Act 5 — [Scene III.][4011]

Jas. Your confidence, I ’m sure, is now of proof; The prospect from the garden has show’d Enough for deep suspicion. Als. The black mask That so continually was worn upon ’t Condemns the face for ugly ere ’t be seen,5 Her despite to him, and so seeming bottomless. Jas. Touch it home then; ’t is not a shallow probe Can search this ulcer soundly; I fear you ’ll find it Full of corruption. ’T is fit I leave you, She meets you opportunely from that walk;10 She took the back door at his parting with her. Exit. Als. Did my fate wait for this unhappy stroke At my first sight of woman? She is here.

Beat. Alsemero! Als. How do you? Beat. How do I? Alas, sir! how do you? You look not well.15 Als. You read me well enough; I am not well. Beat. Not well, sir? Is ’t in my power to better you? Als. Yes. Beat. Nay, then you ’re cur’d again. Als. Pray, resolve[4012] me one question, lady.20 Beat. If I can. Als. None can so sure: are you honest? Beat. Ha, ha, ha! that ’s a broad question, my lord. Als. But that ’s not a modest answer, my lady. Do you laugh? My doubts are strong upon me. Beat. ’T is innocence that smiles, and no rough brow26 Can take away the dimple in her cheek. Say I should strain a tear to fill the vault, Which would you give the better faith to? Als. ’T were but hypocrisy of a sadder colour, But the same stuff; neither your smiles nor tears31 Shall move or flatter me from my belief: You are a whore! Beat. What a horrid sound it hath! It blasts a beauty to deformity; Upon what face soever that breath falls,35 It strikes it ugly. O, you have ruin’d What you can ne’er repair again? Als. I ’ll all Demolish, and seek out truth within you, If there be any left; let your sweet tongue Prevent your heart’s rifling; there I ’ll ransack And tear out my suspicion. Beat. You may, sir;41 It is an easy passage; yet, if you please, Show me the ground whereon you lost your love; My spotless virtue may but tread on that Before I perish. Als. Unanswerable;45 A ground you cannot stand on; you fall down Beneath all grace and goodness when you set Your ticklish heel on ’t. There was a visor Over that cunning face, and that became you; Now Impudence in triumph rides upon ’t.50 How comes this tender reconcilement else ’Twixt you and your despite, your rancorous loathing, De Flores? he that your eye was sore at sight of, He ’s now become your arm’s supporter, your Lip’s saint! Beat. Is there the cause? Als. Worse, your lust’s devil,55 Your adultery! Beat. Would any but yourself say that, ’T would turn him to a villain! Als. It was witnest By the counsel of your bosom, Diaphanta. Beat. Is your witness dead then? Als. ’T is to be fear’d It was the wages of her knowledge; poor soul, She liv’d not long after the discovery.61 Beat. Then hear a story of not much less horror Than this your false suspicion is beguil’d with; To your bed’s scandal I stand up innocence, Which even the guilt of one black other deed65 Will stand for proof of; your love has made me A cruel murd’ress. Als. Ha! Beat. A bloody one; I have kist poison for it, strokt a serpent: That thing of hate, worthy in my esteem Of no better employment, and him most worthy To be so employ’d, I caus’d to murder71 That innocent Piracquo, having no Better means than that worst to assure Yourself to me. Als. O, the place itself e’er since Has crying been for vengeance! The temple,75 Where blood and beauty first unlawfully Fir’d their devotion and quencht the right one; ’T was in my fears at first, ’t will have it now: O, thou art all deform’d! Beat. Forget not, sir,79 It for your sake was done. Shall greater dangers Make the less welcome? Als. O, thou should’st have gone A thousand leagues about to have avoided This dangerous bridge of blood! Here we are lost. Beat. Remember, I am true unto your bed. Als. The bed itself ’s a charnel, the sheets shrouds85 For murdered carcasses. It must ask pause What I must do in this; meantime you shall Be my prisoner only: enter my closet; Exit Beatrice [into closet]. I ’ll be your keeper yet. O, in what part Of this sad story shall I first begin? Ha!90 This same fellow has put me in.—De Flores!

De F. Noble Alsemero! Als. I can tell you News, sir; my wife has her commended to you. De F. That ’s news indeed, my lord; I think she would Commend me to the gallows if she could,95 She ever lov’d me so well; I thank her. Als. What ’s this blood upon your band, De Flores? De F. Blood! no, sure ’t was washt since. Als. Since when, man? De F. Since t’ other day I got a knock In a sword-and-dagger school; I think ’t is out. Als. Yes, ’t is almost out, but ’t is perceiv’d though.101 I had forgot my message; this it is, What price goes murder? De F. How, sir? Als. I ask you, sir; My wife ’s behindhand with you, she tells me, For a brave bloody blow you gave for her sake Upon Piracquo. De F. Upon? ’T was quite through him sure: Has she confest it? Als. As sure as death to both of you;107 And much more than that. De F. It could not be much more; ’T was but one thing, and that—she is a whore. Als. It could not choose but follow. O cunning devils!110 How should blind men know you from fair-fac’d saints? Beat. [within.] He lies! the villain does belie me! De F. Let me go to her, sir. Als. Nay, you shall to her.— Peace, crying crocodile, your sounds are heard; Take your prey to you;—get you into her, sir: Exit De Flores [into closet]. I ’ll be your pander now; rehearse again116 Your scene of lust, that you may be perfect When you shall come to act it to the black audience, Where howls and gnashings shall be music to you. Clip[4013] your adulteress freely, ’t is the pilot120 Will guide you to the mare mortuum, Where you shall sink to fathoms bottomless.

Ver. O Alsemero! I ’ve a wonder for you. Als. No, sir, ’t is I, I have a wonder for you. Ver. I have suspicion near as proof itself125 For Piracquo’s murder. Als. Sir, I have proof, Beyond suspicion of Piracquo’s murder. Ver. Beseech you, hear me; these who have been disguis’d E’er since the deed was done. Als. I have two other That were more close disguis’d than your two could be130 E’er since the deed was done. Ver. You ’ll hear me—these mine own servants—— Als. Hear me—those nearer than your servants That shall acquit them, and prove them guiltless. Fran. That may be done with easy truth, sir.135 Tom. How is my cause bandied through your delays! ’T is urgent in [my] blood and calls for haste. Give me a brother [or] alive or dead; Alive, a wife with him; if dead, for both A recompense for murder and adultery.140 Beat. (within.) O, O, O! Als. Hark! ’t is coming to you. De F. (within.) Nay, I ’ll along for company. Beat. (within.) O, O! Ver. What horrid sounds are these? Als. Come forth, you twins Of mischief!

De F. Here we are: if you have any more To say to us, speak quickly, I shall not145 Give you the hearing else; I am so stout yet, And so, I think, that broken rib of mankind. Ver. A host of enemies ent’red my citadel Could not amaze like this: Joanna! Beatrice! Joanna! Beat. O, come not near me, sir, I shall defile you!150 I that was of your blood was taken from you, For your better health; look no more upon ’t, But cast it to the ground regardlessly, Let the common sewer take it from distinction. Beneath the stars, upon yon meteor155 [Pointing to De Flores.] Ever hung my fate ’mongst things corruptible; I ne’er could pluck it from him; my loathing Was prophet to the rest, but ne’er believ’d. Mine honour fell with him, and now my life.— Alsemero, I ’m a stranger to your bed;160 Your bed was coz’ned on the nuptial night,— For which your false bride died. Als. Diaphanta? De F. Yes, and the while I coupled with your mate At barley-break; now we are left in hell.[4014] Ver. We are all there, it circumscribes us here.165 De F. I lov’d this woman in spite of her heart: Her love I earn’d out of Piracquo’s murder. Tom. Ha! my brother’s murderer? De F. Yes, and her honour’s prize Was my reward; I thank life for nothing But that pleasure; it was so sweet to me,170 That I have drunk up all, left none behind For any man to pledge me. Ver. Horrid villain! Keep life in him for future tortures. De F. No! I can prevent you; here ’s my pen-knife still; It is but one thread more [stabbing himself], and now ’t is cut.—175 Make haste, Joanna, by that token to thee, Canst not forget, so lately put in mind; I would not go to leave thee far behind. Dies. Beat. Forgive me, Alsemero, all forgive! ’T is time to die when ’t is a shame to live.180 Dies. Ver. O, my name ’s ent’red now in that record Where till this fatal hour ’t was never read. Als. Let it be blotted out; let your heart lose it, And it can never look you in the face, Nor tell a tale behind the back of life185 To your dishonour. Justice hath so right The guilty hit, that innocence is quit By proclamation, and may joy again.— Sir, you are sensible of what truth hath done; ’T is the best comfort that your grief can find. Tom. Sir, I am satisfied; my injuries191 Lie dead before me; I can exact no more, Unless my soul were loose, and could o’ertake Those black fugitives that are fled from hence, To take[4015] a second vengeance; but there are wraths195 Deeper than mine, ’t is to be fear’d, about ’em. Als. What an opacous body had that moon That last chang’d on us! Here is beauty chang’d To ugly whoredom; here servant-obedience To a master-sin, imperious murder;200 I, a suppos’d husband, chang’d embraces With wantonness,—but that was paid before.— Your change is come too, from an ignorant wrath To knowing friendship.—Are there any more on ’s?204 Ant. Yes, sir, I was chang’d too from a little ass as I was to a great fool as I am; and had like to ha’ been chang’d to the gallows, but that you know my innocence[4016] always excuses me. Fran. I was chang’d from a little wit to be stark mad,210 Almost for the same purpose. Isa. Your change is still behind, But deserve best your transformation: You are a jealous coxcomb, keep schools of folly, And teach your scholars how to break your own head. Alib. I see all apparent, wife, and will change now215 Into a better husband, and ne’er keep Scholars that shall be wiser than myself. Als. Sir, you have yet a son’s duty living, Please you, accept it; let that your sorrow, As it goes from your eye, go from your heart. Man and his sorrow at the grave must part.221

Als. All we can do to comfort one another, To stay a brother’s sorrow for a brother, To dry a child from the kind father’s eyes, Is to no purpose, it rather multiplies:225 Your only smiles have power to cause relive The dead again, or in their rooms to give Brother a new brother, father a child; If these appear, all griefs are reconcil’d. Exeunt omnes.