilt kill Antonio? + 

Bosola + 

Yes. + 

Cardinal + 

Take up that body. + 

Bosola + 

I think I shall + 

Shortly grow the common bier for churchyards. + 

Cardinal + 

I will allow thee some dozen of attendants + 

To aid thee in the murder. + 

Bosola + 

O, by no means. Physicians that apply horseleeches to any rank swelling use to cut off their tails, that the blood may run through them the faster: let me have no train when I go to shed blood, less it make me have a greater when I ride to the gallows. + 

Cardinal + 

Come to me after midnight, to help to remove + 

That body to her own lodging. I’ll give out + 

She died o’ th’ plague; ’twill breed the less inquiry + 

After her death. + 

Bosola + 

Where’s Castruccio her husband? + 

Cardinal + 

He’s rode to Naples, to take possession + 

Of Antonio’s citadel. + 

Bosola + 

Believe me, you have done a very happy turn. + 

Cardinal + 

Fail not to come. There is the master-key + 

Of our lodgings; and by that you may conceive + 

What trust I plant in you. + 

Bosola + 

You shall find me ready. + 

Exit Cardinal. + 

O poor Antonio, though nothing be so needful + 

To thy estate as pity, yet I find + 

Nothing so dangerous! I must look to my footing: + 

In such slippery ice-pavements men had need + 

To be frost-nail’d well, they may break their necks else; + 

The precedent’s here afore me. How this man + 

Bears up in blood! seems fearless! Why, ’tis well; + 

Security some men call the suburbs of hell, + 

Only a dead wall between. Well, good Antonio, + 

I’ll seek thee out; and all my care shall be + 

To put thee into safety from the reach + 

Of these most cruel biters that have got + 

Some of thy blood already. It may be, + 

I’ll join with thee in a most just revenge. + 

The weakest arm is strong enough that strikes + 

With the sword of justice. Still methinks the duchess + 

Haunts me: there, there!⁠—’Tis nothing but my melancholy. + 

O Penitence, let me truly taste thy cup, + 

That throws men down only to raise them up! + 

Exit. + 