O, I am gone! We are only like dead walls or vaulted graves, That, ruin'd, yield no echo. Fare you well. It may be pain, but no harm, to me to die In so good a quarrel. O, this gloomy world! In what a shadow, or deep pit of darkness, Doth womanish and fearful mankind live! Let worthy minds ne'er stagger in distrust To suffer death or shame for what is just: Mine is another voyage. [Dies.]
PESCARA. The noble Delio, as I came to th' palace, Told me of Antonio's being here, and show'd me A pretty gentleman, his son and heir.
[Enter DELIO, and ANTONIO'S Son]
MALATESTI. O sir, you come too late!
DELIO. I heard so, and Was arm'd for 't, ere I came. Let us make noble use Of this great ruin; and join all our force To establish this young hopeful gentleman In 's mother's right. These wretched eminent things Leave no more fame behind 'em, than should one Fall in a frost, and leave his print in snow; As soon as the sun shines, it ever melts, Both form and matter. I have ever thought Nature doth nothing so great for great men As when she 's pleas'd to make them lords of truth: Integrity of life is fame's best friend, Which nobly, beyond death, shall crown the end. Exeunt.
<1> Malfi. The presence-chamber in the palace of the Duchess.
<2> Prevent.
<3> The same.
<4> The reference is to the knightly sport of riding at the ring.
<5> At the expense of.
<6> Rolls of lint used to dress wounds.
<7> Surgeons.
<8> A small horse.
<9> Ballasted.
<10> A lively dance.
<11> Throws into the shade.
<12> At the point of.
<13> Coaches.
<14> Spy.
<15> Cheats.
<16> Spy.
<17> Malfi. Gallery in the Duchess' palace.
<18> Lustful.
<19> Genesis xxxi., 31-42.
<20> The net in which he caught Venus and Mars.
<21> Housekeepers.
<22> Produced.
<23> Qq. read STRANGE.
<24> Guess.
<25> The phrase used to indicate that accounts had been examined and found correct.
<26> Using words of present time; i.e., "I take," not "I will take."
<27> Knot.
<28> More firmly.
<29> Of difficult disposition.
<30> Malfi. An apartment in the palace of the Duchess.
<31> Chief part.
<32> Bullies (Hazlitt); lawyers (Vaughan).
<33> Royal journey.
<34> Turning a boat on its side for repairs.
<35> Scabbed.
<36> Empty.
<37> Face-modeling (Sampson). "There's a plain statement of your practises."
<38> Blue like those of a woman with child.
<39> Scurf.
<40> Person of highest influence.
<41> Hysteria.
<42> This year.
<43> Clearly.
<44> Youngster.
<45> A hall in the same palace.
<46> Crossness.
<47> Always.
<48> The meaner servants.
<49> At once.
<50> Cast his horoscope.
<51> The court of the same palace.
<52> Making an astrological calculation.
<53> Going to the root of the matter.
<54> Write.
<55> i.e., on his handkerchief.
<56> Addressing the lantern.
<57> "The rest not considered."
<58> A piece of news.
<59> Cleverly contrived.
<60> Rome. An apartment in the palace of the Cardinal.
<61> Religious recluse.
<62> Experienced.
<63> Sick.
<64> Medicinal.
<65> Strong broth.
<66> Another apartment in the same palace.
<67> The mandrake was supposed to give forth shrieks when uprooted, which drove the hearer mad.
<68> Unchaste.
<69> Supposed to be a sign of folly.
<70> Throw the hammer.
<71> Boil to shreds. (Dyce.) Qq, TO BOIL.
<72> Malfi. An apartment in the palace of the Duchess.
<73> Wealth.
<74> Lampoons.
<75> Plowshares.
<76> Spying.
<77> Deceptions.
<78> Soothing.
<79> The bed-chamber of the Duchess in the same.
<80> Qq. read SLIGHT.
<81> Powder of orris-root.
<82> Wheels of craft.
<83> Certificate that the books were found correct.
<84> The badge of a steward.
<85> Spies.
<86> Lot.
<87> For Plutus.
<88> Quick steps.
<89> Miss.
<90> Remains.
<91> Profession.
<92> An apartment in the Cardinal's palace at Rome.
<93> A decorated horse-cloth, used only when the court is traveling.