1.4.2480[Enter Thorello, Giuliano, [and] Piso. Piso, come hither. There lies a note within upon my desk; here, take my key. It's no matter, neither. Where's the boy?
Within, sir, in the warehouse
Let him tell over that Spanish gold and weigh it. And
484do you see the delivery of those wares to Signor Bentivole. I'll be there
485myself at the receipt of the money anon.
Very good, sir.
Exit Piso.
Brother, did you see that same fellow there?
Ay, what of him?
He is e'en the honestest faithful servant that is this day
490in Florence -- I speak a proud word now -- and one that I
491durst trust my life into his hands, I have so strong opinion of his
492love, if need were.
God send me never such need! But you said you had somewhat to tell me. What is't?
Faith, brother, I am loath to utter it,
1.4.13496But that I know your judgment more direct,
1.4.14497Able to sway the nearest of affection --
Come, come, what needs this circumstance?
I will not say what honor I ascribe
1.4.17500Unto your friendship, nor in what dear state
1.4.18501I hold your love; let my continued zeal,
1.4.20503That I have ever carried to your name,
1.4.21504My carriage with your sister, all contest
1.4.22505How much I stand affected to your house.
You are too tedious. Come to the matter, come to the matter.
Then, without further ceremony, thus:
1.4.25508My brother Prospero, I know not how,
1.4.26509Of late is much declined from what he was
1.4.27510And greatly altered in his disposition.
1.4.28511When he came first to lodge here in my house,
1.4.29512Ne'er trust me if I was not proud of him.
1.4.30513Methought he bare himself with such observance,
1.4.31514So true election, and so fair a form,
1.4.32515And -- what was chief -- it showed not borrowed in him,
1.4.33516But all he did became him as his own,
1.4.34517And seemed as perfect, proper, and innate
1.4.35518Unto the mind as color to the blood.
1.4.37520So loose affected and deprived of grace,
1.4.38521And he himself withal so far fall'n off
1.4.39522From his first place, that scarce no note remains
1.4.40523To tell men's judgments where he lately stood.
1.4.41524He's grown a stranger to all due respect,
1.4.42525Forgetful of his friends, and, not content
1.4.44527He makes my house as common as a mart,
1.4.47530And there, as in a tavern or a stews,
1.4.48531He and his wild associates spend their hours
1.4.50533Swear, leap, and dance, and revel night by night,
1.4.51534Control my servants, and indeed what not?
Faith, I know not what I should say to him. So
536God save me, I am e'en at my wit's end. I have told him
537enough, one would think, if that would serve. Well, he knows what to trust
538to for me. Let him spend, and spend, and domineer till his heart ache.
539An he get a penny more of me, I'll give him this ear.
Nay, good brother, have patience.
'Sblood, he mads me! I could eat my very flesh for
542anger. I mar'l you will not tell him of it, how he disquiets your house.
Oh, there are divers reasons to dissuade me.
1.4.56544But, would yourself vouchsafe to travail in it,
1.4.57545Though but with plain and easy circumstance,
1.4.58546It would both come much better to his sense
1.4.59547And savor less of grief and discontent.
1.4.60548You are his elder brother, and that title
1.4.61549Confirms and warrants your authority,
1.4.62550Which, seconded by your aspect, will breed
1.4.64552Whereas if I should intimate the least,
1.4.65553It would but add contempt to his neglect,
1.4.66554Heap worse on ill, rear a huge pile of hate,
1.4.67555That in the building would come tott'ring down
1.4.69557Nay, more than this, brother: if I should speak,
1.4.70558He would be ready in the heat of passion
1.4.72560With oft reporting to them what disgrace
1.4.73561And gross disparagement I had proposed him;
1.4.74562And then would they straight back him in opinion,
1.4.75563Make some loose comment upon every word,
1.4.76564And out of their distracted fantasies
1.4.77565Contrive some slander that should dwell with me.
1.4.78566And what would that be, think you? Marry, this:
1.4.79567They would give out, because my wife is fair,
1.4.80568Myself but lately married, and my sister
1.4.81569Here sojourning a virgin in my house,
1.4.82570That I were jealous. Nay, as sure as death,
1.4.83571Thus they would say; and how that I had wronged
1.4.84572My brother purposely, thereby to find
1.4.85573An apt pretext to banish them my house.
Mass, perhaps so.
Brother, they would, believe it. So should I,
1.4.88576Like one of these penurious quacksalvers,
1.4.90578Open the gates unto mine own disgrace,
1.4.92580To stab my reputation and good name.
[To Bobadilla] I will speak to him.
[To Matheo] Speak to him? Away, by the life of Pharaoh!
584You shall not, you shall not do him that grace.
[To Thorello] The time
585of day to you, gentleman. Is Signor Prospero stirring?
How then? What should he do?
[Ignoring Giuliano] Signor Thorello, is he within, sir?
He came not to his lodging tonight, sir, I assure you.
[To Bobadilla] Why, do you hear? You!
This gentleman hath satisfied me. I'll talk to no scavenger. [He starts to leave.]
How, "scavenger"? Stay, sir, stay!
Exeunt [Bobadilla and Matheo].
[Restraining him] Nay, brother Giuliano.
'Sblood, stand you away, an you love me!
You shall not follow him now, I pray you. Good faith, you shall not.
Ha! "Scavenger"? Well, go to. I say little, but by
597this good day - God forgive me I should swear -- if I put
598it up so, say I am the rankest -- that ever pissed! 'Sblood, an
599I swallow this, I'll ne'er draw my sword in the sight of man again
600while I live. I'll sit in a barn with Madge Owlet first. "Scavenger"? Heart, and I'll go near to fill that huge tumbrel slop of yours with
602somewhat, an I have good luck; your Gargantua breech cannot carry it away so.
Oh, do not fret yourself thus! Never think on't.
These are my brother's consorts, these! These are his
cumrades, his
605walking mates! He's a gallant, a
cavaliero too, right hangman cut! God let me
606not live an I could not find in my heart to swinge the whole
607nest of them, one after another, and begin with him first. I am grieved
608it should be said he is my brother, and take these courses. Well, he
609shall hear on't, and that tightly too, an I live, i'faith.
But brother, let your apprehension then
1.4.111612With heady rashness or devouring choler,
1.4.113614Whose powers will pierce more gently and allure
1.4.114615Th'imperfect thoughts you labor to reclaim
Ay, ay, let me alone for that, I warrant you.
Bell rings.
How now? Oh, the bell rings to breakfast.
1.4.118619Brother Giuliano, I pray you, go in and bear my wife company.
620I'll but give order to my servants for the dispatch of some business, and
621come to you presently.
Exit Giuliano.
1.4.120623What, Cob? Our maids will have you by the back, i'faith, for coming so late this morning.
Perhaps so, sir. Take heed somebody have not them by the belly for walking so late in the evening. Exit.
Now, in good faith, my mind is somewhat eased,
1.4.124627As I could wish. Well, I must be content.
1.4.126629Would I had lost this finger at a venture,
1.4.127630So Prospero had ne'er lodged in my house!
1.4.128631Why, 't cannot be, where there is such resort
1.4.131634Is't like that factious beauty will preserve
1.4.132635The sovereign state of chastity unscarred
1.4.133636When such strong motives muster and make head
1.4.134637Against her single peace? No, no. Beware
1.4.135638When mutual pleasure sways the appetite,
1.4.137640Do meet to parley in the pride of blood.
1.4.138641Well, to be plain, if I but thought the time
1.4.139642Had answered their affections, all the world
1.4.140643Should not persuade me but I were a cuckold.
1.4.141644Marry, I hope they have not got that start;
1.4.143646And shall do still, while I have eyes and ears
1.4.146649'Twixt the conspiring motions of desire.
1.4.147650Yea, every look or glance mine eye objects
1.4.148651Shall check occasion, as one doth his slave
1.4.149652When he forgets the limits of prescription.
Sister Hesperida, I pray you, fetch down the rose-water above in the closet. Exit Hesperida.
1.4.152655[To Thorello] Sweetheart, will you come in to breakfast?
[Aside] An she have overheard me now!
I pray thee, good muss, we stay for you.
[Aside] By Christ, I would not for a thousand
What ail you, sweetheart? Are you not well? Speak, good muss.
Troth, my head aches extremely on a sudden.
[Feeling his forehead] O Jesu!
How now? What?
Good lord, how it burns! Muss, keep you warm. Good truth,
665it is this new disease; there's a number are troubled withal. For God's sake,
666sweetheart, come in out of the air.
[Aside] How simple and how subtle are her answers!
1.4.163668"A new disease, and many troubled with it."
1.4.164669Why, true, she heard me, all the world to nothing.
I pray thee, good sweetheart, come in. The air will do you harm, in troth.
I'll come to you presently. It will away, I hope.
Pray God it do.
Exit.
A new disease? I know not new or old,
1.4.169674But it may well be called poor mortals' plague,
1.4.171676The houses of the brain. First it begins
1.4.173678Filling her seat with such pestiferous air
1.4.174679As soon corrupts the judgment, and from thence
1.4.176681Still each of other catching the infection,
1.4.177682Which, as a searching vapor, spreads itself
1.4.179684Till not a thought or motion in the mind
1.4.180685Be free from the black poison of suspect.
1.4.183688In such extremes! Well, I will once more strive,
1.4.185690And shake this fever off that thus shakes me.
Exit.