Act 1 — Scene II.[2630]
Reading edition
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-blooded15 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 most20 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 from25 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 in30 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, makes35 me understand those weaknesses which others’ flattery palliates. Hark! they sing.