DELIO. You instruct me well.
ANTONIO. Why, here 's a man now would fright impudence >From sauciest beggars.
PESCARA. Prince Ferdinand 's come to Milan, Sick, as they give out, of an apoplexy; But some say 'tis a frenzy: I am going To visit him. Exit.
ANTONIO. 'Tis a noble old fellow.
DELIO. What course do you mean to take, Antonio?
ANTONIO. This night I mean to venture all my fortune, Which is no more than a poor ling'ring life, To the cardinal's worst of malice. I have got Private access to his chamber; and intend To visit him about the mid of night, As once his brother did our noble duchess. It may be that the sudden apprehension Of danger,--for I 'll go in mine own shape,-- When he shall see it fraight<123> with love and duty, May draw the poison out of him, and work A friendly reconcilement. If it fail, Yet it shall rid me of this infamous calling; For better fall once than be ever falling.
DELIO. I 'll second you in all danger; and howe'er, My life keeps rank with yours.
ANTONIO. You are still my lov'd and best friend. Exeunt.
Scene II<124>
[Enter] PESCARA and DOCTOR
PESCARA. Now, doctor, may I visit your patient?
DOCTOR. If 't please your lordship; but he 's instantly To take the air here in the gallery By my direction.
PESCARA. Pray thee, what 's his disease?
DOCTOR. A very pestilent disease, my lord, They call lycanthropia.
PESCARA. What 's that? I need a dictionary to 't.
DOCTOR. I 'll tell you. In those that are possess'd with 't there o'erflows Such melancholy humour they imagine Themselves to be transformed into wolves; Steal forth to church-yards in the dead of night, And dig dead bodies up: as two nights since One met the duke 'bout midnight in a lane Behind Saint Mark's church, with the leg of a man Upon his shoulder; and he howl'd fearfully; Said he was a wolf, only the difference Was, a wolf's skin was hairy on the outside, His on the inside; bade them take their swords, Rip up his flesh, and try. Straight I was sent for, And, having minister'd to him, found his grace Very well recover'd.
PESCARA. I am glad on 't.
DOCTOR. Yet not without some fear Of a relapse. If he grow to his fit again, I 'll go a nearer way to work with him Than ever Paracelsus dream'd of; if They 'll give me leave, I 'll buffet his madness out of him. Stand aside; he comes.
[Enter FERDINAND, CARDINAL, MALATESTI, and BOSOLA]
FERDINAND. Leave me.
MALATESTI. Why doth your lordship love this solitariness?
FERDINAND. Eagles commonly fly alone: they are crows, daws, and starlings that flock together. Look, what 's that follows me?
MALATESTI. Nothing, my lord.
FERDINAND. Yes.
MALATESTI. 'Tis your shadow.
FERDINAND. Stay it; let it not haunt me.
MALATESTI. Impossible, if you move, and the sun shine.
FERDINAND. I will throttle it. [Throws himself down on his shadow.]
MALATESTI. O, my lord, you are angry with nothing.
FERDINAND. You are a fool: how is 't possible I should catch my shadow, unless I fall upon 't? When I go to hell, I mean to carry a bribe; for, look you, good gifts evermore make way for the worst persons.
PESCARA. Rise, good my lord.
FERDINAND. I am studying the art of patience.
PESCARA. 'Tis a noble virtue.
FERDINAND. To drive six snails before me from this town to Moscow; neither use goad nor whip to them, but let them take their own time; --the patient'st man i' th' world match me for an experiment:-- an I 'll crawl after like a sheep-biter.<125>
CARDINAL. Force him up. [They raise him.]
FERDINAND. Use me well, you were best. What I have done, I have done: I 'll confess nothing.
DOCTOR. Now let me come to him.--Are you mad, my lord? are you out of your princely wits?
FERDINAND. What 's he?
PESCARA. Your doctor.
FERDINAND. Let me have his beard saw'd off, and his eye-brows fil'd more civil.