The Duchess of Malfi
I 'll leave you. FERDINAND. Nay, I have done. I am confident, had I been damn'd in hell, And should have heard of this, it would have put me Into a cold sweat. In, in; I 'll go sleep. Till I know who [loves] my sister, I 'll not stir:   That known, I 'll find scorpions to string my whips, And fix her in a general eclipse. Exeunt. 

        Act III 

        Scene I[72]         [Enter] ANTONIO and DELIO ANTONIO. Our noble friend, my most beloved Delio! O, you have been a stranger long at court:   Came you along with the Lord Ferdinand? DELIO.  I did, sir:  and how fares your noble duchess? ANTONIO. Right fortunately well:  she 's an excellent Feeder of pedigrees; since you last saw her, She hath had two children more, a son and daughter. DELIO. Methinks 'twas yesterday. Let me but wink, And not behold your face, which to mine eye Is somewhat leaner, verily I should dream It were within this half hour. ANTONIO. You have not been in law, friend Delio, Nor in prison, nor a suitor at the court, Nor begg'd the reversion of some great man's place, Nor troubled with an old wife, which doth make Your time so insensibly hasten. DELIO. Pray, sir, tell me, Hath not this news arriv'd yet to the ear Of the lord cardinal? ANTONIO. I fear it hath:   The Lord Ferdinand, that 's newly come to court, Doth bear himself right dangerously. DELIO. Pray, why? ANTONIO. He is so quiet that he seems to sleep The tempest out, as dormice do in winter. Those houses that are haunted are most still Till the devil be up. DELIO. What say the common people? ANTONIO. The common rabble do directly say She is a strumpet. DELIO. And your graver heads Which would be politic, what censure they? ANTONIO. They do observe I grow to infinite purchase,[73]   The left hand way; and all suppose the duchess Would amend it, if she could; for, say they, Great princes, though they grudge their officers Should have such large and unconfined means To get wealth under them, will not complain, Lest thereby they should make them odious Unto the people. For other obligation Of love or marriage between her and me They never dream of. DELIO. The Lord Ferdinand Is going to bed.         [Enter DUCHESS, FERDINAND, and Attendants]    FERDINAND. I 'll instantly to bed, For I am weary.—I am to bespeak A husband for you. DUCHESS. For me, sir! Pray, who is 't? FERDINAND. The great Count Malatesti. DUCHESS.                     
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