The Duke’s bedchamber
[The Duke and Duchess are discovered in bed. Lussurioso and Vindici] enter again [with Hippolito following].
LUSSURIOSO
Where is that villain?
VINDICI
Softly, my lord, and you may take ‘em twisted.
LUSSURIOSO
I care not how!
VINDICI
Oh, ‘twill be glorious
To kill ‘em doubled, when they’re heap’d! Be soft, my lord.
LUSSURIOSO
Away! My [spleen] is not so lazy; thus and thus
I’ll shake their eyelids ope, and with my sword
Shut ‘em again forever.
[He draws his sword and approaches the bed.]
Villain, strumpet!
DUKE
You upper guard defend us!
DUCHESS
Treason, treason!
DUKE
Oh, take me not in sleep; I have great sins: I must have days,
Nay, months, dear son, with penitential heaves
To lift ‘em out and not to die unclear!
Oh, thou wilt kill me both in heaven and here!
LUSSURIOSO
I am amaz’d to death.
DUKE
Nay, villain traitor,
Worse than the foulest epithet, now I’ll gripe thee
E’en with the nerves of wrath, and throw thy head
Amongst the lawyer’s! Guard!
Enter Nobles and sons [Ambitioso and Supervacuo, with guards].
FIRST NOBLE
How comes the quiet of your grace disturb’d?
DUKE
This boy that should be myself after me
Would be myself before me, and in heat
Of that ambition bloodily rush’d in
Intending to depose me in my bed.
SECOND NOBLE
Duty and natural loyalty forfend!
DUCHESS
He call’d his father villain and me strumpet,
A word that I abhor to ‘file my lips with.
AMBITIOSO
That was not so well done, brother.
LUSSURIOSO
I am abus’d.
I know there’s no excuse can do me good.
VINDICI
[Aside to Hippolito] ’Tis now good policy to be from sight;
His vicious purpose to our sister’s honour
Is cross’d beyond our thought.
HIPPOLITO
[Aside to Vindici] You little dreamt his father slept here.
VINDICI
[Aside to Hippolito] Oh, ’twas far beyond me.
But since it fell so — Without frightful word,
Would he had kill’d him, ’twould have eas’d our swords.
DUKE
Be comforted, our duchess: he shall die.
[The Duchess exits as the guards seize Lussurioso. Vindici and Hippolito] dissemble a flight.
LUSSURIOSO
Where’s this slave-pander now? Out of mine eye,
Guilty of this abuse.
Enter Spurio with his villains [to one side].
SPURIO
Y’are villains, fablers;
You have knaves’ chins and harlots’ tongues: you lie,
And I will damn you with one meal a day.
FIRST SERVANT
Oh, good my lord!
SPURIO
‘Sblood, you shall never sup.
SECOND SERVANT
Oh, I beseech you, sir!
SPURIO
To let my sword catch cold so long and miss him!
FIRST SERVANT
Troth, my lord, ’twas his intent to meet there.
SPURIO
Heart, he’s yonder!
Ha! What news here? Is the day out a’ th’ socket
That it is noon at midnight? The court up?
How comes the guard so saucy with his elbows?
LUSSURIOSO
The bastard here?
Nay, then the truth of my intent shall out.
My lord and father, hear me.
DUKE
Bear him hence.
LUSSURIOSO
I can with loyalty excuse.
DUKE
Excuse? To prison with the villain;
Death shall not long lag after him.
SPURIO
[Aside] Good, i’faith, then ’tis not much amiss.
LUSSURIOSO
[To Ambitioso and Supervacuo aside] Brothers, my best release lies on your tongues;
I pray persuade for me.
AMBITIOSO
It is our duties: make yourself sure of us.
SUPERVACUO
We’ll sweat in pleading.
LUSSURIOSO
And I may live to thank you.
Exeunt [Lussurioso and guards].
AMBITIOSO
[Aside] No, thy death shall thank me better.
SPURIO
He’s gone: I’ll after him
And know his trespass, seem to bear a part
In all his ills, but with a puritan heart.
Exit [with Servants].
AMBITIOSO
[Aside to Supervacuo] Now, brother, let our hate and love be woven
So subtly together, that in speaking one word for his life,
We may make three for his death:
The craftiest pleader gets most gold for breath.
SUPERVACUO
[Aside to Ambitioso] Set on; I’ll not be far behind you, brother.
DUKE
Is’t possible a son
Should be disobedient as far as the sword?
It is the highest; he can go no farther.
AMBITIOSO
My gracious lord, take pity —
DUKE
Pity, boys?
AMBITIOSO
Nay, we’d be loath to move your grace too much;
We know the trespass is unpardonable,
Black, wicked, and unnatural.
SUPERVACUO
In a son, oh, monstrous!
AMBITIOSO
Yet, my lord,
A duke’s soft hand strokes the rough head of law
And makes it lie smooth.
DUKE
But my hand shall ne’er do’t.
AMBITIOSO
That as you please, my lord.
SUPERVACUO
We must needs confess
Some father would have enter’d into hate,
So deadly pointed, that before his eyes
He would ha’ seen the execution sound
Without corrupted favour.
AMBITIOSO
But, my lord,
Your grace may live the wonder of all times
In pard’ning that offence which never yet
Had face to beg a pardon.
DUKE
Honey? How’s this?
AMBITIOSO
Forgive him, good my lord: he’s your own son,
And I must needs say ’twas the vildlier done.
SUPERVACUO
He’s the next heir, yet this true reason gathers:
None can possess that dispossess their fathers.
Be merciful —
DUKE
[Aside] Here’s no stepmother’s wit:
I’ll try ‘em both upon their love and hate.
AMBITIOSO
Be merciful, although —
DUKE
You have prevail’d:
My wrath like flaming wax hath spent itself.
I know ’twas but some peevish moon in him:
Go, let him be releas’d.
SUPERVACUO
[Aside to Ambitioso] ‘Sfoot, how now, brother?
AMBITIOSO
Your grace doth please to speak beside your spleen;
I would it were so happy.
DUKE
Why, go, release him.
SUPERVACUO
Oh, my good lord, I know the fault’s too weighty
And full of general loathing, too inhuman,
Rather by all men’s voices worthy death.
DUKE
’Tis true too.
Here then, receive this signet; doom shall pass:
Direct it to the judges; he shall die
Ere many days. Make haste.
AMBITIOSO
All speed that may be.
We could have wish’d his burthen not so sore;
We knew your grace did but delay before.
Exeunt [Ambitioso and Supervacuo].
DUKE
Here’s envy with a poor, thin cover o’er ‘t,
Like scarlet hid in lawn, easily spied through.
This their ambition by the mother’s side
Is dangerous, and for safety must be purg’d;
I will prevent their envies. Sure it was
But some mistaken fury in our son,
Which these aspiring boys would climb upon:
He shall be releas’d suddenly.
Enter Nobles. [They kneel.]
FIRST NOBLE
Good morning to your grace.
DUKE
Welcome, my lords.
SECOND NOBLE
Our knees shall take away the office of our feet forever,
Unless your grace bestow a father’s eye
Upon the clouded fortunes of your son,
And in compassionate virtue grant him that
Which makes e’en mean men happy: liberty.
DUKE
[Aside] How seriously their loves and honours woo
For that which I am about to pray them do! —
Rise, my lords, your knees sign his release:
We freely pardon him.
FIRST NOBLE
We owe your grace much thanks, and he much duty.
Exeunt [Nobles].
DUKE
It well becomes that judge to nod at crimes
That does commit greater himself and lives.
I may forgive a disobedient error
That expect pardon for adultery,
And in my old days am a youth in lust:
Many a beauty have I turn’d to poison
In the denial, covetous of all.
Age hot is like a monster to be seen:
My hairs are white, and yet my sins are green.
[Exit.]