The Duchess of Malfi John Webster (intellectual books to read TXT) đ
- Author: John Webster
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The bedchamber of the Duchess in the same.
Enter Duchess, Antonio, and Cariola. DuchessBring me the casket hither, and the glass.â â
You get no lodging here tonight, my lord.
Indeed, I must persuade one.
DuchessVery good:
I hope in time âtwill grow into a custom,
That noblemen shall come with cap and knee
To purchase a nightâs lodging of their wives.
I must lie here.
DuchessMust! You are a lord of misrule.
AntonioIndeed, my rule is only in the night.
DuchessTo what use will you put me?
AntonioWeâll sleep together
DuchessAlas, what pleasure can two lovers find in sleep?
CariolaMy lord, I lie with her often, and I know
Sheâll much disquiet you.
See, you are complainâd of.
CariolaFor sheâs the sprawlingâst bedfellow.
AntonioI shall like her the better for that.
CariolaSir, shall I ask you a question?
AntonioAy, pray thee, Cariola.
CariolaWherefore still, when you lie with my lady,
Do you rise so early?
Labouring men
Count the clock oftenest, Cariola,
Are glad when their taskâs ended.
Iâll stop your mouth. Kisses him.
AntonioNay, thatâs but one; Venus had two soft doves
To draw her chariot; I must have another.â â
When wilt thou marry, Cariola?
CariolaNever, my lord.
AntonioO, fie upon this single life! forgo it.
We read how Daphne, for her peevish [flight,]71
Became a fruitless bay-tree; Syrinx turnâd
To the pale empty reed; Anaxarete
Was frozen into marble: whereas those
Which married, or provâd kind unto their friends,
Were by a gracious influence transhapâd
Into the olive, pomegranate, mulberry,
Became flowers, precious stones, or eminent stars.
This is a vain poetry: but I pray you, tell me,
If there were proposâd me, wisdom, riches, and beauty,
In three several young men, which should I choose?
âTis a hard question. This was Parisâ case,
And he was blind inât, and there was a great cause;
For how wasât possible he could judge right,
Having three amorous goddesses in view,
And they stark naked? âTwas a motion
Were able to benight the apprehension
Of the severest counsellor of Europe.
Now I look on both your faces so well formâd,
It puts me in mind of a question I would ask.
What isât?
AntonioI do wonder why hard-favourâd ladies,
For the most part, keep worse-favourâd waiting-women
To attend them, and cannot endure fair ones.
O, thatâs soon answerâd.
Did you ever in your life know an ill painter
Desire to have his dwelling next door to the shop
Of an excellent picture-maker? âTwould disgrace
His face-making, and undo him. I prithee,
When were we so merry?â âMy hair tangles.
Pray thee, Cariola, letâs steal forth the room,
And let her talk to herself: I have diverse times
Servâd her the like, when she hath chafâd extremely.
I love to see her angry. Softly, Cariola.
Doth not the colour of my hair âgin to change?
When I wax gray, I shall have all the court
Powder their hair with arras,72 to be like me.
You have cause to love me; I entâred you into my heart
Before you would vouchsafe to call for the keys.
We shall one day have my brothers take you napping.
Methinks his presence, being now in court,
Should make you keep your own bed; but youâll say
Love mixâd with fear is sweetest. Iâll assure you,
You shall get no more children till my brothers
Consent to be your gossips. Have you lost your tongue?
âTis welcome:
For know, whether I am doomâd to live or die,
I can do both like a prince.
Die, then, quickly! Giving her a poniard.
Virtue, where art thou hid? What hideous thing
Is it that doth eclipse thee?
Pray, sir, hear me.
FerdinandOr is it true thou art but a bare name,
And no essential thing?
Sirâ â
FerdinandDo not speak.
DuchessNo, sir:
I will plant my soul in mine ears, to hear you.
O most imperfect light of human reason,
That makâst [us] so unhappy to foresee
What we can least prevent! Pursue thy wishes,
And glory in them: thereâs in shame no comfort
But to be past all bounds and sense of shame.
I pray, sir, hear me: I am married.
FerdinandSo!
DuchessHappily, not to your liking: but for that,
Alas, your shears do come untimely now
To clip the birdâs wings thatâs already flown!
Will you see my husband?
Yes, if I could change
Eyes with a basilisk.
Sure, you came hither
By his confederacy.
The howling of a wolf
Is music to thee, screech-owl: prithee, peace.â â
Whateâer thou art that hast enjoyâd my sister,
For I am sure thou hearâst me, for thine own sake
Let me not know thee. I came hither preparâd
To work thy discovery; yet am now persuaded
It would beget such violent effects
As would damn us both. I would not for ten millions
I had beheld thee: therefore use all means
I never may have knowledge of thy name;
Enjoy thy lust still, and a wretched life,
On that condition.â âAnd for thee, vile woman,
If thou do wish thy lecher may grow old
In thy embracements, I would have thee build
Such a room for him as our anchorites
To holier use inhabit. Let not the sun
Shine on him till heâs dead; let dogs and monkeys
Only converse with him, and such dumb things
To whom nature denies use to sound his name;
Do not keep a paraquito, lest she learn it;
If thou do love him, cut out thine own tongue,
Lest it bewray him.
Why might not I marry?
I have not gone about in this to create
Any new world or custom.
Thou art undone;
And thou hast taâen that massy sheet of lead
That hid thy husbandâs bones, and folded it
About my heart.
Mine bleeds forât.
FerdinandThine! thy heart!
What should I nameât unless a hollow bullet
Fillâd with unquenchable wildfire?
You are in this
Too strict; and were you not my princely brother,
I would say, too wilful: my reputation
Is safe.
Dost thou
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