Act 2 — Scene III.[3696]

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!

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 suspected35 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 near50 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!56 [Reads.] ‛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 according60 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 eighth65 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 Castruccio75 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. 80 [Exit.]