SCENE III.[3696

[_Enter_ BOSOLA, _with a dark lantern_.]

_Bos._ Sure I did hear a woman shriek: list, ha! And the sound came, if I receiv’d it right, From the duchess’ lodgings. There’s some stratagem In the confining all our courtiers To their several wards: I must have part of it; My intelligence will freeze else. List, again! 5 It may be ’t was the melancholy bird, Best friend of silence and of solitariness, The owl, that scream’d so.—Ha! Antonio!

[_Enter_ ANTONIO _with a candle, his sword drawn._]

_Ant._ I heard some noise.—Who’s there? What art thou? Speak. 10

_Bos._ Antonio, put not your face nor body To such a forc’d expression of fear; I am Bosola, your friend.

_Ant._ Bosola!— [_Aside._] This mole does undermine me.—Heard you not A noise even now?

_Bos._ From whence?

_Ant._ From the duchess’ lodging. 15

_Bos._ Not I: did you?

_Ant._ I did, or else I dream’d.

_Bos._ Let ’s walk towards it.

_Ant._ No: it may be ’t was But the rising of the wind.

_Bos._ Very likely. Me thinks ’t is very cold, and yet you sweat: You look wildly.

_Ant._ I have been setting a figure[3697] 20 For the duchess’ jewels.

_Bos._ Ah, and how falls your question? Do you find it radical?[3698]

_Ant._ What’s that to you? ’T is rather to be question’d what design, When all men were commanded to their lodgings, Makes you a night-walker.

_Bos._ In sooth, I ’ll tell you: 25 Now all the court’s asleep, I thought the devil Had least to do here; I came to say my prayers; And if it do offend you I do so, You are a fine courtier.

_Ant._ [_Aside._] This fellow will undo me,— You gave the duchess apricocks to-day: 30 Pray heaven they were not poison’d!

_Bos._ Poison’d! a Spanish fig For the imputation!

_Ant._ Traitors are ever confident Till they are discover’d. There were jewels stol’n too: In my conceit, none are to be suspected 35 More than yourself.

_Bos._ You are a false steward.

_Ant._ Saucy slave, I ’ll pull thee up by the roots.

_Bos._ May be the ruin will crush you to pieces.

_Ant._ You are an impudent snake indeed, sir: Are you scarce warm, and do you show your sting? 40 You libel[3699] well, sir?

_Bos._ No, sir: copy it out, And I will set my hand to ’t.

_Ant._ [_Aside._] My nose bleeds. One that were superstitious would count This ominous, when it merely comes by chance. Two letters, that are wrought here for my name,[3700] 45 Are drown’d in blood! Mere accident.—For you, sir, I ’ll take order I’ th’ morn you shall be safe.—[_Aside._] ’Tis that must colour Her lying-in.—Sir, this door you pass not: I do not hold it fit that you come near 50 The duchess’ lodgings, till you have quit yourself.— [_Aside._] The great are like the base, nay, they are the same, When they seek shameful ways to avoid shame. _Exit._

_Bos._ Antonio hereabout did drop a paper:— Some of your help, false friend.[3701]—O, here it is. What’s here? a child’s nativity calculated! [_Reads._] 56 _‛The duchess was deliver’d of a son, ’tween the hours twelve and one in the night, Anno Dom. 1504._’—that’s this year—’_decimo nono Decembris_,’—that’s this night—’_taken according (60) to the meridian of Malfi_,’—that’s our duchess: happy discovery!—’_The lord of the first house being combust in the ascendant signifies short life; and Mars being in a human sign, joined to the tail of the Dragon, in the eighth (65) house, doth threaten a violent death. Caetera non scrutantur._’[3702] Why, now ’t is most apparent; this precise fellow Is the duchess’ bawd:—I have it to my wish! This is a parcel of intelligency[3703] 70 Our courtiers were cas’d up for: it needs must follow That I must be committed on pretence Of poisoning her; which I ’ll endure, and laugh at. If one could find the father now! but that Time will discover. Old Castruccio 75 I’ th’ morning posts to Rome: by him I ’ll send A letter that shall make her brothers’ galls O’erflow their livers. This was a thrifty[3704] way! Though Lust do mask in ne’er so strange disguise, She ’s oft found witty, but is never wise. [_Exit_] 80