SCENE IV.--_A Room in_ ANTONIO'S _House.
_Enter_ ANTONIO, _whose_ Wife _the_ Duchess' Youngest Son _ravished, discovering her dead body to_ HIPPOLITO, PIERO, _and_ Lords.
_Ant._ Draw nearer, lords, and be sad witnesses Of a fair comely building newly fallen, Being falsely undermined. Violent rape Has played a glorious act: behold, my lords, A sight that strikes man out of me.
_Piero._ That virtuous lady!
_Ant._ Precedent for wives!
_Hip._ The blush of many women, whose chaste presence Would e'en call shame up to their cheeks, and make Pale wanton sinners have good colours--
_Ant._ Dead! Her honour first drank poison, and her life, Being fellows in one house, did pledge her honour.
_Piero._ O, grief of many!
_Ant._ I marked not this before-- A prayer-book, the pillow to her cheek: This was her rich confection; and another Placed in her right hand, with a leaf tucked up, Pointing to these words;-- _Melius virtute mori, quam per dedecus vivere:_ True and effectual it is indeed.
_Hip._ My lord, since you invite us to your sorrows, Let's truly taste 'em, that with equal comfort, As to ourselves, we may relieve your wrongs: We have grief too, that yet walks without tongue; _Curæ leves loquuntur, majores stupent._
_Ant._ You deal with truth, my lord; Lend me but your attentions, and I'll cut Long grief into short words. Last revelling night, When torch-light made an artificial noon About the court, some courtiers in the masque, Putting on better faces than their own, Being full of fraud and flattery--amongst whom The duchess' youngest son (that moth to honour) Filled up a room, and with long lust to eat Into my warren, amongst all the ladies Singled out that dear form, who ever lived As cold in lust as she is now in death (Which that step-duchess' monster knew too well), And therefore in the height of all the revels, When music was heard loudest, courtiers busiest, And ladies great with laughter--O vicious minute! Unfit but for relation to be spoke of: Then with a face more impudent than his vizard, He harried her amidst a throng of panders, That live upon damnation of both kinds, And fed the ravenous vulture of his lust. O death to think on't! She, her honour forced, Deemed it a nobler dowry for her name To die with poison than to live with shame.
_Hip._ A wondrous lady! of rare fire compact; She has made her name an empress by that act.
_Piero._ My lord, what judgment follows the offender?
_Ant._ Faith, none, my lord; it cools, and is deferred.
_Piero._ Delay the doom for rape!
_Ant._ O, you must note who 'tis should die, The duchess' son! she'll look to be a saver: "Judgment, in this age, is near kin to favour."
_Hip._ Nay, then, step forth, thou bribeless officer: [_Draws his sword._ I'll bind you all in steel, to bind you surely; Here let your oaths meet, to be kept and paid, Which else will stick like rust, and shame the blade; Strengthen my vow that if, at the next sitting, Judgment speak all in gold, and spare the blood Of such a serpent, e'en before their seats To let his soul out, which long since was found Guilty in Heaven--
_All._ We swear it, and will act it.
_Ant._ Kind gentlemen, I thank you in mine ire.
_Hip._ 'Twere pity The ruins of so fair a monument Should not be dipped in the defacer's blood.
_Piero._ Her funeral shall be wealthy; for her name Merits a tomb of pearl. My Lord Antonio, For this time wipe your lady from your eyes; No doubt our grief and yours may one day court it, When we are more familiar with revenge.
_Ant._ That is my comfort, gentlemen, and I joy In this one happiness above the rest, Which will be called a miracle at last; That, being an old man, I'd a wife so chaste. [_Exeunt._
ACT THE SECOND.