The Duchess of Malfi
                   That you Are your own chronicle too much, and grossly Flatter yourself. FERDINAND. Give me thy hand; I thank thee:   I never gave pension but to flatterers, Till I entertained thee. Farewell. That friend a great man's ruin strongly checks, Who rails into his belief all his defects. Exeunt. 

        Scene II[79]         [Enter] DUCHESS, ANTONIO, and CARIOLA DUCHESS. Bring me the casket hither, and the glass.—   You get no lodging here to-night, my lord. ANTONIO. Indeed, I must persuade one. DUCHESS. Very good:   I hope in time 'twill grow into a custom,   That noblemen shall come with cap and knee To purchase a night's lodging of their wives. ANTONIO. I must lie here. DUCHESS. Must! You are a lord of mis-rule. ANTONIO. Indeed, my rule is only in the night. DUCHESS. I 'll stop your mouth.        [Kisses him.]    ANTONIO. Nay, that 's but one; Venus had two soft doves To draw her chariot; I must have another.—        [She kisses him again.]   When wilt thou marry, Cariola? CARIOLA. Never, my lord. ANTONIO. O, fie upon this single life! forgo it. We read how Daphne, for her peevish [flight,][80]   Became a fruitless bay-tree; Syrinx turn'd To the pale empty reed; Anaxarete   Was frozen into marble:  whereas those Which married, or prov'd kind unto their friends, Were by a gracious influence transhap'd Into the olive, pomegranate, mulberry, Became flowers, precious stones, or eminent stars. CARIOLA. This is a vain poetry:  but I pray you, tell me, If there were propos'd me, wisdom, riches, and beauty, In three several young men, which should I choose? ANTONIO.  'Tis a hard question. This was Paris' case, And he was blind in 't, and there was a great cause; For how was 't possible he could judge right, Having three amorous goddesses in view, And they stark naked?  'Twas a motion Were able to benight the apprehension Of the severest counsellor of Europe. Now I look on both your faces so well form'd, It puts me in mind of a question I would ask. CARIOLA. What is 't? ANTONIO. I do wonder why hard-favour'd ladies, For the most part, keep worse-favour'd waiting-women To attend them, and cannot endure fair ones. DUCHESS. O, that 's soon answer'd. Did you ever in your life know an ill painter Desire to have his dwelling next door to the shop Of an excellent picture-maker?  'Twould disgrace His face-making, and undo him. I prithee, When were we so merry?—My hair tangles. ANTONIO. Pray thee, Cariola, let 's steal forth the room, And let her talk to herself:  I have divers times  
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