Now let me come to him.—Are you mad, my lord?
Are you out of your princely wits?
What’s he?
Your doctor.
Doctor, he did not fear you thoroughly.
True; I was somewhat too forward.
Mercy upon me, what a fatal judgment
Hath fall’n upon this Ferdinand!
Knows your grace
What accident hath brought unto the prince
This strange distraction?
Aside. I must feign somewhat.—Thus they say it grew.
You have heard it rumour’d, for these many years
None of our family dies but there is seen
The shape of an old woman, which is given
By tradition to us to have been murder’d
By her nephews for her riches. Such a figure
One night, as the prince sat up late at’s book,
Appear’d to him; when crying out for help,
The gentleman of’s chamber found his grace
All on a cold sweat, alter’d much in face
And language: since which apparition,
He hath grown worse and worse, and I much fear
He cannot live.
Sir, I would speak with you.
We’ll leave your grace,
Wishing to the sick prince, our noble lord,
All health of mind and body.
You are most welcome.
Are you come? so.—Aside. This fellow must not know
By any means I had intelligence
In our duchess’ death; for, though I counsell’d it,
The full of all th’ engagement seem’d to grow
From Ferdinand.—Now, sir, how fares our sister?
I do not think but sorrow makes her look
Like to an oft-dy’d garment: she shall now
Take comfort from me. Why do you look so wildly?
O, the fortune of your master here the prince
Dejects you; but be you of happy comfort:
If you’ll do one thing for me I’ll entreat,
Though he had a cold tombstone o’er his bones,
I’d make you what you would be.
Anything;
Give it me in a breath, and let me fly to’t.
They that think long small expedition win,
For musing much o’ th’ end cannot begin.
Sir, will you come into supper?
I am busy; leave me.
Aside. What an excellent shape hath that fellow!
’Tis thus. Antonio lurks here in Milan:
Inquire him out, and kill him. While he lives,
Our sister cannot marry; and I have thought
Of an excellent match for her. Do this, and style me
Thy advancement.
But by what means shall I find him out?
There is a gentleman call’d Delio
Here in the camp, that hath been long approv’d
His loyal friend. Set eye upon that fellow;
Follow him to mass; may be Antonio,
Although he do account religion
But a school-name, for fashion of the world
May accompany him; or else go inquire out
Delio’s confessor, and see if you can bribe
Him to reveal it. There are a thousand ways
A man might find to trace him; as to know
What fellows haunt the Jews for taking up
Great sums of money, for sure he’s in want;
Or else to go to the picture-makers, and learn
Who bought115 her picture lately: some of these
Happily may take.
Well, I’ll not freeze i’ th’ business:
I would see that wretched thing, Antonio,
Above all sights i’ th’ world.
Do, and be happy.
This fellow doth breed basilisks in’s eyes,
He’s nothing else but murder; yet he seems
Not to have notice of the duchess’ death.
’Tis his cunning: I must follow his example;
There cannot be a surer way to trace
Than that of an old fox.
So, sir, you are well met.
How Now!
Nay, the doors are fast enough:
Now, sir, I will make you confess your treachery.
Treachery!
Yes, confess to me
Which of my women ’twas you hir’d to put
Love-powder into my drink?
Love-powder!
Yes, when I was at Malfi.
Why should I fall in love with such a face else?
I have already suffer’d for thee so much pain,
The only remedy to do me good
Is to kill my longing.
Sure, your pistol holds
Nothing but perfumes or kissing-comfits.116
Excellent lady!
You have
