Page:The Tragedy of the Duchesse of Malfy (1623).pdf/12

 Ingendring of Toads; where he is jealous of any man, He laies worse plots for them, than ever was impos'd on Hercules, for he strewes in his way Flatters, Panders, Intelligencers, Atheists, and a thousand such politicall Monsters: he should have beene Pope: but in stead of Comming to it, by the primitive decencie of the church, He did bestow bribes, so largely, and so impudently, as if he would Have carried it away without heavens knowledge. Some good he Hath done.

Del. You have given too much of him: what's his brother?

Ant. The duke there? a most perverse and turbulent Nature, What appeares in him mirth is meerely outside, If he laugh hartely, it is to laugh All honesty out of fashion.

Del. Twins?

Ant. In qualitie: He speakes with others Tongues, and heares mens suites, With others Eares: will seeme to sleepe o'th bench Onely to intrap offenders in their answeres; Doombes men to death, by information, Rewards, by heare-say.

Del. Then the Law to him Is like a fowle black cob-web, to a Spider, He makes it his dwelling, and a prison To entangle those shall feede him.

Ant. Most true: He nev'r paies debts, unlesse they be shewed turnes, And those he will confesse, that he doth owe, Last: for his brother, there, (the Cardinall) They that doe flatter him most, say Oracles Hang at his lippes: and verely I beleeve them: For the Divell speakes in them. But for their sister, (the right noble Duchesse) You never fix'd you eye, on three faire Meddalls, Cast in one figure, of so different temper: For her discourse, it is so full of Rapture, You onely will begin, then to be sorry