The Duchess of Malfi E-Book

John Webster

• Herausgeber: John Webster
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2016

Beschreibung

Of John Webster's life almost nothing is known. The dates 1580-1625 given for his birth and death are conjectural inferences, about which the best that can be said is that no known facts contradict them.
The first notice of Webster so far discovered shows that he was collaborating in the production of plays for the theatrical manager, Henslowe, in 1602, and of such collaboration he seems to have done a considerable amount. Four plays exist which he wrote alone, "The White Devil," "The Duchess of Malfi," "The Devil's Law-Case," and "Appius and Virginia."
"The Duchess of Malfi" was published in 1623, but the date of writing may have been as early as 1611. It is based on a story in Painter's "Palace of Pleasure," translated from the Italian novelist, Bandello; and it is entirely possible that it has a foundation in fact. In any case, it portrays with a terrible vividness one side of the court life of the Italian Renaissance; and its picture of the fierce quest of pleasure, the recklessness of crime, and the worldliness of the great princes of the Church finds only too ready corroboration in the annals of the time.

Leseprobe

John Webster

The Duchess of Malfi

UUID: e13fa41a-11e5-11e6-889a-0f7870795abd

This ebook was created with StreetLib Write (http://write.streetlib.com)by Simplicissimus Book Farm

Table of contents

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

THE DUCHESS OF MALFI

FOOTNOTES:

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

Of John Webster's life almost nothing is known. The dates 1580-1625 given for his birth and death are conjectural inferences, about which the best that can be said is that no known facts contradict them.The first notice of Webster so far discovered shows that he was collaborating in the production of plays for the theatrical manager, Henslowe, in 1602, and of such collaboration he seems to have done a considerable amount. Four plays exist which he wrote alone, "The White Devil," "The Duchess of Malfi," "The Devil's Law-Case," and "Appius and Virginia.""The Duchess of Malfi" was published in 1623, but the date of writing may have been as early as 1611. It is based on a story in Painter's "Palace of Pleasure," translated from the Italian novelist, Bandello; and it is entirely possible that it has a foundation in fact. In any case, it portrays with a terrible vividness one side of the court life of the Italian Renaissance; and its picture of the fierce quest of pleasure, the recklessness of crime, and the worldliness of the great princes of the Church finds only too ready corroboration in the annals of the time.Webster's tragedies come toward the close of the great series of tragedies of blood and revenge, in which "The Spanish Tragedy" and "Hamlet" are landmarks, but before decadence can fairly be said to have set in. He, indeed, loads his scene with horrors almost past the point which modern taste can bear; but the intensity of his dramatic situations, and his superb power of flashing in a single line a light into the recesses of the human heart at the crises of supreme emotion, redeems him from mere sensationalism, and places his best things in the first rank of dramatic writing.

THE DUCHESS OF MALFI

Dramatis Personae:FERDINAND [Duke of Calabria].CARDINAL [his brother].ANTONIO [BOLOGNA, Steward of the Household to the Duchess].DELIO [his friend].DANIEL DE BOSOLA [Gentleman of the Horse to the Duchess].[CASTRUCCIO, an old Lord].MARQUIS OF PESCARA.[COUNT] MALATESTI.RODERIGO, ]SILVIO, ] [Lords].GRISOLAN, ]DOCTOR.The Several Madmen.DUCHESS [OF MALFI].CARIOLA [her woman].[JULIA, Castruccio's wife, and] the Cardinal's mistress.[Old Lady].Ladies, Three Young Children, Two Pilgrims, Executioners,Court Officers, and Attendants.ACT ISCENE I[1][Enter] ANTONIO and DELIODELIO. You are welcome to your country, dear Antonio;You have been long in France, and you returnA very formal Frenchman in your habit:How do you like the French court?ANTONIO. I admire it:In seeking to reduce both state and peopleTo a fix'd order, their judicious kingBegins at home; quits first his royal palaceOf flattering sycophants, of dissoluteAnd infamous persons,—which he sweetly termsHis master's master-piece, the work of heaven;Considering duly that a prince's courtIs like a common fountain, whence should flowPure silver drops in general, but if 't chanceSome curs'd example poison 't near the head,Death and diseases through the whole land spread.And what is 't makes this blessed governmentBut a most provident council, who dare freelyInform him the corruption of the times?Though some o' the court hold it presumptionTo instruct princes what they ought to do,It is a noble duty to inform themWhat they ought to foresee.[2]—Here comes Bosola,The only court-gall; yet I observe his railingIs not for simple love of piety:Indeed, he rails at those things which he wants;Would be as lecherous, covetous, or proud,Bloody, or envious, as any man,If he had means to be so.—Here's the cardinal.[Enter CARDINAL and BOSOLA]BOSOLA. I do haunt you still.CARDINAL. So.BOSOLA. I have done you better service than to be slighted thus.Miserable age, where only the reward of doing well is the doingof it!CARDINAL. You enforce your merit too much.BOSOLA. I fell into the galleys in your service: where, for twoyears together, I wore two towels instead of a shirt, with a knoton the shoulder, after the fashion of a Roman mantle. Slighted thus!I will thrive some way. Black-birds fatten best in hard weather;why not I in these dog-days?CARDINAL. Would you could become honest!BOSOLA. With all your divinity do but direct me the way to it.I have known many travel far for it, and yet return as arrant knavesas they went forth, because they carried themselves always along withthem. [Exit CARDINAL.] Are you gone? Some fellows, they say,are possessed with the devil, but this great fellow were ableto possess the greatest devil, and make him worse.ANTONIO. He hath denied thee some suit?BOSOLA. He and his brother are like plum-trees that grow crookedover standing-pools; they are rich and o'erladen with fruit, but nonebut crows, pies, and caterpillars feed on them. Could I be oneof their flattering panders, I would hang on their ears like ahorseleech, till I were full, and then drop off. I pray, leave me.Who would rely upon these miserable dependencies, in expectationto be advanc'd to-morrow? What creature ever fed worse than hopingTantalus? Nor ever died any man more fearfully than he that hopedfor a pardon. There are rewards for hawks and dogs when they havedone us service; but for a soldier that hazards his limbs in abattle, nothing but a kind of geometry is his last supportation.DELIO. Geometry?BOSOLA. Ay, to hang in a fair pair of slings, take his latter swingin the world upon an honourable pair of crutches, from hospitalto hospital. Fare ye well, sir: and yet do not you scorn us;for places in the court are but like beds in the hospital, wherethis man's head lies at that man's foot, and so lower and lower.[Exit.]DELIO. I knew this fellow seven years in the galleysFor a notorious murder; and 'twas thoughtThe cardinal suborn'd it: he was releas'dBy the French general, Gaston de Foix,When he recover'd Naples.ANTONIO. 'Tis great pityHe should be thus neglected: I have heardHe 's very valiant. This foul melancholyWill poison all his goodness; for, I 'll tell you,If too immoderate sleep be truly saidTo be an inward rust unto the soul,If then doth follow want of actionBreeds all black malcontents; and their close rearing,Like moths in cloth, do hurt for want of wearing.SCENE II[3]ANTONIO, DELIO, [Enter SILVIO, CASTRUCCIO, JULIA, RODERIGOand GRISOLAN]DELIO. The presence 'gins to fill: you promis'd meTo make me the partaker of the naturesOf some of your great courtiers.ANTONIO. The lord cardinal'sAnd other strangers' that are now in court?I shall.—Here comes the great Calabrian duke.[Enter FERDINAND and Attendants]FERDINAND. Who took the ring oftenest?[4]SILVIO. Antonio Bologna, my lord.FERDINAND. Our sister duchess' great-master of her household?Give him the jewel.—When shall we leave this sportive action,and fall to action indeed?CASTRUCCIO. Methinks, my lord, you should not desire to go to warin person.FERDINAND. Now for some gravity.—Why, my lord?CASTRUCCIO. It is fitting a soldier arise to be a prince, but notnecessary a prince descend to be a captain.FERDINAND. No?CASTRUCCIO. No, my lord; he were far better do it by a deputy.FERDINAND. Why should he not as well sleep or eat by a deputy?This might take idle, offensive, and base office from him, whereasthe other deprives him of honour.CASTRUCCIO. Believe my experience, that realm is never long in quietwhere the ruler is a soldier.FERDINAND. Thou toldest me thy wife could not endure fighting.CASTRUCCIO. True, my lord.FERDINAND. And of a jest she broke of[5]a captain she met full ofwounds: I have forgot it.CASTRUCCIO. She told him, my lord, he was a pitiful fellow, to lie,like the children of Ismael, all in tents.[6]FERDINAND. Why, there's a wit were able to undo all thechirurgeons[7]o' the city; for although gallants should quarrel,and had drawn their weapons, and were ready to go to it, yet herpersuasions would make them put up.CASTRUCCIO. That she would, my lord.—How do you like my Spanishgennet?[8]RODERIGO. He is all fire.FERDINAND. I am of Pliny's opinion, I think he was begotby the wind; he runs as if he were ballass'd[9]with quicksilver.SILVIO. True, my lord, he reels from the tilt often.RODERIGO, GRISOLAN. Ha, ha, ha!FERDINAND. Why do you laugh? Methinks you that are courtiersshould be my touch-wood, take fire when I give fire; that is,laugh when I laugh, were the subject never so witty.CASTRUCCIO. True, my lord: I myself have heard a very good jest,and have scorn'd to seem to have so silly a wit as to understand it.FERDINAND. But I can laugh at your fool, my lord.CASTRUCCIO. He cannot speak, you know, but he makes faces; my ladycannot abide him.FERDINAND. No?CASTRUCCIO. Nor endure to be in merry company; for she says too muchlaughing, and too much company, fills her too full of the wrinkle.FERDINAND. I would, then, have a mathematical instrument madefor her face, that she might not laugh out of compass.—I shallshortly visit you at Milan, Lord Silvio.SILVIO. Your grace shall arrive most welcome.FERDINAND. You are a good horseman, Antonio; you have excellentriders in France: what do you think of good horsemanship?ANTONIO. Nobly, my lord: as out of the Grecian horse issued manyfamous princes, so out of brave horsemanship arise the first sparksof growing resolution, that raise the mind to noble action.FERDINAND. You have bespoke it worthily.SILVIO. Your brother, the lord cardinal, and sister duchess.[Enter CARDINAL, with DUCHESS, and CARIOLA]CARDINAL. Are the galleys come about?GRISOLAN. They are, my lord.FERDINAND. Here 's the Lord Silvio is come to take his leave.DELIO. Now, sir, your promise: what 's that cardinal?I mean his temper? They say he 's a brave fellow,Will play his five thousand crowns at tennis, dance,Court ladies, and one that hath fought single combats.ANTONIO. Some such flashes superficially hang on him for form;but observe his inward character: he is a melancholy churchman.The spring in his face is nothing but the engend'ring of toads;where he is jealous of any man, he lays worse plots for them thanever was impos'd on Hercules, for he strews in his way flatterers,panders, intelligencers, atheists, and a thousand such politicalmonsters. He should have been Pope; but instead of coming to itby the primitive decency of the church, he did bestow bribesso largely and so impudently as if he would have carried it awaywithout heaven's knowledge. Some good he hath done——DELIO. You have given too much of him. What 's his brother?ANTONIO. The duke there? A most perverse and turbulent nature.What appears in him mirth is merely outside;If he laught heartily, it is to laughAll honesty out of fashion.DELIO. Twins?ANTONIO. In quality.He speaks with others' tongues, and hears men's suitsWith others' ears; will seem to sleep o' the benchOnly to entrap offenders in their answers;Dooms men to death by information;Rewards by hearsay.DELIO. Then the law to himIs like a foul, black cobweb to a spider,—He makes it his dwelling and a prisonTo entangle those shall feed him.ANTONIO. Most true:He never pays debts unless they be shrewd turns,And those he will confess that he doth owe.Last, for this brother there, the cardinal,They that do flatter him most say oraclesHang at his lips; and verily I believe them,For the devil speaks in them.But for their sister, the right noble duchess,You never fix'd your eye on three fair medalsCast in one figure, of so different temper.For her discourse, it is so full of rapture,You only will begin then to be sorryWhen she doth end her speech, and wish, in wonder,She held it less vain-glory to talk much,Than your penance to hear her. Whilst she speaks,She throws upon a man so sweet a lookThat it were able to raise one to a galliard.[10]That lay in a dead palsy, and to doteOn that sweet countenance; but in that lookThere speaketh so divine a continenceAs cuts off all lascivious and vain hope.Her days are practis'd in such noble virtue,That sure her nights, nay, more, her very sleeps,Are more in heaven than other ladies' shrifts.Let all sweet ladies break their flatt'ring glasses,And dress themselves in her.DELIO. Fie, Antonio,You play the wire-drawer with her commendations.ANTONIO. I 'll case the picture up: only thus much;All her particular worth grows to this sum,—She stains[11]the time past, lights the time to come.CARIOLA. You must attend my lady in the gallery,Some half and hour hence.ANTONIO. I shall.[Exeunt ANTONIO and DELIO.]FERDINAND. Sister, I have a suit to you.DUCHESS. To me, sir?FERDINAND. A gentleman here, Daniel de Bosola,One that was in the galleys——DUCHESS. Yes, I know him.FERDINAND. A worthy fellow he is: pray, let me entreat forThe provisorship of your horse.DUCHESS. Your knowledge of himCommends him and prefers him.FERDINAND. Call him hither.[Exit Attendant.]We [are] now upon[12]parting. Good Lord Silvio,Do us commend to all our noble friendsAt the leaguer.SILVIO. Sir, I shall.[DUCHESS.] You are for Milan?SILVIO. I am.DUCHESS. Bring the caroches.[13]—We 'll bring you downTo the haven.[Exeunt DUCHESS, SILVIO, CASTRUCCIO, RODERIGO, GRISOLAN,CARIOLA, JULIA, and Attendants.]CARDINAL. Be sure you entertain that BosolaFor your intelligence.[14]I would not be seen in 't;And therefore many times I have slighted himWhen he did court our furtherance, as this morning.FERDINAND. Antonio, the great-master of her household,Had been far fitter.CARDINAL. You are deceiv'd in him.His nature is too honest for such business.—He comes: I 'll leave you.[Exit.][Re-enter BOSOLA]BOSOLA. I was lur'd to you.FERDINAND. My brother, here, the cardinal, could neverAbide you.BOSOLA. Never since he was in my debt.FERDINAND. May be some oblique character in your faceMade him suspect you.BOSOLA. Doth he study physiognomy?There 's no more credit to be given to the faceThan to a sick man's urine, which some callThe physician's whore, because she cozens[15]him.He did suspect me wrongfully.FERDINAND. For thatYou must give great men leave to take their times.Distrust doth cause us seldom be deceiv'd.You see the oft shaking of the cedar-treeFastens it more at root.BOSOLA. Yet take heed;For to suspect a friend unworthilyInstructs him the next way to suspect you,And prompts him to deceive you.FERDINAND. There 's gold.BOSOLA. So:What follows? [Aside.] Never rain'd such showers as theseWithout thunderbolts i' the tail of them.—Whose throat must I cut?FERDINAND. Your inclination to shed blood rides postBefore my occasion to use you. I give you thatTo live i' the court here, and observe the duchess;To note all the particulars of her haviour,What suitors do solicit her for marriage,And whom she best affects. She 's a young widow:I would not have her marry again.BOSOLA. No, sir?FERDINAND. Do not you ask the reason; but be satisfied.I say I would not.BOSOLA. It seems you would create meOne of your familiars.FERDINAND. Familiar! What 's that?BOSOLA. Why, a very quaint invisible devil in flesh,— [...]