For my preferment with Lord Ferdinand.
’Tis agreed I follow him to the wars.
ANTONIO
Here comes the great Calabrian Duke.
They give way as Duke Ferdinand and courtiers, Bosola and Castruchio enter.
FERDINAND
Are the galleys come about yet?
CASTRUCHIO
They are, my lord. But methinks you should not desire to go to war in person.
FERDINAND
Now for some weighty reason. Why not?
CASTRUCHIO
It is fitting a soldier should rise to be a prince but not necessary a prince should descend to be a captain.
FERDINAND
No?
CASTRUCHIO
No, my lord, he were far better do it by deputy.
FERDINAND
This war too nearly touches mine honour. Since the old Duke of Malfi fell, I have sworn to defend my sister Duchess in his stead. While I live she need fear no foe.
CASTRUCHIO
Believe my experience. That realm is never long quiet where the ruler is a soldier.
FERDINAND
Antonio, great master of our sister
Duchess’ household! Your cousin pleases me.
His skill in this new science of gunnery
From France we’ll soon know how to use in Cyprus.
Enter courtier.
COURTIER
Your brother, the Lord Cardinal and sister duchess will be here anon. The people line the streets awaiting your progress to the haven.
Crowd noises.
Hark, your grace may hear their lusty shouts.
Duke moves off towards the window to observe the crowd.
DELIO
Apart with Antonio.
The presence begins to fill. You promised me
To make me partaker of the natures
Of some of your great courtiers.
ANTONIO
Well, there’s the Cardinal.
DELIO
What’s his temper? They say he’s a great scoundrel.
ANTONIO
He should have been Pope but did bestow bribes too impudently. Some good he hath done.
DELIO
What’s his brother, my new master?
ANTONIO
The Duke, there? A most perverse and turbulent nature.
DELIO
Twins?
ANTONIO
In quality. ’Tis said he and his brother are like plumtrees that
grow crooked over standing pools. They are rich and o’erladen
with fruit but none but crows, pies and caterpillars feed
on them.
DELIO
What of their sister, the fair Duchess?
ANTONIO
You never fixed your eye on three fair medals
Cast in one figure of so different temper.
For her discourse it is so full of rapture
You will only begin then to be sorry
When she doth end her speech and wish, in wonder,
She held it less vainglory to talk much.
She throws upon a man so sweet a look
That it were able to raise one that lay
Dead in a palsy but in that look
There speaketh so divine a continence
As cuts off all lascivious and vain hope.
Her days are practised in such noble virtue
That sure her nights, nay more her very sleeps,
Are more in heaven than other ladies’ shrifts.
Let all sweet ladies break their flattering glasses
And dress themselves in her.
DELIO
Fie, Antonio,
Have you turned scholar studying of her virtues?
ANTONIO
I’ll case the picture up. Only this much—
All her particular worth grows to this sum.
She stains time past, lights the time to come.
Enter Cardinal, Duchess and Cariola.
CARDINAL
Crossing to Ferdinand:
We are to part from you.
To Duchess:
And your own discretion
Must now be your director.
FERDINAND
You are a widow;
You know already what man is and therefore
Let not youth, high promotion, eloquence—
CARDINAL
No, nor anything without the addition, honour,
Sway your high blood.
FERDINAND
Marry? They are most lascivious
Will wed twice.
CARDINAL
Oh fie!
FERDINAND
Their livers are more spotted
Than Laban’s sheep.
DUCHESS
Diamonds are of most value,
They say, that have passed through most jewellers’ hands.
FERDINAND
Whores, by that rule, are precious.
DUCHESS
Will you hear me?
I’ll never marry.
CARDINAL
So most widows say.
But commonly that motion lasts no longer
And it end both together.
FERDINAND
Now hear me:
You live in a rank pasture here in the court.
There is a kind of honeydew that’s deadly.
’Twill poison your fame; look to it; be not cunning.
For they whose faces do belie their hearts
Are witches, ere they arrive at twenty years,
Aye, and give the devil suck.
DUCHESS
This is terribly good counsel.
FERDINAND
Hypocrisy is woven of a fine small thread,
Subtler than Vulcan’s engine; yet believe it
Your darkest actions, nay your privatest thoughts,
Will come to light.
CARDINAL
You may flatter yourself
And take your own choice privately to be married
Under the eyes of night.
FERDINAND
Think it the best voyage
That e’er you made, like the irregular crab,
Which though it goes backward, thinks it goes right
Because it goes its own way, but observe;
Such weddings may more properly be said
To be executed than celebrated.
CARDINAL
The marriage night
Is the entrance into some prison.
FERDINAND
And those joys,
Those lustful pleasures are like heavy sleeps
Which do forerun man’s mischief.
CARDINAL
Wisdom begins at the end. Remember it.
DUCHESS
To Cardinal.
We’ll bear you company to your litter.
Cardinal gives her his arm and they go out. Ferdinand beckons to Bosola and takes him apart.
FERDINAND
Giving him money.
There’s gold.
BOSOLA
Whose throat must I cut?
FERDINAND
I give you that
To live in the court here and observe the Duchess,
To note all the particulars of her behaviour;
What suitors do solicit her for marriage
And whom she best affects. She’s a young widow;
I would not have her marry again.
BOSOLA
No, Sir?
FERDINAND
Do not ask the reason but be satisfied.
I say I would not.
There is a place that I procured for you
This morning, the provisorship of the horse.
BOSOLA
The provisorship of the horse? Say then my corruption
Grew out of horse dung. Oh that your bounty
Should make me a villain! I am your creature
Exits.
DELIO
To Antonio.
I knew this fellow seven years in the galleys
For a notorious murder.
Duchess re-enters and goes to Ferdinand.
DUCHESS
I think that speech between you both was studied,
It came so roundly off.
FERDINAND
You are my sister.
This was my father’s poignard, do you see ?
Shows poignard.
I would be loth to see it look rusty since it was his.
I would have you give over these chargeable revels.
A visor and a mask are whispering rooms
That ne’er were built for goodness. Fare ye well,
And women like that part which, like the lamprey,
Hath never a bone in it.
DUCHESS
Fie, sir!
FERDINAND
Nay,
I meant the tongue, variety of courtship.
What cannot a neat knave with a smooth tale
Make a woman believe. Farewell lusty widow.
He goes out. She pauses for a moment, then follows with courtiers.
VOICE
Way for the Duke! Make way for Duke Ferdinand! Way for
the Duke! The Duke is off to the wars!
Crowd noises.
Scene 2
Boudoir of the Duchess of Malfi.
Duchess and Cariola are on.
DUCHESS
Shall all this move me? If my royal kindred
Lie in my way unto this marriage,
I’ll make them my low footsteps. And even now,
Even in this hate, as men in some great battles
By apprehending danger, have achieved
Almost impossible actions (I have heard soldiers say so),
So I, through frights and threatenings, will assay
This dangerous adventure. Let old wives report
I winked and chose a husband! Cariola,
To thy known secrecy I have given up
More than my life, my fame.
CARIOLA
Both shall be safe;
As warily as those that trade in poison
Keep poison from their children.
DUCHESS
Thy protestation
Is ingenious and hearty: I believe it.
Is Antonio come?
CARIOLA
He attends you.
DUCHESS
Good dear soul,
Leave me: but place thyself behind the arras
Where thou mayst overhear us. Wish me good speed.
Cariola goes behind the arras.
For I am going into a wilderness
Where I shall find nor path nor friendly clew
To be my guide.
Enter Antonio.
I sent for you; sit down;
Take pen and ink and write: are you ready?
ANTONIO
Yes.
DUCHESS
What did I say?
ANTONIO
That I should write somewhat.
DUCHESS
Oh, I remember:
After this triumph and this large expense,
It’s fit (like thrifty husbands) we inquire
What’s laid up for tomorrow.
ANTONIO
So please your beauteous excellence.
DUCHESS
Beauteous?
Indeed I thank you: I look young for your sake.
As my steward you have taken my cares upon you.
ANTONIO
I’ll fetch your grace the particulars
Of all your revenues and your expenses.
DUCHESS
Oh, 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.
ANTONIO
Where?
DUCHESS
In heaven.
I am making my will (as ’tis fit princes should
In perfect memory), and I pray sir, tell me
Were it not better to make it smiling, thus,
Than in deep groans and terrible ghastly looks
As if the gifts we parted with procured
That violent distraction?
ANTONIO
Oh, much better.
DUCHESS
If I had a husband now this care were quit:
But I intend to make you overseer.
What good deed shall we first remember? Say.
ANTONIO
Begin with that first good deed began i’ th’ world,
After man’s creation, the sacrament of marriage,
I’d have you first provide for a good husband:
Give him all.
DUCHESS
St. Winfrid, that were a strange will!
ANTONIO
’Twere strange if there were no will in you
To marry again.
DUCHESS
What do you think of marriage?
ANTONIO
I take it as those that deny purgatory,
It locally contains or heaven or hell;
There’s no third place in it.
DUCHESS
How do you like it?
ANTONIO
My banishment, feeding on my melancholy,
Would often reason thus—
DUCHESS
Pray let’s hear it.
ANTONIO
Say 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.
DUCHESS
Fie, fie, what’s all this ?
One of your eyes is bloodshot. Use my ring to it.
They say ’tis a good remedy. ’Twas my wedding ring
And I did vow never to part with it
But to my second husband.
ANTONIO
You have parted with it now.
DUCHESS
Yes, to help your eyesight.
ANTONIO
You have made me stark blind.
DUCHESS
How?
ANTONIO
There is a saucy and ambitious devil
Is dancing in this circle.
DUCHESS
Remove him.
ANTONIO
How?
DUCHESS
There needs small conjuration when your finger
May do it: thus, is it fit?
ANTONIO
What said you?
He kneels.
DUCHESS
Sir,
This goodly roof of yours is too low built;
I can not stand upright in’t, nor discourse
Without I raise it higher: Raise yourself,
Or if you please, my hand to help you: so.
ANTONIO
Ambition, madam, is a great man’s madness
That is not kept in chains and close-pent rooms
But in fair lightsome lodgings and is girt
With the wild noise of prattling visitants
Which makes it lunatic beyond all cure.
Conceive not I am so stupid but I aim
Whereto your favours tend: but he’s a fool
That, being acold, would thrust his hands in the fire
To warm them.
DUCHESS
So, now the ground’s broke,
You may discover what a wealthy mine
I make you lord of.
ANTONIO
Oh, my unworthiness!
DUCHESS
You were ill to sell yourself:
This dark’ning of your worth is not like that
Which tradesmen use in the city; their false lights
Are to rid bad wares off: and I must tell
you
If you will know where breathes a complete man
(I speak it without flattery), turn your eyes
And progress through yourself.
ANTONIO
Were there nor heaven nor hell,
I should be honest. I have long served virtue
And never taken wages of her.
DUCHESS
Now she pays it.
The misery of us that are born great,
We are forced to woo because none dare woo us:
And as a tyrant doubles with his words
And fearfully equivocates, so we
Are forced to express our violent passions
In riddles and in dreams and leave the path
Of simple virtue which was never made
To seem the thing it is not. Go, brag
You have left me heartless; mine is in your bosom.
I hope twill multiply love there. You do tremble.
Make not your heart so dead a piece of flesh
To fear more than to love me. Sir, be confident.
What is it distracts you? This is flesh and blood, sir;
’Tis not the figure cut in alabaster
Kneels at my husband’s tomb. Awake, awake, man,
I do here put off all vain ceremony
And only do appear to you a young widow
That claims you for her husband, and like a widow,
I use but half a blush in it.
ANTONIO
Truth speak for me,
I will remain the constant sanctuary
Of your good name.
DUCHESS
I thank you, gentle love;
I have seen children oft eat sweetmeats thus
As fearful to devour them too soon.
ANTONIO
But for your brothers?
DUCHESS
Still in his arms.
Do not think of them!
All discord without this circumference
Is only to be pitied and not feared:
Yet, should they know it, time will easily
Scatter the tempest.
ANTONIO
These words should be mine,
And all the parts you have spoke, if some part of it
Would not have savoured of flattery.
DUCHESS
Kneel.
Enter Cariola.
ANTONIO
Hah!
DUCHESS
Be not amazed, this woman’s of my counsel:
I have often heard lawyers say a contract in a chamber,
Per verba de presenti, is absolute marriage.
Bless, heaven, this sacred gordian, which let violence
Never untwine!
ANTONIO
And may our sweet affections, like the spheres,
Be still in motion!
DUCHESS
Quickening and make
The like soft music!
ANTONIO
That we may imitate the loving palms,
Best emblem of a peaceful marriage,
That never bore fruit divided!
DUCHESS
What can the church force more?
ANTONIO
May fortune know no accident
Either of joy or sorrow to divide
Our fixed wishes!
DUCHESS
How can the church build faster?