Malice or envy, or such woman's frailty,
Have spurr'd thee on to set my soul on fire,
Without apparent certainty; I vow,

And vow again, by all [our] princely blood,
Hadst thou a double soul, or were the lives
Of fathers, mothers, children, or the hearts
Of all our tribes in thine, I would unrip
That womb of bloody mischief with these nails,
Where such a cursed plot as this was hatch'd.
But, D'Avolos, for thee-no more; to work
A yet more strong impression in my brain,
You must produce an instance to mine eye,
Both present and apparent-nay, you shall-

or

Fior. Or what? you will be mad? be rather wise;

Think on Ferentes first, and think by whom
The harmless youth was slaughter'd; had he liv'd,
He would have told you tales: Fernando fear'd it;
And to prevent him, under shew, forsooth,
Of rare device, most trimly cut him off.

Have you yet eyes, duke?

Duke. Shrewdly urged,-'tis piercing.

Fior. For looking on a sight shall split your soul.

You shall not care; I'll undertake myself
To do't some two days hence; for need, to-night-
But that you are in court.

D'Av. Right. Would you desire, my lord, to see them exchange kisses, sucking one another's lips, nay, begetting an heir to the dukedom, or

practising more than the very act of adultery itself? Give but a little way by a feigned absence, and you shall find 'em-I blush to speak doing what; I am mad to think on't, you are most shamefully, most sinfully, most scornfully cornuted.

Duke. D'ye play upon me? as I am your prince,
There's some shall roar for this! Why, what was I,
Both to be thought or made so vile a thing?
Stay-madam marquess:-ho, Roderico, you, sir,
Bear witness that if ever I neglect

One day, one hour, one minute, to wear out
With toil of plot, or practice of conceit,
My busy skull, till I have found a death
More horrid than the bull of Phalaris,
Or all the fabling poets' dreaming whips;
If ever I take rest, or force a smile

Which is not borrowed from a royal vengeance,
Before I know which way to satisfy

Fury and wrong,--nay, kneel down-[They kneel.] let me die

More wretched than despair, reproach, contempt,
Laughter, and poverty itself can make me!
Let's rise on all sides, friends;-[They rise.]-now
all's agreed:

6

If the moon serve, some that are safe shall bleed.

• If the moon serve, some that are safe shall bleed.] In Ford's time, and indeed long before and after it, the days of the moon, held to be propitious to bleeding, were distinguished by particular marks; and such was the absurd reliance on this ignorant medley of quackery and superstition, that few families would have ventured on the operation on one of the dies nefasti.

Enter FERNANDO, BIANCA, and MORONA.

Bian. My lord the duke.

Duke. Bianca! ha, how is't?

How is't, Bianca? what, Fernando! come,
Shall's shake hands, sirs?-'faith, this is kindly

done.

Here's three as one; welcome, dear wife, sweet

friend!

D'Av. I do not like this now; it shews scurvily [Aside to FIOR. Bian. My lord, we have a suit, Your friend

to me.

and I

Duke. She puts my friend before, most kindly

still.

[Aside.

Bian. Must join

Duke. What, must?

Bian. My lord!

Duke. Must join, you say—

Bian. That you will please to set Mauruccio At liberty; this gentlewoman here,

Hath, by agreement made betwixt them two,
Obtain'd him for her husband: good, my lord,
Let me entreat; I dare engage mine honour,
He's innocent in any wilful fault.

Duke. Your honour, madam! now beshrew you for't,

T'engage your honour on so slight a ground:
Honour's a precious jewel, I can tell you;
Nay 'tis, Bianca; go to.-D'Avolos,
Bring us Mauruccio hither.

D'Av. I shall, my lord.

Mor. I humbly thank your grace.

[Exit.

Fern. And, royal sir, since Julia and Colona, Chief actors in Ferentes' tragic end,

Were, through their ladies' mediation,
Freed by your gracious pardon: I, in pity,
Tender'd this widow's friendless misery;
For whose reprieve I shall, in humblest duty,
Be ever thankful.

Re-enter D'AVOLOS with MAURUCCIO in rags, and GIACOPO weeping.

Maur. Come you my learned counsel, do not

roar;

If I must hang, why then lament therefore;7
You may rejoice, and both, no doubt, be great
To serve your prince, when I am turn'd worms'

meat.

8

I fear my lands, and all I have, is begg'd.
Else, woe is me, why should I be so ragg'd?
D'Av. Come on, sir, the duke stays for you.
Maur. O how my stomach doth begin to puke,
When I do hear that only word, the duke!

Duke. You, sir, look on that woman; are you pleas'd,

7 Why then lament therefore.] This in Jonson is a sneer at Shakspeare; in Shakspeare, and every other writer, it is a smile at Marlow.

* My lands, and all I have, is begg'd.] As a condemned person : there were greedy courtiers enough in those days to scramble for the property of a falling man, even before the period of legal condem

nation.

If we remit your body from the jail,
To take her for your wife?

Maur. On that condition, prince, with all my heart.

Mor. Yes, I warrant your grace, he is content. Duke. Why, foolish man, hast thou so soon forgot

The public shame of her abused womb,
Her being mother to a bastard's birth?
Or canst thou but imagine she will be
True to thy bed, who to herself was false?

Gia. (To MAUR.) Phew, sir, do not stand upon that; that's a matter of nothing, you know.

Maur. Nay, an't shall please your good grace, and it come to that, I care not; as good men as I have lain in foul sheets, I am sure; the linen has not been much the worse for the wearing a little : I will have her with all my heart.

Duke. And shalt.

the grace

Fernando, thou shalt have

To join their hands; put them together, friend. Bian. Yes, do, my lord; bring you the bridegroom hither,

I'll give the bride myself.

D'Av. Here's argument to jealousy, as good as drink to the dropsy; she will share any disgrace with him: I could not wish it better.

Duke. Even so; well, do it.

Fern. Here, Mauruccio;

Long live a happy couple!

[Aside.

[He and BIAN. join their hands.