The palace
Enter the Duchess arm in arm with the bastard [Spurio]; he seemeth lasciviously to her. After them, enter Supervacuo, running with a rapier, his brother [Ambitioso] stops him.
SPURIO
Madam, unlock yourself; should it be seen,
Your arm would be suspected.
DUCHESS
Who is’t that dares suspect, or this or these?
May not we deal our favours where we please?
SPURIO
I’m confident you may.
Exeunt [Duchess and Spurio].
AMBITIOSO
‘Sfoot, brother, hold!
SUPERVACUO
Woult let the bastard shame us?
AMBITIOSO
Hold, hold, brother;
There’s fitter time than now.
SUPERVACUO
Now, when I see it!
AMBITIOSO
’Tis too much seen already.
SUPERVACUO
Seen and known,
The nobler she’s, the baser is she grown.
AMBITIOSO
If she were bent lasciviously, the fault
Of mighty women that sleep soft. Oh, death,
Must she needs choose such an unequal sinner
To make all worse?
SUPERVACUO
A bastard, the duke’s bastard!
Shame heap’d on shame!
AMBITIOSO
Oh, our disgrace!
Most women have small [waist] the world throughout,
But [their] desires are thousand miles about.
SUPERVACUO
Come, stay not here, let’s after and prevent,
Or else they’ll sin faster than we’ll repent.