Pier. Nay, calm this storm. I ever held thy breast
More secret, and more firm in league of blood, 50
Than to be struck in heat with each slight puff.
Give me thy ears; huge infamy [had] press[’d] down
My honour, if even then, when his fresh act
Of prowess bloom’d out full,
I had ta’en vengeance on his hated head——.
Str. Why it had——.
Pier. Could I avoid to give a seeming grant
Unto fruition of Antonio’s love?
Str. No.
Pier. And didst thou ever see a Judas kiss 60
With a more covert touch of fleering hate?
Str. No.
Pier. And having clipt them with pretence of love,
Have I not crush’d them with a cruel wring?
Str. Yes.
Pier. Say, faith, didst thou e’er hear, or read, or see
Such happy vengeance, unsuspected death?
That I should drop strong poison in the bowl,
Which I myself caroused unto his health
And future fortune of our unity! 70
That it should work even in the hush[202] of night,
And strangle him on sudden, that fair show
Of death, for the excessive joy of his fate,
Might choke the murder! Ha, Strotzo, is’t not rare?
Nay, but weigh it. Then Feliche stabb’d
(Whose sinking thought[203] frighted my conscious heart),
And laid by Mellida, to stop the match,
And hale on mischief. This all in one night!
Is’t to be equall’d, think’st thou? O, I could eat
Thy fumbling throat, for thy lagg’d censure. Fut, 80
Is’t not rare?
Str. Yes.