divine a continence As
cuts off all lascivious and vain hope. Her days are practis'd 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
flatt'ring glasses, And dress themselves in her.
DELIO. Fie, Antonio, You play the wire-drawer with her
commendations.
ANTONIO. I 'll case the picture up: only thus much; All her particular
worth grows to this sum,-- She stains<11> the time past, lights the time
to come.
CARIOLA. You must attend my lady in the gallery, Some half and
hour hence.
ANTONIO. I shall. [Exeunt ANTONIO and DELIO.]
FERDINAND. Sister, I have a suit to you.
DUCHESS. To me, sir?
FERDINAND. A gentleman here, Daniel de Bosola, One that was in
the galleys----
DUCHESS. Yes, I know him.
FERDINAND. A worthy fellow he is: pray, let me entreat for The
provisorship of your horse.
DUCHESS. Your knowledge of him Commends him and prefers him.
FERDINAND. Call him hither. [Exit Attendant.] We [are] now
upon<12> parting. Good Lord Silvio, Do us commend to all our noble
friends At the leaguer.
SILVIO. Sir, I shall.
[DUCHESS.] You are for Milan?
SILVIO. I am.
DUCHESS. Bring the caroches.<13>--We 'll bring you down To the
haven. [Exeunt DUCHESS, SILVIO, CASTRUCCIO, RODERIGO,
GRISOLAN, CARIOLA, JULIA, and Attendants.]
CARDINAL. Be sure you entertain that Bosola For your
intelligence.<14> I would not be seen in 't; And therefore many times I
have slighted him When he did court our furtherance, as this morning.
FERDINAND. Antonio, the great-master of her household, Had been
far fitter.
CARDINAL. You are deceiv'd in him. His nature is too honest for such
business.-- He comes: I 'll leave you. [Exit.]
[Re-enter BOSOLA]
BOSOLA. I was lur'd to you.
FERDINAND. My brother, here, the cardinal, could never Abide you.
BOSOLA. Never since he was in my debt.
FERDINAND. May be some oblique character in your face Made him
suspect you.
BOSOLA. Doth he study physiognomy? There 's no more credit to be
given to the face Than to a sick man's urine, which some call The
physician's whore, because she cozens<15> him. He did suspect me
wrongfully.
FERDINAND. For that You must give great men leave to take their
times. Distrust doth cause us seldom be deceiv'd. You see the oft
shaking of the cedar-tree Fastens it more at root.
BOSOLA. Yet take heed; For to suspect a friend unworthily Instructs
him the next way to suspect you, And prompts him to deceive you.
FERDINAND. There 's gold.
BOSOLA. So: What follows? [Aside.] Never rain'd such showers as
these Without thunderbolts i' the tail of them.--Whose throat must I
cut?
FERDINAND. Your inclination to shed blood rides post Before my
occasion to use you. I give you that To live i' the court here, and
observe the duchess; To note all the particulars of her haviour, 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 you ask the reason; but be satisfied. I say I
would not.
BOSOLA. It seems you would create me One of your familiars.
FERDINAND. Familiar! What 's that?
BOSOLA. Why, a very quaint invisible devil in flesh,-- An
intelligencer.<16>
FERDINAND. Such a kind of thriving thing I would wish thee; and ere
long thou mayst arrive At a higher place by 't.
BOSOLA. Take your devils, Which hell calls angels! These curs'd gifts
would make You a corrupter, me an impudent traitor; And should I
take these, they'd take me [to] hell.
FERDINAND. Sir, I 'll take nothing from you that I have given. There
is a place that I procur'd for you This morning, the provisorship o' the
horse; Have you heard on 't?
BOSOLA. No.
FERDINAND. 'Tis yours: is 't not worth thanks?
BOSOLA. I would have you curse yourself now, that your bounty
(Which makes men truly noble) e'er should make me A villain. O, that
to avoid ingratitude For the good deed you have done me, I must do All
the ill man can invent! Thus the devil Candies all sins o'er; and what
heaven terms vile, That names he complimental.
FERDINAND. Be yourself; Keep your old garb of melancholy; 'twill
express You envy those that stand above your reach, Yet strive not to
come near 'em. This will gain Access to private lodgings, where
yourself May, like a politic dormouse----
BOSOLA. As I have seen some Feed in a lord's dish, half asleep, not
seeming To listen to any talk; and yet these rogues Have cut his throat
in a dream. What 's my place? The provisorship o' the horse? Say, then,
my corruption Grew out of horse-dung: I am your creature.
FERDINAND. Away! [Exit.]
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