The Duchess of Malfi
you have. ANTONIO. I am all yours; and 'tis very fit All mine should be so. DUCHESS. So, sir, you have your pass. ANTONIO. You may see, gentlemen, what 'tis to serve A prince with body and soul. Exit. BOSOLA. Here 's an example for extortion:  what moisture is drawn out of the sea, when foul weather comes, pours down, and runs into the sea again. DUCHESS. I would know what are your opinions Of this Antonio. SECOND OFFICER. He could not abide to see a pig's head gaping:   I thought your grace would find him a Jew. THIRD OFFICER. I would you had been his officer, for your own sake. FOURTH OFFICER. You would have had more money. FIRST OFFICER. He stopped his ears with black wool, and to those came to him for money said he was thick of hearing. SECOND OFFICER. Some said he was an hermaphrodite, for he could not abide a woman. FOURTH OFFICER. How scurvy proud he would look when the treasury was full! Well, let him go. FIRST OFFICER. Yes, and the chippings of the buttery fly after him, to scour his gold chain.[84]    DUCHESS. Leave us. Exeunt [Officers.]   What do you think of these? BOSOLA. That these are rogues that in 's prosperity, But to have waited on his fortune, could have wish'd His dirty stirrup riveted through their noses, And follow'd after 's mule, like a bear in a ring; Would have prostituted their daughters to his lust; Made their first-born intelligencers;[85] thought none happy But such as were born under his blest planet, And wore his livery:  and do these lice drop off now? Well, never look to have the like again:   He hath left a sort[86] of flattering rogues behind him; Their doom must follow. Princes pay flatterers In their own money:  flatterers dissemble their vices, And they dissemble their lies; that 's justice. Alas, poor gentleman! DUCHESS. Poor! he hath amply fill'd his coffers. BOSOLA. Sure, he was too honest. Pluto,[87] the god of riches, When he 's sent by Jupiter to any man, He goes limping, to signify that wealth That comes on God's name comes slowly; but when he's sent On the devil's errand, he rides post and comes in by scuttles.[88]   Let me show you what a most unvalu'd jewel You have in a wanton humour thrown away, To bless the man shall find him. He was an excellent Courtier and most faithful; a soldier that thought it As beastly to know his own value too little As devilish to acknowledge it too much. Both his virtue and form deserv'd a far better fortune:   His discourse rather delighted to judge itself than show itself:   His breast was fill'd with all perfection, And yet it seemed a private whisp'ring-room, It made so little noise of 't. DUCHESS. 
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