SCENE II.[2630

_Enter the_ DUKE PIETRO, FERRARDO, COUNT EQUATO, COUNT CELSO _before, and_ GUERRINO.

_Pietro._ Where breathes that music?

_Bil._ The discord rather than the music is heard from the malcontent Malevole’s chamber.

_Fer._ [_calling._] Malevole!

_Mal._ (_out of his chamber._) Yaugh, god-a-man, (5) what dost thou there? Duke’s Ganymede, Juno’s jealous of thy long stockings. Shadow of a woman, what wouldst, weasel? Thou lamb o’ court, what dost thou bleat for? Ah, you smooth chinn’d catamite![2631] 10

_Pietro._ Come down, thou rugged[2632] cur, and snarl here; I give thy dogged sullenness free liberty; trot about and bespurtle[2633] whom thou pleasest.

_Mal._ I’ll come among you, you goatish-blooded (15) toderers,[2634] as gum into taffeta, to fret, to fret. I’ll fall like a sponge into water, to suck up, to suck up. Howl again;[2635] I’ll go to church and come to you. [_Exit above._]

_Pietro._ This Malevole is one of the most (20) prodigious affections that ever converst with nature: a man, or rather a monster, more discontent than Lucifer when he was thrust out of the presence. His appetite is insatiable as the grave; as far from any content as from 25 heaven. His highest delight is to procure others vexation, and therein he thinks he truly serves heaven; for ’t is his position, whosoever in this earth can be contented is a slave and damned; therefore does he afflict all in (30) that to which they are most affected.[2636] The elements struggle within him; his own soul is at variance [within herself]:[2637] his speech is halter-worthy at all hours. I like him, faith: he gives good intelligence to my spirit, makes (35) me understand those weaknesses which others’ flattery palliates. Hark! they sing.