Part 21

Mons. Tis true, my lord; and as this doting hand Even out of earth (like Juno) struck this giant, 145 So Joves great ordinance shall be here implide To strike him under th'AEtna of his pride. To which work lend your hands, and let us cast Where we may set snares for his ranging greatnes. I think it best, amongst our greatest women: 150 For there is no such trap to catch an upstart As a loose downfall; for, you know, their falls Are th'ends of all mens rising. If great men And wise make scapes to please advantage, Tis with a woman--women that woorst may 155 Still hold mens candels: they direct and know All things amisse in all men, and their women All things amisse in them; through whose charm'd mouthes We may see all the close scapes of the Court. When the most royall beast of chase, the hart, 160 Being old, and cunning in his layres and haunts, Can never be discovered to the bow, The peece, or hound--yet where, behind some queich, He breaks his gall, and rutteth with his hinde, The place is markt, and by his venery 165 He still is taken. Shall we then attempt The chiefest meane to that discovery here, And court our greatest ladies chiefest women With shewes of love, and liberall promises? Tis but our breath. If something given in hand 170 Sharpen their hopes of more, 'twill be well ventur'd.

Gui. No doubt of that: and 'tis the cunningst point Of our devis'd investigation.

Mons. I have broken The yce to it already with the woman Of your chast lady, and conceive good hope 175 I shall wade thorow to some wished shore At our next meeting.

Mont. Nay, there's small hope there.

Gui. Take say of her, my lord, she comes most fitly.

Mons. Starting back?

Enter Charlot, Anable, Pero.

Gui. Y'are ingag'd indeed. 180

Annable. Nay pray, my lord, forbeare.

Mont. What, skittish, servant?

An. No, my lord, I am not so fit for your service.

Charlotte. Nay, pardon me now, my lord; my lady expects me. 185

Gui. Ile satisfie her expectation, as far as an unkle may.

Mons. Well said! a spirit of courtship of all hands. Now, mine owne Pero, hast thou remembred 190 me for the discovery I entreated thee to make of thy mistresse? Speak boldly, and be sure of all things I have sworne to thee.

Pero. Building on that assurance (my lord) I may speak; and much the rather because my 195 lady hath not trusted me with that I can tell you; for now I cannot be said to betray her.

Mons. That's all one, so wee reach our objects: forth, I beseech thee.

Per. To tell you truth, my lord, I have made 200 a strange discovery.

Mons. Excellent Pero, thou reviv'st me; may I sink quick to perdition if my tongue discover it!

Per. Tis thus, then: this last night my lord lay forth, and I, watching my ladies sitting up, 205 stole up at midnight from my pallat, and (having before made a hole both through the wall and arras to her inmost chamber) I saw D'Ambois and her selfe reading a letter!

Mons. D'Ambois! 210

Per. Even he, my lord.

Mons. Do'st thou not dreame, wench?

Per. I sweare he is the man.

Mons. The devill he is, and thy lady his dam! Why this was the happiest shot that ever flewe; 215 the just plague of hypocrisie level'd it. Oh, the infinite regions betwixt a womans tongue and her heart! is this our Goddesse of chastity? I thought I could not be so sleighted, if she had not her fraught besides, and therefore plotted this 220 with her woman, never dreaming of D'Amboys. Deare Pero, I will advance thee for ever: but tell me now--Gods pretious, it transformes mee with admiration--sweet Pero, whom should she trust with this conveyance? Or, all the dores 225 being made sure, how should his conveyance be made?

Per. Nay, my lord, that amazes me: I cannot by any study so much as guesse at it.

Mons. Well, let's favour our apprehensions 230 with forbearing that a little; for, if my heart were not hoopt with adamant, the conceipt of this would have burst it: but heark thee. Whispers.

Mont. I pray thee, resolve mee: the Duke will never imagine that I am busie about's wife: 235 hath D'Ambois any privy accesse to her?

An. No, my lord, D'Ambois neglects her (as shee takes it) and is therefore suspicious that either your lady, or the lady Beaupre, hath closely entertain'd him. 240