The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster (books to read for teens .txt) 📕

wretch hath slain his father.
Come, I’ll bear thee hence,
And execute thy last will; that’s deliver
Thy body to the reverend dispose
Of some good women: that the cruel tyrant
Shall not deny me. Then I’ll post to Milan,
Where somewhat I will speedily enact
Worth my dejection. Exit with the body. Act V Scene I

Milan. A public place.

Enter Antonio and Delio. Antonio

What think you of my hope of reconcilement
To the Arragonian brethren?

Delio

I misdoubt it;
For though they have sent their letters of safe-conduct
For your repair to Milan, they appear
But nets to entrap you. The Marquis of Pescara,
Under whom you hold certain land in cheat,107
Much ’gainst his noble nature hath been mov’d
To seize those lands; and some of his dependants
Are at this instant making it their suit
To be invested in your revenues.
I cannot think they mean well to your life
That do deprive you of your means of life,
Your living.

Antonio

You are still an heretic108
To any safety I can shape myself.

Delio

Here comes the marquis: I will make myself
Petitioner for some part of your land,
To know whither it is flying.

Antonio

I pray, do.

Withdraws. Enter Pescara. Delio

Sir, I have a suit to you.

Pescara

To me?

Delio

An easy one:
There is the Citadel of Saint Bennet,
With some demesnes, of late in the possession
Of Antonio Bologna⁠—please you bestow them on me.

Pescara

You are my friend; but this is such a suit,
Nor fit for me to give, nor you to take.

Delio

No, sir?

Pescara

I will give you ample reason for’t
Soon in private:⁠—here’s the cardinal’s mistress.

Enter Julia. Julia

My lord, I am grown your poor petitioner,
And should be an ill beggar, had I not
A great man’s letter here, the cardinal’s,
To court you in my favour.Gives a letter.

Pescara

He entreats for you
The Citadel of Saint Bennet, that belong’d
To the banish’d Bologna.

Julia

Yes.

Pescara

I could not have thought of a friend I could rather
Pleasure with it: ’tis yours.

Julia

Sir, I thank you;
And he shall know how doubly I am engag’d
Both in your gift, and speediness of giving
Which makes your grant the greater.

Exit. Antonio

How they fortify
Themselves with my ruin!

Delio

Sir, I am
Little bound to you.

Pescara

Why?

Delio

Because you deni’d this suit to me, and gave’t
To such a creature.

Pescara

Do you know what it was?
It was Antonio’s land; not forfeited
By course of law, but ravish’d from his throat
By the cardinal’s entreaty. It were not fit
I should bestow so main a piece of wrong
Upon my friend; ’tis a gratification
Only due to a strumpet, for it is injustice.
Shall I sprinkle the pure blood of innocents
To make those followers I call my friends
Look ruddier upon me? I am glad
This land, ta’en from the owner by such wrong,
Returns again unto so foul an use
As salary for his lust. Learn, good Delio,
To ask noble things of me, and you shall find
I’ll be a noble giver.

Delio

You instruct me well.

Antonio

Why, here’s a man now would fright impudence
From sauciest beggars.

Pescara

Prince Ferdinand’s come to Milan,
Sick, as they give out, of an apoplexy;
But some say ’tis a frenzy: I am going
To visit him.

Exit. Antonio

’Tis a noble old fellow.

Delio

What course do you mean to take, Antonio?

Antonio

This night I mean to venture all my fortune,
Which is no more than a poor ling’ring life,
To the cardinal’s worst of malice. I have got
Private access to his chamber; and intend
To visit him about the mid of night,
As once his brother did our noble duchess.
It may be that the sudden apprehension
Of danger⁠—for I’ll go in mine own shape⁠—
When he shall see it fraight109 with love and duty,
May draw the poison out of him, and work
A friendly reconcilement. If it fail,
Yet it shall rid me of this infamous calling;
For better fall once than be ever falling.

Delio

I’ll second you in all danger; and howe’er,
My life keeps rank with yours.

Antonio

You are still my lov’d and best friend.

Exeunt. 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