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 for The provisorship of your horse.
DUCHESS. Your knowledge of him Commends 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 friends At the leaguer.
SILVIO. Sir, I shall.
[DUCHESS.] You are for Milan?
SILVIO. I am.
DUCHESS. Bring the caroches.<13>--We 'll bring you down To the haven. [Exeunt DUCHESS, SILVIO, CASTRUCCIO, RODERIGO, GRISOLAN, CARIOLA, JULIA, and Attendants.]
CARDINAL. Be sure you entertain that Bosola For your intelligence.<14> I would not be seen in 't; And therefore many times I have slighted him When 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 never Abide you.
BOSOLA. Never since he was in my debt.
FERDINAND. May be some oblique character in your face Made him suspect you.
BOSOLA. Doth he study physiognomy? There 's no more credit to be given to the face Than to a sick man's urine, which some call The physician's whore, because she cozens<15> him. He did suspect me wrongfully.
FERDINAND. For that You 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-tree Fastens it more at root.
BOSOLA. Yet take heed; For to suspect a friend unworthily Instructs 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 these Without thunderbolts i' the tail of them.--Whose throat must I cut?
FERDINAND. Your inclination to shed blood rides post Before my occasion to use you. I give you that To 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 me One of your familiars.
FERDINAND. Familiar! What 's that?
BOSOLA. Why, a very quaint invisible devil in flesh,-- An intelligencer.<16>
FERDINAND. Such a kind of thriving thing I would wish thee; and ere long thou mayst arrive At a higher place by 't.
BOSOLA. Take your devils, Which hell calls angels! These curs'd gifts would make You a corrupter, me an impudent traitor; And should I take these, they'd take me [to] hell.
FERDINAND. Sir, I 'll take nothing from you that I have given. There is a place that I procur'd for you This morning, the provisorship o' the horse; Have you heard on 't?
BOSOLA. No.
FERDINAND. 'Tis yours: is 't not worth thanks?
BOSOLA.