Act 1 — Scene VI.[2670]
Reading edition
Scene VI.[2670]
Enter Ferneze ushering Aurelia, Emilia and Maquerelle bearing up her train, Bianca attending; then exeunt Emilia and Bianca.
Aurel. And is ’t possible? Mendoza slight me! Possible?
Fer. Possible! What can be strange in him that’s drunk with favour, Grows insolent with grace?—Speak, Maquerelle, speak.5
Maq. To speak feelingly, more, more richly in solid sense than worthless words, give me those jewels of your ears to receive my enforced duty. As for my part, ’t is well known I can put up anything (Ferneze privately feeds Maquerelle’s 10 hands with jewels during this speech); can bear patiently with any man: but when I heard he wronged your precious sweetness, I was enforced to take deep offence. ’T is most certain he loves Emilia with high appetite: 15 and, as she told me (as you know we women impart our secrets one to another), when she repulsed his suit, in that he was possessed with your endeared grace, Mendoza most ingratefully renounced all faith to you. 20
Fer. Nay, call’d you—Speak, Maquerelle, speak.
Maq. By heaven, witch, dri’d biscuit; and contested blushlessly he lov’d you but for a spurt or so.
Fer. For maintenance. 25
Maq. Advancement and regard.
Aurel. O villain! O impudent Mendoza!
Maq. Nay, he is the rustiest-jaw’d, the foulest mouth’d knave in railing against our sex: he will rail again’ women— 30
Aurel. How? how?
Maq. I am asham’d to speak ’t, I.
Aurel. I love to hate him: speak.
Maq. Why, when Emilia scorn’d his base unsteadiness, the black-throated rascal scolded, and said— 35
Aurel. What?
Maq. Troth, ’t is too shameless.
Aurel. What said he?
Maq. Why, that, at four, women were 40 fools; at fourteen, drabs; at forty, bawds; at fourscore, witches; and [at] a hundred, cats.
Aurel. O unlimitable impudency!
Fer. But as for poor Ferneze’s fixed heart, Was never shadeless meadow drier parcht45 Under the scorching heat of heaven’s dog, Than is my heart with your enforcing eyes.
Maq. A hot simile.
Fer. Your smiles have been my heaven, your frowns my hell: O, pity, then! grace should with beauty dwell.50 Maq. Reasonable perfect, by ’r lady. Aurel. I will love thee, be it but in despite Of that Mendoza:—witch! Ferneze,—witch!— Ferneze, thou art the duchess’ favourite: Be faithful, private: but ’t is dangerous.55 Fer. His love is lifeless that for love fears breath: The worst that’s due to sin, O, would ’t were death!
Aurel. Enjoy my favour. I will be sick instantly and take physic: therefore in depth of night visit— 60
Maq. Visit her chamber, but conditionally you shall not offend her bed: by this diamond!
Fer. By this diamond.
Gives it to Maq.
Maq. Nor tarry longer than you please: by this ruby! 65
Fer. By this ruby. Gives again.
Maq. And that the door shall not creak.
Fer. And that the door shall not creak.
Maq. Nay, but swear.
Fer. By this purse. Giving her his purse.
Maq. Go to, I’ll keep your oaths for you: 71 remember, visit.
Enter Mendoza, reading a sonnet.
Aurel. Dried biscuit!—Look where the base wretch comes. 74
Men. “Beauty’s life, heaven’s model, love’s queen,”—
Maq. That ’s his Emilia.
Men. “Nature’s triumph, best of earth,”—
Maq. Meaning Emilia. 79
Men. “Thou only wonder that the world hath seen.”—
Maq. That ’s Emilia.
Aurel. Must I, then, hear her prais’d?—Mendoza!
Men. Madam, your excellency is graciously 85 encount’red: I have been writing passionate flashes in honour of—
Exit Ferneze.
Aurel. Out, villain, villain! O judgment, where have been my eyes? what Bewitch’d election made me dote on thee?90 What sorcery made me love thee? But, be gone; Bury thy head. O, that I could do more Than loath thee! hence, worst of ill! No reason else,[2671] our reason is our will. Exit with Maquerelle.
Men. Women! nay, Furies; nay, worse; 95 for they torment only the bad, but women good and bad. Damnation of mankind! Breath, hast thou prais’d them for this? and is ’t you, Ferneze, are wriggled into smock-grace? Sit sure. O, that I could rail against these monsters 100 in nature, models of hell, curse of the earth, women! that dare attempt anything, and what they attempt they care not how they accomplish; without all premeditation or prevention; rash in asking, desperate in working, impatient 105 in suffering, extreme in desiring, slaves unto appetite, mistresses in dissembling, only constant in unconstancy, only perfect in counterfeiting; their words are feigned, their eyes forg’d, their sighs dissembled, their looks 110 counterfeit, their hair false, their given hopes deceitful, their very breath artificial; their blood is their only god; bad clothes and old age are only the devils they tremble at. That I could rail now! 115