Re-enter Isabella, dressed as a madwoman.

Isa. Hey, how he[484] treads the air! shough, shough, t’other way! he burns his wings else: here’s wax enough below, Icarus, more than will be cancelled these eighteen moons: he’s down, he’s down! what a terrible fall he had!

Stand up, thou son of Cretan Dædalus,
And let us tread the lower labyrinth;
I'll bring thee to the clue.
Ant. Prithee, coz, let me alone.
Isa. Art thou not drown’d?
About thy head I saw a heap of clouds
Wrapt like a Turkish turbant; on thy back
A crook’d chameleon-colour’d rainbow hung
Like a tiara down unto thy hams:
Let me suck out those billows in thy belly;
Hark, how they roar and rumble in the straits![485]
Bless thee from the pirates!
Ant. Pox upon you, let me alone!
Isa. Why shouldst thou mount so high as Mercury,
Unless thou hadst reversion of his place?
Stay in the moon with me, Endymion,
And we will rule these wild rebellious waves,
That would have drown’d my love.
Ant. I'll kick thee, if
Again thou touch me, thou wild unshapen antic;
I am no fool, you bedlam!
Isa. But you are, as sure as I am mad:
Have I put on this habit of a frantic,
With love as full of fury, to beguile
The nimble eye of watchful jealousy,
And am I thus rewarded?
Ant. Ha! dearest beauty!
Isa. No, I have no beauty now,
Nor never had but what was in my garments:
You a quick-sighted lover! come not near me:
Keep your caparisons, you’re aptly clad;
I came a feigner, to return stark mad.
Ant. Stay, or I shall change condition,
And become as you are. [Exit Isabella.
Re-enter Lollio.
Lol. Why, Tony, whither now? why, fool——
Ant. Whose fool, usher of idiots? you coxcomb!
I have fool’d too much.
Lol. You were best be mad another while then.
Ant. So I am, stark mad; I have cause enough;
And I could throw the full effects on thee,
And beat thee like a fury.

Lol. Do not, do not; I shall not forbear the gentleman under the fool, if you do: alas, I saw through your fox-skin before now! Come, I can give you comfort, my mistress loves you; and there is as arrant a madman i' th' house as you are a fool, your rival, whom she loves not: if after the masque we can rid her of him, you earn her love, she says, and the fool shall ride her.

Ant. May I believe thee?

Lol. Yes, or you may choose whether you will or no.

Ant. She’s eas’d of him; I've a good quarrel on’t.

Lol. Well, keep your old station yet, and be quiet.

Ant. Tell her I will deserve her love. [Exit.

Lol. And you are like to have your desire.[486]

Enter Franciscus.
Fran. [sings] Down, down, down a-down a-down,
—and then with a horse-trick
To kick Latona’s forehead, and break her bow-string.

Lol. This is t’other counterfeit; I'll put him out of his humour. [Aside. Takes out a letter and reads] Sweet lady, having now cast [off][487] this counterfeit cover of a madman, I appear to your best judgment a true and faithful lover of your beauty. This is pretty well for a madman.

Fran. Ha! what’s that?

Lol. [reads] Chide those perfections in you which [have] made me imperfect.

Fran. I am discover’d to the fool.

Lol. I hope to discover the fool in you ere I have done with you. [Reads] Yours all, or one beside himself, Franciscus. This madman will mend sure.

Fran. What do you read, sirrah?

Lol. Your destiny, sir; you’ll be hanged for this trick, and another that I know.

Fran. Art thou of counsel with thy mistress?

Lol. Next her apron-strings.

Fran. Give me thy hand.

Lol. Stay, let me put yours in my pocket first [putting letter into his pocket]: your hand is true,[488] is it not? it will not pick? I partly fear it, because I think it does lie.

Fran. Not in a syllable.

Lol. So; if you love my mistress so well as you have handled the matter here, you are like to be cured of your madness.

Fran. And none but she can cure it.

Lol. Well, I'll give you over then, and she shall cast your water next.

Fran. Take for thy pains past. [Gives him money.

Lol. I shall deserve more, sir, I hope: my mistress loves you, but must have some proof of your love to her.

Fran. There I meet my wishes.

Lol. That will not serve, you must meet her enemy and yours.

Fran. He’s dead already.

Lol. Will you tell me that, and I parted but now with him?

Fran. Shew me the man.

Lol. Ay, that’s a right course now; see him before you kill him, in any case; and yet it needs not go so far neither, ’tis but a fool that haunts the house and my mistress in the shape of an idiot; bang but his fool’s coat well-favouredly, and ’tis well.

Fran. Soundly, soundly!

Lol. Only reserve him till the masque be past; and if you find him not now in the dance yourself, I'll shew you. In, in! my master! [Dancing.

Fran. He handles him like a feather. Hey! [Exit.

Enter Alibius.
Alib. Well said: in a readiness, Lollio?
Lol. Yes, sir.
Alib. Away then, and guide them in, Lollio:
Entreat your mistress to see this sight.
Hark, is there not one incurable fool
That might be begg’d?[489] I have friends.
Lol. I have him for you,
One that shall deserve it too. [Exit.

Re-enter Isabella: then re-enter Lollio with the madmen and fools, who dance.

Alib. Good boy, Lollio!
’Tis perfect: well, fit but once these strains,
We shall have coin and credit for our pains.
[Exeunt.

ACT V. SCENE I.

A gallery in the castle.
Enter Beatrice: a clock strikes one.
Beat. One struck, and yet she lies by’t! O, my fears!
This strumpet serves her own ends, ’tis apparent now,
Devours the pleasure with a greedy appetite,
And never minds my honour or my peace,
Makes havoc of my right; but she pays dearly for’t;
No trusting of her life with such a secret,
That cannot rule her blood to keep her promise;
Beside, I've some suspicion of her faith to me,
Because I was suspected of my lord,
And it must come from her [clock strikes two]: hark! by my horrors,
Another clock strikes two!
Enter De Flores.
De F. Pist![490] where are you?
Beat. De Flores?
De F. Ay: is she not come from him yet?
Beat. As I'm a living soul, not!
De F. Sure the devil
Hath sow’d his itch within her; who would trust
A waiting-woman?
Beat. I must trust somebody.
De F. Push![491] they’re termagants;
Especially when they fall upon their masters
And have their ladies' first-fruits; they’re mad whelps,
You cannot stave ’em off from game royal: then
You are so harsh[492] and hardy, ask no counsel;
And I could have help’d you to a ’pothecary’s daughter
Would have fall’n off before eleven, and thank['d] you too.
Beat. O me, not yet! this whore forgets herself.
De F. The rascal fares so well: look, you’re undone;
The day-star, by this hand! see, Phosphorus plain yonder.
Beat. Advise me now to fall upon some ruin;
There is no counsel safe else.
De F. Peace! I ha’t now,
For we must force a rising, there’s no remedy.
Beat. How? take heed of that.
De F. Tush! be you quiet, or else give over all.
Beat. Prithee—I ha' done then.
De F. This is my reach: I'll set
Some part a-fire of Diaphanta’s chamber.
Beat. How? fire, sir? that may endanger the whole house.
De F. You talk of danger when your fame’s on fire?
Beat. That’s true; do what thou wilt now.
De F. Push! I aim
At a most rich success strikes all dead sure:
The chimney being a-fire, and some light parcels
Of the least danger in her chamber only,
If Diaphanta should be met by chance then
Far from her lodging, which is now suspicious,
It would be thought her fears and affrights then
Drove her to seek for succour; if not seen
Or met at all, as that’s the likeliest,
For her own shame she’ll hasten towards her lodging;
I will be ready with a piece high-charg’d,
As ’twere to cleanse the chimney, there ’tis proper now,
But she shall be the mark.
Beat. I'm forc’d to love thee now,
'Cause thou provid’st so carefully for my honour.
De F. ’Slid, it concerns the safety of us both,
Our pleasure and continuance.
Beat. One word now, prithee;
How for the servants?
De F. I will despatch them,
Some one way, some another in the hurry,
For buckets, hooks, ladders; fear not you,
The deed shall find its time; and I've thought since
Upon a safe conveyance for the body too:
How this fire purifies wit! watch you your minute.
Beat. Fear keeps my soul upon’t, I cannot stray from’t.
Enter Ghost of Alonzo.
De F. Ha! what art thou that tak’st away the light
Betwixt that star and me? I dread thee not:
’Twas but a mist of conscience; all’s clear again. [Exit.
Beat. Who’s that, De Flores? bless me, it slides by!
[Exit Ghost.
Some ill thing haunts the house; ’t has left behind it
A shivering sweat upon me; I'm afraid now:
This night hath been so tedious! O this strumpet!
Had she a thousand lives, he should not leave her
Till he had destroy’d the last. List! O my terrors!
[Clock strikes three.
Three struck by St. Sebastian’s!
Voices [within]. Fire, fire, fire!
Beat. Already? how rare is that man’s speed!
How heartily he serves me! his face loathes one;
But look upon his care, who would not love him?
The east is not more beauteous than his service.
Voices [within]. Fire, fire, fire!
Re-enter De Flores: Servants pass over the stage.
De F. Away, despatch! hooks, buckets, ladders! that’s well said.
[Bell rings within.
The fire-bell rings; the chimney works, my charge;
The piece is ready. [Exit.
Beat. Here’s a man worth loving!
Enter Diaphanta.
O, you’re a jewel!
Dia. Pardon frailty, madam;
In troth, I was so well, I even forgot myself.
Beat. You’ve made trim work!
Dia. What?
Beat. Hie quickly to your chamber;
Your reward follows you.
Dia. I never made
So sweet a bargain. [Exit.
Enter Alsemero.
Als. O, my dear Joanna,
Alas! art thou risen too? I was coming,
My absolute treasure!
Beat. When I miss’d you,
I could not choose but follow.
Als. Thou’rt all sweetness:
The fire is not so dangerous.
Beat. Think you so, sir?
Als. I prithee, tremble not; believe me, ’tis not.
Enter Vermandero and Jasperino.
Ver. O, bless my house and me!
Als. My lord your father.
Re-enter De Flores with a gun.
Ver. Knave, whither goes that piece?
De F. To scour the chimney.
Ver. O, well said, well said! [Exit De Flores.
That fellow’s good on all occasions.
Beat. A wondrous necessary man, my lord.
Ver. He hath a ready wit; he’s worth ’em all, sir;
Dog at a house of[493] fire; I ha' seen him sing’d ere now.—
[Gun fired off within.
Ha, there he goes!
Beat. ’Tis done! [Aside.
Als. Come, sweet, to bed now;
Alas, thou wilt get cold!
Beat. Alas, the fear keeps that out!
My heart will find no quiet till I hear
How Diaphanta, my poor woman, fares;
It is her chamber, sir, her lodging chamber.
Ver. How should the fire come there?
Beat. As good a soul as ever lady countenanc’d,
But in her chamber negligent and heavy:
She ’scap’d a mine twice.
Ver. Twice?
Beat. Strangely twice, sir.
Ver. Those sleepy sluts are dangerous in a house,
And[494] they be ne’er so good.
Re-enter De Flores.
De F. O, poor virginity,
Thou hast paid dearly for’t!
Ver. Bless us, what’s that?
De F. A thing you all knew once, Diaphanta’s burnt.
Beat. My woman! O, my woman!
De F. Now the flames
Are greedy of her; burnt, burnt, burnt to death, sir!
Beat. O my presaging soul!
Als. Not a tear more!
I charge you by the last embrace I gave you
In bed, before this rais’d us.
Beat. Now you tie me;
Were it my sister, now she gets no more.
Enter Servant.
Ver. How now?
Ser. All danger’s past; you may now take
Your rests, my lords; the fire is throughly quench’d:
Ah, poor gentlewoman, how soon was she stifled!
Beat. De Flores, what is left of her inter,
And we as mourners all will follow her:
I will entreat that honour to my servant
Even of my lord himself.
Als. Command it, sweetness.
Beat. Which of you spied the fire first?
De F. ’Twas I, madam.
Beat. And took such pains in’t too? a double goodness!
'Twere well he were rewarded.
Ver. He shall be.—
De Flores, call upon me.
Als. And upon me, sir.
[Exeunt all except De Flores.
De F. Rewarded? precious! here’s a trick beyond me:
I see in all bouts, both of sport and wit,
Always a woman strives for the last hit. [Exit.

SCENE II.

Another apartment in the castle.
Enter Tomaso.
Tom. I cannot taste the benefits of life
With the same relish I was wont to do:
Man I grow weary of, and hold his fellowship
A treacherous bloody friendship; and because
I'm ignorant in whom my wrath should settle,
I must think all men villains, and the next
I meet, whoe’er he be, the murderer
Of my most worthy brother. Ha! what’s he?
De Flores passes over the stage.
O, the fellow that some call honest De Flores;
But methinks honesty was hard bested
To come there for a lodging; as if a queen
Should make her palace of a pest-house:
I find a contrariety in nature
Betwixt that face and me; the least occasion
Would give me game upon him; yet he’s so foul
One would scarce touch [him] with a sword he lov’d
And made account of; so most deadly venomous,
He would go near to poison any weapon
That should draw blood on him; one must resolve
Never to use that sword again in fight
In way of honest manhood that strikes him;
Some river must devour it; ’twere not fit
That any man should find it. What, again?
Re-enter De Flores.
He walks a' purpose by, sure, to choke me up,
T' infect my blood.
De F. My worthy noble lord!
Tom. Dost offer to come near and breathe upon me?
[Strikes him.
De F. A blow! [Draws.
Tom. Yea, are you so prepar’d?
I'll rather like a soldier die by th' sword,
Than like a politician by thy poison. [Draws.
De F. Hold, my lord, as you are honourable!
Tom. All slaves that kill by poison are still cowards.
De F. I cannot strike; I see his brother’s wounds
Fresh bleeding in his eye, as in a crystal.— [Aside.
I will not question this, I know you’re noble;
I take my injury with thanks given, sir,
Like a wise lawyer, and as a favour
Will wear it for the worthy hand that gave it.—Why
this from him that yesterday appear’d
So strangely loving to me?
O, but instinct is of a subtler strain!
Guilt must not walk so near his lodge again;
He came near me now. [Aside, and exit.
Tom. All league with mankind I renounce for ever,
Till I find this murderer; not so much
As common courtesy but I'll lock up;
For in the state of ignorance I live in,
A brother may salute his brother’s murderer,
And wish good speed to th' villain in a greeting.
Enter Vermandero, Alibius, and Isabella.
Ver. Noble Piracquo!
Tom. Pray, keep on your way, sir;
I've nothing to say to you.
Ver. Comforts bless you, sir!
Tom. I've forsworn compliment, in troth, I have, sir;
As you are merely man, I have not left
A good wish for you, nor [for] any here.
Ver. Unless you be so far in love with grief,
You will not part from’t upon any terms,
We bring that news will make a welcome for us.
Tom. What news can that be?
Ver. Throw no scornful smile
Upon the zeal I bring you,’tis worth more, sir;
Two of the chiefest men I kept about me
I hide not from the law or your just vengeance.
Tom. Ha!
Ver. To give your peace more ample satisfaction,
Thank these discoverers.
Tom. If you bring that calm,
Name but the manner I shall ask forgiveness in
For that contemptuous smile [I threw][495] upon you,
I'll perfect it with reverence that belongs
Unto a sacred altar. [Kneels.
Ver. [raising him] Good sir, rise;
Why, now you overdo as much ’a this hand
As you fell short ’a t’other.—Speak, Alibius.
Alib. ’Twas my wife’s fortune, as she is most lucky
At a discovery, to find out lately,
Within our hospital of fools and madmen,
Two counterfeits slipp’d into these disguises,
Their names Franciscus and Antonio.
Ver. Both mine, sir, and I ask no favour for ’em.
Alib. Now that which draws suspicion to their habits,
The time of their disguisings agrees justly
With the day of the murder.
Tom. O blest revelation!
Ver. Nay, more, nay, more, sir—I'll not spare mine own
In way of justice—they both feign’d a journey
To Briamata,[496] and so wrought out their leaves;
My love was so abus’d in’t.
Tom. Time’s too precious
To run in waste now; you have brought a peace
The riches of five kingdoms could not purchase:
Be my most happy conduct; I thirst for ’em:
Like subtle lightning will I wind about ’em,
And melt their marrow in ’em. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Alsemero’s apartment[497] in the castle.
Enter Alsemero and Jasperino.
Jas. Your confidence, I'm sure, is now of proof;
The prospect from the garden has shew’d[498]
Enough for deep suspicion.
Als. The black mask
That so continually was worn upon’t
Condemns the face for ugly ere’t be seen,
Her despite to him, and so seeming bottomless.
Jas. Touch it home then; ’tis not a shallow probe
Can search this ulcer soundly; I fear you’ll find it
Full of corruption: ’tis fit I leave you,
She meets you opportunely from that walk;
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.
Enter Beatrice.
Beat. Alsemero!
Als. How do you?
Beat. How do I?
Alas, how do you, [sir]? you look not well.
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 me one question, lady.
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.’Tis innocence that smiles, and no rough brow
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. ’Twere but hypocrisy of a sadder colour,
But the same stuff; neither your smiles nor tears
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,
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;
It is an easy passage; yet, if you please,
Shew me the ground whereon you lost your love;
My spotless virtue may but tread on that
Before I perish.
Als. Unanswerable;
A ground you cannot stand on; you fall down
Beneath all grace and goodness when you set
Your ticklish heel on it: there was a visor
Over that cunning face, and that became you;
Now impudence in triumph rides upon’t;
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,
Your adultery!
Beat. Would any but yourself say that,
'Twould turn him to a villain!
Als. It was witness’d
By the counsel of your bosom, Diaphanta.
Beat. Is your witness dead then?
Als.’Tis to be fear’d
It was the wages of her knowledge; poor soul,
She liv’d not long after the discovery.
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 deed
Will stand for proof of; your love has made me
A cruel murderess.
Als. Ha!
Beat. A bloody one;
I have kiss’d poison for it, strok’d 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 murder
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,
Where blood and beauty first unlawfully
Fir’d their devotion and quench’d the right one;
’Twas in my fears at first, ’twill have it now:
O, thou art all deform’d!
Beat. Forget not, sir,
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 shrouds
For murder’d carcasses. It must ask pause
What I must do in this; meantime you shall
Be my prisoner only: enter my closet;