The Duchess of Malfi

BOSOLA.       Strangling; here are your executioners.
DUCHESS.  I forgive them:
The apoplexy, catarrh, or cough o' th' lungs,
Would do as much as they do.
BOSOLA.  Doth not death fright you?
DUCHESS.                             Who would be afraid on 't,
Knowing to meet such excellent company
In th' other world?
BOSOLA.  Yet, methinks,
The manner of your death should much afflict you:
This cord should terrify you.
DUCHESS.                       Not a whit:
What would it pleasure me to have my throat cut
With diamonds? or to be smothered
With cassia? or to be shot to death with pearls?
I know death hath ten thousand several doors
For men to take their exits; and 'tis found
They go on such strange geometrical hinges,
You may open them both ways:  any way, for heaven-sake,
So I were out of your whispering.  Tell my brothers
That I perceive death, now I am well awake,
Best gift is they can give or I can take.
I would fain put off my last woman's-fault,
I 'd not be tedious to you.
FIRST EXECUTIONER.           We are ready.
DUCHESS.  Dispose my breath how please you; but my body
Bestow upon my women, will you?
FIRST EXECUTIONER.               Yes.
DUCHESS.  Pull, and pull strongly, for your able strength
Must pull down heaven upon me: —
Yet stay; heaven-gates are not so highly arch'd
As princes' palaces; they that enter there
Must go upon their knees [Kneels]. – Come, violent death,
Serve for mandragora to make me sleep! —
Go tell my brothers, when I am laid out,
They then may feed in quiet.
They strangle her.
BOSOLA.  Where 's the waiting-woman??
Fetch her:  some other strangle the children.

[Enter CARIOLA]

Look you, there sleeps your mistress.
CARIOLA.                               O, you are damn'd
Perpetually for this!  My turn is next;
Is 't not so ordered?
BOSOLA.                Yes, and I am glad
You are so well prepar'd for 't.
CARIOLA.                          You are deceiv'd, sir,
I am not prepar'd for 't, I will not die;
I will first come to my answer,[118 - Trial.] and know
How I have offended.
BOSOLA.               Come, despatch her. —
You kept her counsel; now you shall keep ours.
CARIOLA.  I will not die, I must not; I am contracted
To a young gentleman.
FIRST EXECUTIONER.     Here 's your wedding-ring.
CARIOLA.  Let me but speak with the duke.  I 'll discover
Treason to his person.
BOSOLA.                 Delays: – throttle her.
FIRST EXECUTIONER.  She bites and scratches.
CARIOLA.                                      If you kill me now,
I am damn'd; I have not been at confession
This two years.
BOSOLA.  [To Executioners.] When?[119 - An exclamation of impatience.]
CARIOLA.                           I am quick with child.
BOSOLA.                                                    Why, then,
Your credit 's saved.
[Executioners strangle Cariola.]
Bear her into the next room;
Let these lie still.

[Exeunt the Executioners with the body of CARIOLA.]

[Enter FERDINAND]

FERDINAND.            Is she dead?
BOSOLA.                             She is what
You 'd have her.  But here begin your pity:
Shows the Children strangled.
Alas, how have these offended?
FERDINAND.                      The death
Of young wolves is never to be pitied.
BOSOLA.  Fix your eye here.
FERDINAND.                   Constantly.
BOSOLA.                                   Do you not weep?
Other sins only speak; murder shrieks out.
The element of water moistens the earth,
But blood flies upwards and bedews the heavens.
FERDINAND.  Cover her face; mine eyes dazzle:  she died young.
BOSOLA.  I think not so; her infelicity
Seem'd to have years too many.
FERDINAND.  She and I were twins;
And should I die this instant, I had liv'd
Her time to a minute.
BOSOLA.                It seems she was born first:
You have bloodily approv'd the ancient truth,
That kindred commonly do worse agree
Than remote strangers.
FERDINAND.              Let me see her face