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| Character | Hippolito Lussurioso Vindice (disguised as Piato) | |
|---|---|---|
| Scene type / Who are | Siblings, Friends | |
| Type | Dramatic | |
| Year | 1606 | |
| Period | Any | |
| Genre | Tragedy | |
| Description | Lussurioso hires Vindice to help him in his amorous pursuits | |
| Location | ACT I, Scene 3 | |
Summary
The title refers to Vindice's revenge plot against an old Duke who has poisoned his girlfriend Gloriana when she rejected his advances. Years later Vindice's brother, Hippolito, works as a servant for the Duke's son, Lussurioso. Hippolito convinces Lussurioso to hire his brother (disguised as Piato), to help him seduce and procure women for him. Lussurioso has interest in Hippolito and Vindice's sister, Castiza. In this scene Lussurioso meets Vindice (as Piato) and asks him to procure Castizia for him.
Written by Administrator
| Excerpt |
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| [I.iii. The palace] Enter Vindici and Hippolito, Vindici in disguise [as Piato] to attend Lord Lussurioso, the duke's son. VINDICI What, brother? Am I far enough from myself? HIPPOLITO As if another man had been sent Into the world, and none wist how he came. VINDICI It will confirm me bold, the child a' th' court: Let blushes dwell i' th' country. Impudence, Thou goddess of the palace, [mistress] of [mistresses] To whom the costly-perfum'd people pray, Strike thou my forehead into dauntless marble, Mine eyes to steady sapphires: turn my visage, And if I must needs glow, let me blush inward That this immodest season may not spy That scholar in my cheeks, fool-bashfulness, That maid in the old time, whose flush of grace Would never suffer her to get good clothes. Our maids are wiser and are less asham'd; Save grace the bawd I seldom hear grace nam'd! HIPPOLITO Nay, brother, you reach out a' th' verge now. [Enter Lussurioso.] 'Sfoot, the duke's son! Settle your looks. VINDICI Pray let me not be doubted. HIPPOLITO My lord-- LUSSURIOSO Hippolito? Be absent; leave us. HIPPOLITO My lord, after long search, wary inquiries And politic siftings, I made choice of yon fellow, Whom I guess rare for many deep employments; This our age swims within him: and if Time Had so much hair, I should take him for Time, He is so near kin to this present minute. LUSSURIOSO 'Tis enough; We thank thee. Yet words are but great men's blanks: Gold, tho' it be dumb, does utter the best thanks. [He gives Hippolito gold.] HIPPOLITO Your plenteous honour; an ex'lent fellow, my lord. LUSSURIOSO So, give us leave. Exit [Hippolito]. Welcome, be not far off, we must be better acquainted. Push, be bold with us, thy hand! VINDICI With all my heart, i'faith. How dost, sweet musk-cat? When shall we lie together? LUSSURIOSO [Aside] Wondrous knave! Gather him into boldness? 'Sfoot, the slave's Already as familiar as an ague, And shakes me at his pleasure!--Friend, I can Forget myself in private, but elsewhere, I pray do you remember me. VINDICI Oh, very well, sir. I conster myself saucy. LUSSURIOSO What hast been? Of what profession? VINDICI A bone-setter. LUSSURIOSO A bone-setter! VINDICI A bawd, my lord, One that sets bones together. LUSSURIOSO [Aside] Notable bluntness! Fit, fit for me, e'en train'd up to my hand.-- Thou hast been scrivener to much knavery then? VINDICI Fool to abundance, sir. I have been witness To the surrenders of a thousand virgins, And not so little; I have seen patrimonies wash'd a' pieces, Fruit-fields turn'd into bastards, And in a world of acres, Not so much dust due to the heir 'twas left to As would well gravel a petition! LUSSURIOSO [Aside] Fine villain! Troth, I like him wondrously. He's e'en shap'd for my purpose.--Then thou know'st I' th' world strange lust. VINDICI Oh, Dutch lust! Fulsome lust! Drunken procreation, which begets So many drunkards! Some father dreads not, gone To bed in wine, to slide from the mother And cling the daughter-in-law, Some uncles are adulterous with their nieces, Brothers with brothers' wives. Oh, hour of incest! Any kin now next to the rim a' th' sister Is man's meat in these days, and in the morning When they are up and dress'd, and their mask on, Who can perceive this save that eternal eye That sees through flesh and all well. If anything be damn'd, It will be twelve a' clock at night; that twelve Will never 'scape: It is the Judas of the hours, wherein Honest salvation is betray'd to sin. LUSSURIOSO In troth, it is too; but let this talk glide. It is our blood to err, tho' hell gap'd loud: Ladies know Lucifer fell, yet still are proud. Now, sir. Wert thou as secret as thou'rt subtle, And deeply fadom'd into all estates, I would embrace thee for a near employment, And thou shouldst swell in money, and be able To make lame beggars crouch to thee. VINDICI My lord? Secret? I ne'er had that disease a' th' mother, I praise my father: why are men made close, But to keep thoughts in best? I grant you this, Tell but some woman a secret overnight, Your doctor may find it in the urinal i' th' morning. But, my lord-- LUSSURIOSO So, thou'rt confirmed in me, And thus I enter thee. VINDICI This Indian devil Will quickly enter any man but a usurer; He prevents that by ent'ring the devil first. LUSSURIOSO Attend me: I am past my [depth] in lust And I must swim or drown; all my desires Are level'd at a virgin not far from court, To whom I have convey'd by messenger Many wax'd lines, full of my neatest spirit, And jewels that were able to ravish her Without the help of man, all which and more She, foolish-chaste, sent back, the messengers Receiving frowns for answers. VINDICI Possible? 'Tis a rare phoenix, whoe'er she be, If your desires be such, she so repugnant. In troth, my lord, I'd be reveng'd and marry her. LUSSURIOSO Push, the dowry of her blood and of her fortunes Are both too mean, good enough to be bad withal. I'm one of that number can defend Marriage is good, yet rather keep a friend. Give me my bed by stealth; there's true delight: What breeds a loathing in't but night by night? VINDICI A very fine religion! LUSSURIOSO Therefore thus: I'll trust thee in the business of my heart Because I see thee well experienc'd In this luxurious day wherein we breathe. Go thou, and with a smooth, enchanting tongue Bewitch her ears and cozen her of all grace. Enter upon the portion of her soul, Her honour, which she calls her chastity, And bring it into expense, for honesty Is like a stock of money laid to sleep, Which ne'er so little broke does never keep. VINDICI You have gi'n 't the tang, i'faith, my lord. Make known the lady to me, and my brain Shall swell with strange invention: I will move it Till I expire with speaking, and drop down Without a word to save me; but I'll work. LUSSURIOSO We thank thee, and will raise thee: receive her name; It is the only daughter to Madam Gratiana, The late widow. VINDICI [Aside] Oh, my sister, my sister! LUSSURIOSO Why dost walk aside? VINDICI My lord, I was thinking how I might begin, As thus, "Oh, lady," or twenty hundred devices; Her very bodkin will put a man in. LUSSURIOSO Ay, or the wagging of her hair. VINDICI No, that shall put you in, my lord. LUSSURIOSO Shall 't? Why, content. Dost know the daughter then? VINDICI Oh, ex'lent well by sight. LUSSURIOSO That was her brother That did prefer thee to us. VINDICI My lord, I think so; I knew I had seen him somewhere. LUSSURIOSO And therefore, prithee, let thy heart to him Be as a virgin, close. VINDICI Oh, [my] good lord! LUSSURIOSO We may laugh at that simple age within him. VINDICI Ha, ha, ha! LUSSURIOSO Himself being made the subtle instrument To wind up a good fellow. VINDICI That's I, my lord. LUSSURIOSO That's thou, To entice and work his sister. VINDICI A pure novice! LUSSURIOSO 'Twas finely manag'd. VINDICI Gallantly carried. [Aside] A pretty, perfum'd villain! LUSSURIOSO I've bethought me, If she prove chaste still and immoveable, Venture upon the mother, and with gifts As I will furnish thee, begin with her. VINDICI Oh, fie, fie, that's the wrong end, my lord! 'Tis mere impossible that a mother by any gifts should become a bawd to her own daughter! LUSSURIOSO Nay, then I see thou'rt but a puny in the subtle mystery of a woman. Why, 'tis held now no dainty dish: the name Is so in league with age that nowadays It does eclipse three quarters of a mother. VINDICI Dost so, my lord? Let me alone then to eclipse the fourth. LUSSURIOSO Why, well said; come, I'll furnish thee, but first Swear to be true in all. VINDICI True? LUSSURIOSO Nay, but swear! VINDICI Swear? I hope your honour little doubts my faith. LUSSURIOSO Yet for my humour's sake, 'cause I love swearing. VINDICI 'Cause you love swearing, 'slud, I will. LUSSURIOSO Why, enough, Ere long look to be made of better stuff. VINDICI That will do well indeed, my lord. LUSSURIOSO Attend me. Exit. VINDICI Oh, Now let me burst: I've eaten noble poison! We are made strange fellows, brother, innocent villains. Wilt not be angry when thou hear'st on't, think'st thou? I'faith, thou shalt; swear me to foul my sister! Sword, I durst make a promise of him to thee, Thou shalt dis-heir him, it shall be thine honour! And yet now angry froth is down in me, It would not prove the meanest policy In this disguise to try the faith of both; Another might have had the selfsame office, Some slave that would have wrought effectually, Ay, and perhaps o'erwrought 'em. Therefore I, Being thought travell'd, will apply myself Unto the selfsame form, forget my nature, As if no part about me were kin to 'em; So touch 'em, tho' I durst almost for good Venture my lands in heaven upon their [blood]. Exit. |
