0.002The Cruel Brother

I must not be so rude as to believe

1.1.24That you, my lord, can your affection set

1.1.36Upon a maid so humble in her birth

1.1.47As she you name. For regard of honour,

1.1.58Do not mock the sister of your servant.

This way to madness leads! Teach not my heart

1.1.710Such modern heraldry. Let it dispose

1.1.811On charitable thoughts with natural eyes,

1.1.912Unlimited by customary form,

1.1.1013Which gain and niceties have made an art.

1.1.1114Virtue, not blood, enables us, and earns

1.1.1215Her attribute without hereditary help

1.1.1316From ancestors. O my dear Foreste!

1.1.1417Thy sister with such noble wealth is fraught,

1.1.1518That to be courteous for her appears

1.1.1619A holy sin. But thou art cruel grown:

1.1.1720Thy memory is sick. The old effects

1.1.1821That witness how I love thy learnéd soul

1.1.1922Are quite forgot.

Young lord, disclaim that thought!

1.1.2124Here I promulgate, you my patron are:

1.1.2225You found me in estate so poor, so low,

1.1.2326That you were fain to stoop to lift me up.

1.1.2427You are the Dukeʼs creature, who dotes by art;

1.1.2528Who, in his love and kindness, method keeps:

1.1.2629He holdeth thus his arms, in fearful care

1.1.2730Not to bruise you with is dear embracements.

1.1.2831And what is she whose virgin blood disdains

1.1.2932To quench your lawful fire? Or whom the Duke

1.1.3033Would not procure to climb your marriage bed

1.1.3134Upon her knees? And I shall then –

1.1.3235Like to the treacherous moon – strive to eclipse

1.1.3336The sun that gives me light? Shall I consent

1.1.3437That she, that tumbled in a womb with me,

1.1.3538Shall give your issue birth? The royal Duke

1.1.3639Would thank us for such charity. My lord,

1.1.3740Though you are wise, you are but young.

Heart of viper!

1.1.3942Sure time hath lost his feathers from his heels:

1.1.4043Mark how slow he goes! Shall I neʼer be old,

1.1.4144That my designs may repute have,

1.1.4245And credit in the world? I do not ask

1.1.4346Thy sister for my whore, but for my wife.

Sir, ʼtis already joined unto my creed,

1.1.4548For I would eat your heart should it contrive

1.1.4649A way in thought how to cheat my sister

1.1.4750Of her pure chastity. I love you so

1.1.4851That I with care suppose she not deserves

1.1.4952To be your wife, and so esteem of her

1.1.5053That she is much too good to be your whore.

1.1.5154In this new argument I am too bold:

1.1.5255You know my duty well. The Dukeʼs abroad.

1.1.5356Though but the birth of day. Go sir!

[To Lucio] My glorious boy, you are too vigilant:

1.1.5560The sun and you do visit me at once.

1.1.5661This courtship is not safe, you must not meet

1.1.5762Your lover with a rival, glorious

1.1.5863As yourself. Foreste! Welcome from Genoa,

1.1.5964How fares our brother cardinal?

In health and ease. He bade me to tell your grace

1.1.6166It was a deed of charity to think

1.1.6267Him worthy of this same great employment,

1.1.6368And this letter he humbly recommends

1.1.6469To your perusal.

To your perusal. How can it choose

1.1.6571But choke the very soul and bruise the heart

1.1.6672To think that such a giddy snipe – a fool

1.1.6773That merely lives to disparage nature –

1.1.6874Should creep to this ambitious government!

1.1.6975Still he rules the ruler. The Duke is ward

1.1.7076Unto a page, whose eyebrows wear more beard

1.1.7177Than doth his chin! And thereʼs his instrument,

1.1.7278A dark fellow, that with disguiséd looks

1.1.7379Could cheat a hypocrite older than time.

Iʼve heard a better character of both:

1.1.7581Such as to the young count wit and valour gives;

1.1.7682Unto Foreste, honest spirits.

Report is then become a bawd to luck,

1.1.7884Whom fortune do enrich, fame doth flatter.

[To Lucio and Foreste, referencing the letter] Sure this tame priest will make us all cowards;

1.1.8086We must a truce confirm with Genoa.

1.1.8187Well, be it so. Where now, my noble boy?

1.1.8288Shall I occasion find to testify

1.1.8389That you deserve my love by virtue of your own?

1.1.8490In sickly times, when war and civil spleen

1.1.8591Besiege the heart with treacherous designs,

1.1.8692A friend shall find a cause to make him known;

1.1.8793But now, in fair weather, I need not ask

1.1.8894What hovelʼs near.

In this I dare discredit fate!

1.1.9096They are not so wealthy in affliction,

1.1.9197With sorrow so well stored, as could suffice

1.1.9298To try my sufferance in the behalf

1.1.9399Of you, my prince and still royal master.

Darʼst thou then die for me?

1.1.95101Here — make thyself a sacrifice to fame,

1.1.96102Take it, and I will be thy chronicler.

It were, sir, but ingratitude in me

1.1.98104To lessen thus the number sanctified

1.1.99105Of your true friends.

Of your true friends. Be you pleased to sheath it

1.1.100106In that same part which you do most abhor.

O Lucio! Thou art my earwig now,

1.1.102108Creepʼst in my ear to feast upon my brains!

1.1.103109When in my private grave I lie enclosed,

1.1.104110More silent than my ruined fame, no tongue

1.1.105111Shall pay his tribute to my memory

1.1.106112But thine. For thou art likely to survive:

1.1.107113Thy years are few, but full of gratitude. —

1.1.108114Come, hie we to the park: the sprightful morn

1.1.109115Gives motion wings, and liberty to those

1.1.110116Whom lameness stakes unto the ground.

Royal dotard! Like tinder, thou dost waste

1.1.112118Thy forcéd fire to give another light,

1.1.113119Whose saucy flame will darken thine. Monstrous!

Why dost thou spend thy gall in secret thus?

1.1.115121A pox uponʼt! Turn thoughts to action.

1.1.116122Heaven knows, I had rather enrich myself

1.1.117123Than envy othersʼ wealth. Employ thy brain.

1.1.118124Get the Dukeʼs fist to this and thou shalt share

1.1.119125Five hundred crowns.

Five hundred crowns. What isʼt?

Five hundred crowns. What isʼt? The old business.

And not yet signed? This ʼtis to be modest!

1.1.121129Had I had reputation in thy creed

1.1.122130It had been done long since. Thereʼs my agent.

1.1.123131Hence, provide me thanks.

1.1.124Save you signor.

You may with charity.

Am in your remembrance, sir?

Signor Castruchio, as I take you.

The same. Because I never did desire

1.1.129136To gain by being troublesome, I lost

1.1.130137The dear benefit of the practic part.

1.1.131138Customʼs a suitorʼs safe encourager.

1.1.132139I the Duke have served since I was able

1.1.133140To serve myself, yet never had the luck

1.1.134141To get by it. And as the times promise,

1.1.135142Never shall, unless I imitate the crab,

1.1.136143And find my way, as he doth his, backwards.

1.1.137144That is, to make petition to the foot

1.1.138145That he will please tʼinstruct, and teach the head

1.1.139146When to commiserate my affair.

[Hands Foreste the document] Signor. I need a comment to your words.

If you will move my lord, the count,

1.1.142149To get the Dukeʼs fair hand subscribèd here,

1.1.143150Then I shall feel myself well understood.

Sir, my abilities are most pregnant

1.1.145152When I find I may be profitable

1.1.146153To any courtiers just and modest suit.

1.1.147154I pray, what sense carries the inscription?

Only this, sir. There is an engine made

1.1.149156Which spends it strength by force of nimble wheels;

1.1.150157For they, once screwed up, in their return

1.1.151158Will rive on oak, but with such subtle force

1.1.152159That motion gives no leisure to impediment.

1.1.153160The large and ponderous log is soon consumed

1.1.154161To shavings more transparent than a glass.

1.1.155162Of these, the skilful boxes make, scabbards,

1.1.156163Sheaths, cheasts, and moulds for childrenʼs cabinets.

Trust me, an engine of importance great!

1.1.158165But now, what would the engineer himself?

ʼFaith, signor, naught but a monopoly

1.1.160167For all those wares his engine makes.

[Returning the document] Keep it. Good sir, keep it. A monopoly!

1.1.162169Why, sir the commonwealth hath been so crushed

1.1.163170With thʼ insulting charter of such patents

1.1.164171That now the very word defiles the cause.

1.1.165172I had though you, signor, would have engaged

1.1.166173My industry in such a suit as might

1.1.167174No way disparage: though it did enrich,

1.1.168175However not abuse the public weal.

Very good, sir. My Lord the count, yourself

1.1.170177His servile instrument, and some of others

1.1.171178Of this new faction that now engross

1.1.172179All offices and send your scouts abroad.

1.1.173180Intelligencers strict, that bring home

1.1.174181The number and rate of what yourselves,

1.1.175182Or others, in the dark, can put to sale.

1.1.176183Nature hath not altered yet the first

1.1.177184And antique method to preserve our breaths:

1.1.178185We must eat bread if we intend to live,

1.1.179186Which how to get, unless this humble way

1.1.180187That you deride, in troth I cannot tell.

1.1.181188It makes me mad to think you should expose

1.1.182189Us men of heart to those fastidious helps

1.1.183190That ʼscape your own acceptance. Your wide throats,

1.1.184191That soon will swallow anything which fills,

1.1.185192Although it nourish not. A pox upon you all!

I did expect you would begin to rail.

1.1.187194Good troubled soul! I knew you well before.

1.1.188195You are the only man, whole wealthy muse

1.1.189196Doth furnish all the fiddlers in the state

1.1.190197With desperate ballads and invective songs,

1.1.191198Libels of such weak fancy and composure

1.1.192199That we do all esteem it greater wrong

1.1.193200Tʼhave our names extant in such paltry rhyme

1.1.194201Than in the slanderous sense.

Than in the slanderous sense. Very well, sir!

You! You must be a satirist for forsooth,

1.1.196204Calumniate by instinct and inspiration.

1.1.197205As if just heaven would borrow gall of you

1.1.198206Wherewith to write our faults – O strict account! –

1.1.199207Your gall, which in the pen so overflows

1.1.200208That still it blots where it inscribes.

1.1.201209You imitate the property of dogs,

1.1.202210Who bark and snarl most at him they know not,

1.1.203211For else among all those you scandalise

1.1.204212Why named you me, almost a stranger to your eye?

1.1.205213My ancestors, that built no monument

1.1.206214For their fames to dwell in, you also bring

1.1.207215Into the knowledge of the critic world.

1.1.208216Why, I could never see the yet, but drunk:

1.1.209217Which makes thy verse reel and stagger so.

Come sir! We may exchange one thrust unseen.

A pretty cur! Dare it bite as well as bark?

1.1.212221How now, sir, your mathematical thrusts?

1.1.213222Then have at ye!

1.1.214Yield me thy sword, or else thou diest.

1.1.215223I have no joy to set at liberty

1.1.216224A soul so unprepared. And as thou art

1.1.217225My enemy, I take a full revenge

1.1.218226By suffering thy corrupted blood to dwell

1.1.219227And taint within thy veins.

And taint within thy veins. Wʼare discovered.

1.1.220228Take thy sword. Now get thee home and rail uponʼt,

1.1.221229Because tʼwould fight no better.

Yet we may meet iʼthʼ dark. You have a throat,

1.1.223231And there are knives in Italy.

A good day attend my ghostly father.

1.1.225233Doth this your tarriance here discover ought

1.1.226234You would with me?

Your leisure shall produce my utterance.

1.1.228236O, son, your fame is of complexion clear,

1.1.229237Such as ensnares the virtuous eye to love

1.1.230238And adoration, such as would procure

1.1.231239All the skilful angels suitors to her,

1.1.232240And such as serves for my encouragement.

1.1.233241For I no letters have from noble friends,

1.1.234242Which a requital from themselves invite

1.1.235243By courtship bold, and troublesome to others.

1.1.236244Nor am I with that wicked metal stored

1.1.237245That rules the mighty and betrays the mind

1.1.238246To toil in a design which angers heaven

1.1.239247And makes the devil blush. But yet, dear son,

1.1.240248I have a suit to thee.

I have a suit to thee. Which I desire to know.

In the ancient convent of Saint Augustine

1.1.242251There is a holy brother lately dead,

1.1.243252Whose place, if you will but confirm on me

1.1.244253By the Dukeʼs letter to the brotherhood,

1.1.245254Then shall I better leisure have to pray

1.1.246255For you, my patron.

For you, my patron. Alas my Father!

1.1.247257The times are more observant to your tribe:

1.1.248258It is the method now that your deserts

1.1.249259Need not to usher but succeed reward.

1.1.250260The treatise written lately to confute

1.1.251261The desperate sect in Mantua, calls it you

1.1.252262The author?

It knows no other.

There your preferment safely taketh root.

1.1.255265Believe me, ghostly father, I will choose

1.1.256266The fittest time to work in your behalf.

Heaven prosper you designs.

What throngs of great impediments besiege

1.1.259269The virtuous mind! So thick in multitude,

1.1.260270They jostle one another as they come.

1.1.261271Hath vice a charter got, that none must rise

1.1.262272But such who of the devilʼs faction are?

1.1.263273The way to honour is not evermore

1.1.264274The way to hell: a virtuous man may climb.

1.1.265275Let the flatterer sell his lies elsewhere:

1.1.266276It is unthrifty merchandise to change

1.1.267277My gold for breath. Of all antagonists,

1.1.268278Most charity I find in envious men,

1.1.269279For they do sooner hurt themselves than hurt

1.1.270280Or me, or him that raised me up.

1.1.271281An envious man is made of thoughts;

1.1.272282To ruminate much doth melt the brain

1.1.273283And make the heart grow lean. Such men as these –

1.1.274284That in opposing waste their proper strengths,

1.1.275285That sacrifice themselves in silly hope

1.1.276286To butcher us – save revenge a labour.

1.1.277287And die to make experiment of wrath.

1.1.278288Let fame discourse aloud until she want

1.1.279289An antidote: I am not scared with noise.

1.1.280290Here I dismiss my fears. If I can swell –

1.1.281291Unpoisoned by those helps which heaven forbids –

1.1.282292Fond love of ease, shall neʼer my soul dehort,

1.1.283293Maugre all flattery, envy, or report.