The Duchess of Malfi

– the patient'st man i' th' world match me for an experiment: —
an I 'll crawl after like a sheep-biter.[125 - A dog which worries sheep.]
CARDINAL.  Force him up.
[They raise him.]
FERDINAND. Use me well, you were best. What I have done, I have
done: I 'll confess nothing.
DOCTOR. Now let me come to him. – Are you mad, my lord? are you out
of your princely wits?
FERDINAND.              What 's he?
PESCARA.                             Your doctor.
FERDINAND. Let me have his beard saw'd off, and his eye-brows
fil'd more civil.
DOCTOR. I must do mad tricks with him, for that 's the only way
on 't. – I have brought your grace a salamander's skin to keep
you from sun-burning.
FERDINAND.  I have cruel sore eyes.
DOCTOR.  The white of a cockatrix's[126 - A fabulous serpent that killed by its glance.] egg is present remedy.
FERDINAND.  Let it be a new-laid one, you were best.
Hide me from him:  physicians are like kings, —
They brook no contradiction.
DOCTOR.  Now he begins to fear me:  now let me alone with him.
CARDINAL.  How now! put off your gown!
DOCTOR. Let me have some forty urinals filled with rosewater:
he and I 'll go pelt one another with them. – Now he begins to fear
me. – Can you fetch a frisk,[127 - Cut a caper.] sir? – Let him go, let him go, upon
my peril: I find by his eye he stands in awe of me; I 'll make him
as tame as a dormouse.
FERDINAND. Can you fetch your frisks, sir! – I will stamp him into
a cullis,[128 - Broth.] flay off his skin to cover one of the anatomies[129 - Skeletons.]
this rogue hath set i' th' cold yonder in Barber-Chirurgeon's-hall.
– Hence, hence! you are all of you like beasts for sacrifice.
[Throws the DOCTOR down and beats him.]
There 's nothing left of you but tongue and belly, flattery and
lechery.

[Exit.]

PESCARA.  Doctor, he did not fear you thoroughly.
DOCTOR.  True; I was somewhat too forward.
BOSOLA.  Mercy upon me, what a fatal judgment
Hath fall'n upon this Ferdinand!
PESCARA.                          Knows your grace
What accident hath brought unto the prince
This strange distraction?
CARDINAL.  [Aside.] I must feign somewhat. – Thus they say it grew.
You have heard it rumour'd, for these many years
None of our family dies but there is seen
The shape of an old woman, which is given
By tradition to us to have been murder'd
By her nephews for her riches.  Such a figure
One night, as the prince sat up late at 's book,
Appear'd to him; when crying out for help,
The gentleman of 's chamber found his grace
All on a cold sweat, alter'd much in face
And language:  since which apparition,
He hath grown worse and worse, and I much fear
He cannot live.
BOSOLA.          Sir, I would speak with you.
PESCARA.  We 'll leave your grace,
Wishing to the sick prince, our noble lord,
All health of mind and body.
CARDINAL.                     You are most welcome.

[Exeunt PESCARA, MALATESTI, and DOCTOR.]

Are you come? so. – [Aside.] This fellow must not know
By any means I had intelligence
In our duchess' death; for, though I counsell'd it,
The full of all th' engagement seem'd to grow
]From Ferdinand. – Now, sir, how fares our sister?
I do not think but sorrow makes her look
Like to an oft-dy'd garment:  she shall now
Take comfort from me.  Why do you look so wildly?
O, the fortune of your master here the prince
Dejects you; but be you of happy comfort:
If you 'll do one thing for me I 'll entreat,
Though he had a cold tomb-stone o'er his bones,
I 'd make you what you would be.
BOSOLA.                           Any thing;
Give it me in a breath, and let me fly to 't.
They that think long small expedition win,
For musing much o' th' end cannot begin.

[Enter JULIA]

JULIA.  Sir, will you come into supper?
CARDINAL.                                I am busy; leave me[.]
JULIA [Aside.]  What an excellent shape hath that fellow!

Exit.

CARDINAL.  'Tis thus.  Antonio lurks here in Milan:
Inquire him out, and kill him.  While he lives,
Our sister cannot marry; and I have thought
Of an excellent match for her.  Do this, and style me
Thy advancement.
BOSOLA.  But by what means shall I find him out?
CARDINAL.  There is a gentleman call'd Delio
Here in the camp, that hath been long approv'd
His loyal friend.  Set eye upon that fellow;