The Duchess of Malfi | Page 8

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' the world After
man's creation, the sacrament of marriage; I 'd have you first provide
for a good husband; Give him all.
DUCHESS. All!
ANTONIO. Yes, your excellent self.
DUCHESS. In a winding-sheet?
ANTONIO. In a couple.
DUCHESS. Saint Winifred, that were a strange will!
ANTONIO. 'Twere stranger<23> if there were no will in you To marry
again.
DUCHESS. What do you think of marriage?
ANTONIO. I take 't, as those that deny purgatory, It locally contains or

heaven or hell; There 's no third place in 't.
DUCHESS. How do you affect it?
ANTONIO. My banishment, feeding 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 blood-shot;
use my ring to 't. They say 'tis very sovereign. '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 eye-sight.
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? [She puts the ring upon his finger]: he kneels.
ANTONIO. What said you?
DUCHESS. Sir, This goodly roof of yours is too low built; I cannot
stand upright in 't nor discourse, Without I raise it higher. Raise
yourself; Or, if you please, my hand to help you: so. [Raises him.]
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<24>
Whereto your favours tend: but he 's a fool That, being a-cold, would
thrust his hands i' the fire To warm them.
DUCHESS. So, now the ground 's broke, You may discover what a
wealthy mine I make your lord of.
ANTONIO. O my unworthiness!
DUCHESS. You were ill to sell yourself: This dark'ning of your worth
is not like that Which tradesmen use i' 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 serv'd virtue, And ne'er ta'en wages of her.
DUCHESS. Now she pays it. The misery of us that are born great! We
are forc'd to woo, because none dare woo us; And as a tyrant doubles
with his words, And fearfully equivocates, so we Are forc'd 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,
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
't 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 't.
ANTONIO. Truth speak for me; I will remain the constant sanctuary
Of your good name.
DUCHESS. I thank you, gentle love: And 'cause you shall not come to
me in debt, Being now my steward, here upon your lips I sign your
Quietus est.<25> This you should have begg'd now. I have seen
children oft eat sweetmeats thus, As fearful to devour them too soon.
ANTONIO. But for your brothers?
DUCHESS. Do not think of them: All discord without this
circumference Is only to be pitied, and not fear'd: 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 savour'd flattery.
DUCHESS. Kneel. [Cariola comes from behind the arras.]
ANTONIO. Ha!
DUCHESS. Be