 | The Tragedy of The Dutchesse of Malfy |  |
Scena Prima.
Antonio, and Delio, Bosola, Cardinall.Delio.
Yov are wel-come to your Country (deere Antonio)
You haue bin long in France, and you returne
A very formall French-man, in your habit.
How doe you like the French Court?
Ant.
I admire it,
In seeking to reduce both State, and People
To a fix'd Order, there iuditious King
Begins at home: Quits first his Royall Pallace
Of flattring Sicophants of dissolute,
And infamous persons which he sweetely termes
His Masters Master-peece (the worke of Heauen)
Considring duely, that a Princes Court
Is like a common Fountaine, whence should flow,
Pure siluer-droppes ingenerall: But if 't chance
Some curs'd example poyson't neere the head,
“Death, and diseases through the whole land spread.
And what is't makes this blessed gouernment,
But a most prouident Councell, who dare freely
Informe him, the corruption of the times?
To instruct Princes what they ought to doe,
It is a noble duety to informe them
What they ought to fore-see: Here comes Bosola
The onely Court-Gall: yet I obserue his rayling
Is not for simple loue of Piety:
Indeede he rayles at those things which he wants,
Would be as leacherous, couetous, or proud,
Bloody, or enuious, as any man,
If he had meanes to be so: Here's the Cardinall.
Bos.
I doe haunt you still.
Car.
So.
Bos.
I haue done you
Better seruice then to be slighted thus:
Miserable age, where onely the reward
Of doing well, is the doing of it.
Car.
You inforce your merrit to-much.
Bos.
I fell into the Gallies in your seruice,
Where, for two yeares together, I wore two Towells in stead of
A shirt, with a knot on the shoulder, after the fashion of a
Romaine Mantle: Slighted thus? I will thriue some way:
Black-birds fatten best in hard weather: why not I,
In these dogge dayes?
Car.
Would you could become honest,
Bos.
With all your diuinity, do but direct me the way to it, I
Haue knowne many trauell farre for it, and yet returne as
Arrant knaues, as they went forth; because they carried
Themselues alwayes a long with them; Are you gon?
Some fellowes (they say) are possessed with the diuell,
But this great fellow, were able to possesse the greatest
Diuell, and make him worse.
Ant.
He hath denied thee some suit?
Bos.
He, and his brother, are like Plum-trees (that grow crooked
Ouer standing-pooles) they are rich, and ore-laden with
Fruite, but none but Crowes, Pyes, and Catter-pillers feede
On them: Could I be one of their flattring Panders, I
Would hang on their eares like a horse-leach, till I were full, an
Who wold relie vpon these miserable dependances, in expectation to
Be aduanc'd to morrow? what creature, euer fed worse, then hoping
Tantalus? nor euer did any man more fearefully, then he that hop'd
For a pleadon: There are rewards for hawkes, and dogges, and
When they haue done vs seruice; but for a Souldier, that hazards his
Limbes in a battaile, nothing but a kind of Geometry, is his last
Supportation.
Del.
Geometry?
Bos.
I, to hang in a faire paire of slings, take his latter-swinge in the
World, vpon an honorable pare of Crowtches, from hospitall
To hospitall, fare ye well Sir. And yet do not you scorne vs, for
Places in the Court, are but likes beds in the hospitall, where this
Mans head lies at that mans foote, and so lower, and lower.
Del.
I knew this fellow (seauen yeares) in the Gallies,
For a notorious murther, and 'twas thought
The Cardinall suborn'd it: he was releas'd
By the French Generall (Gaston de Foux)
When he recouer'd Naples.
Ant.
'Tis great pitty
He should be thus neglected, I haue heard
He's very valiant: This foule mellancholly
Will poyson all his goodnesse, for (i'le tell you)
If too immoderate sleepe, be truly sayd
To be an inward rust vnto the soule;
It then doth follow want of action
Breeds all blacke male-contents, and their close rearing
(Like mothes in cloath) doe hurt for want of wearing.
| The Tragedy of The Dutchesse of Malfy | |