1828.] The Revenger's Tragedy. 139 



state. But both he and his mother evidently depend on his step-father, 

 the duke, interfering to save his life ; which he can do by a mere word, 

 but which word he hesitates to pronounce, and, instead, defers the judg- . 

 ment. This gives occasion to open out some of the other characters, and 

 particularly those of the duchess and Spurio, the duke's bastard : and 

 truly, they are made to sketch their own portraits with a pencil that 

 combines all the off-hand ease of Rubens with all the terrible depth 

 of Caravaggio. After the court has broken up, the duchess remains alone, 

 and communes with herself as follows : 



Was ever known a step-duchess so mild 



And calm as I ? Some, now, would plot his death 



With easy doctors, those loose-living men, 



And make his withered grace fall to his grave, 



And keep church better : 



Some second wife would do this, and dispatch 



Her double-loathed lord at meal or sleep. 



Indeed 'tis true an old man's twice a child: 



Mine cannot speak: one of his single words 



Would quite have freed my youngest, dearest son, 



From death or durance, and have made him walk 



With a bold foot upon the thorny law, 



Whose prickles should bow under him. But 'tis not ; 



And therefore wedlock faith shall be forgot. 



Til kill him in his forehead : hate, there feed ! 



That wound is deepest, though it never bleed ! 



At this moment the bastard enters, and she immediately proffers love to 

 him ; which he at first pretends to reject ; till she urges it on him as a 

 just revenge for his blighted destiny : 



Duch. Who would not be revenged of such a father, 

 E'en in the worst way ? I would thank that sin 

 That could most injure him, and be in league with it. 

 Oh, what a grief 'tis, that a man should live 

 But one in 'i the world, and then to live a bastard ! 

 The curse o' the womb the thief of nature 

 Begot against the seventh commandment 

 Half damned in the conception, by the justice 

 Of that unbribed, everlasting law. 



* * * * * * 



Cold still ? In vain then must a duchess woo ? 



Spur. Madam, I blush to say what I will do. 



Duch. Thence flew sweet comfort. Earnest, and farewell. 



Spur. Oh, one incestuous kiss picks open hell ! 



Duch. Faith, now, old duke, my vengeance shall reach high ; 

 I'll arm thy brow with woman's heraldry. 



Spur. Duke, thou didst do me wrong ; and by thy act 

 Adultery is my nature. 

 Faith, if the truth were known, I was begot 

 After some gluttonous dinner ; some stirring dish 

 Was my first father, when deep healths went round, 

 And ladies' cheeks were painted red with wine, 

 Their tongues, as short and nimble as their heels, 

 Uttering words sweet and thick. 



* * * * * 



In such a whispering and withdrawing hour, 

 When base male-bawds kept ceritinel at stair-head, 

 Was I stolen softly. 



T 2 



