ut I would see it seal'd. Go, get you in: You shall see my wind my tongue about his heart Like a skein of silk. [Exit BOSOLA.]
[Re-enter CARDINAL]
CARDINAL. Where are you?
[Enter Servants.]
SERVANTS. Here.
CARDINAL. Let none, upon your lives, have conference With the Prince Ferdinand, unless I know it.-- [Aside] In this distraction he may reveal The murder. [Exeunt Servants.] Yond 's my lingering consumption: I am weary of her, and by any means Would be quit of.
JULIA. How now, my lord! what ails you?
CARDINAL. Nothing.
JULIA. O, you are much alter'd: Come, I must be your secretary, and remove This lead from off your bosom: what 's the matter?
CARDINAL. I may not tell you.
JULIA. Are you so far in love with sorrow You cannot part with part of it? Or think you I cannot love your grace when you are sad As well as merry? Or do you suspect I, that have been a secret to your heart These many winters, cannot be the same Unto your tongue?
CARDINAL. Satisfy thy longing,-- The only way to make thee keep my counsel Is, not to tell thee.
JULIA. Tell your echo this, Or flatterers, that like echoes still report What they hear though most imperfect, and not me; For if that you be true unto yourself, I 'll know.
CARDINAL. Will you rack me?
JULIA. No, judgment shall Draw it from you: it is an equal fault, To tell one's secrets unto all or none.
CARDINAL. The first argues folly.
JULIA. But the last tyranny.
CARDINAL. Very well: why, imagine I have committed Some secret deed which I desire the world May never hear of.
JULIA. Therefore may not I know it? You have conceal'd for me as great a sin As adultery. Sir, never was occasion For perfect trial of my constancy Till now: sir, I beseech you----
CARDINAL. You 'll repent it.
JULIA. Never.
CARDINAL. It hurries thee to ruin: I 'll not tell thee. Be well advis'd, and think what danger 'tis To receive a prince's secrets. They that do, Had need have their breasts hoop'd with adamant To contain them. I pray thee, yet be satisfi'd; Examine thine own frailty; 'tis more easy To tie knots than unloose them. 'Tis a secret That, like a ling'ring poison, may chance lie Spread in thy veins, and kill thee seven year hence.
JULIA. Now you dally with me.
CARDINAL. No more; thou shalt know it. By my appointment the great Duchess of Malfi And two of her young children, four nights since, Were strangl'd.
JULIA. O heaven! sir, what have you done!
CARDINAL. How now? How settles this? Think you your bosom Will be a grave dark and obscure enough For such a secret?
JULIA. You have undone yourself, sir.
CARDINAL. Why?
JULIA. It lies not in me to conceal it.
CARDINAL. No? Come, I will swear you to 't upon this book.
JULIA. Most religiously.
CARDINAL. Kiss it. [She kisses the book.] Now you shall never utter it; thy curiosity Hath undone thee; thou 'rt poison'd with that book. Because I knew thou couldst not keep my counsel, I have bound thee to 't by death.
[Re-enter BOSOLA]
BOSOLA. For pity-sake, hold!
CARDINAL. Ha, Bosola!
JULIA. I forgive you This equal piece of justice you have done; For I betray'd your counsel to that fellow. He over-heard it; that was the cause I said It lay not in me to conceal it.
BOSOLA. O foolish woman, Couldst not thou have poison'd him?
JULIA. 'Tis weakness, Too much to think what should have been done. I go, I know not whither. [Dies.]
CARDINAL. Wherefore com'st thou hither?
BOSOLA. That I might find a great man like yourself, Not out of his wits, as the Lord Ferdinand, To remember my service.