The palace
Enter Ambitioso and Supervacuo.
SUPERVACUO
Brother, let my opinion sway you once,
I speak it for the best, to have him die
Surest and soonest; if the signet come
Unto the judges’ hands, why, then his doom
Will be deferr’d till sittings and court-days,
Juries and further. Faiths are bought and sold;
Oaths in these days are but the skin of gold.
AMBITIOSO
In troth, ’tis true too!
SUPERVACUO
Then let’s set by the judges
And fall to the officers; ’tis but mistaking
The duke our father’s meaning, and where he nam’d
“Ere many days,” ’tis but forgetting that
And have him die i’ th’ morning.
AMBITIOSO
Excellent;
Then am I heir, duke in a minute.
SUPERVACUO
[Aside] Nay,
And he were once puff’d out, here is a pin
Should quickly prick your bladder.
AMBITIOSO
[Bless’d] occasion!
He being pack’d, we’ll have some trick and wile
To wind our younger brother out of prison
That lies in for the rape; the lady’s dead,
And people’s thoughts will soon be buried.
SUPERVACUO
We may with safety do’t, and live and feed;
The duchess’ sons are too proud to bleed.
AMBITIOSO
We are, i’faith, to say true. Come, let’s not linger.
I’ll to the officers; go you before
And set an edge upon the executioner.
SUPERVACUO
Let me alone to grind him.
AMBITIOSO
Meet; farewell.
Exit [Supervacuo].
I am next now; I rise just in that place
Where thou’rt cut off: upon thy neck, kind brother.
The falling of one head lifts up another.
Exit.