Cla. Now what other troubled news, that we must back thus? Has any senator begg’d my pardon upon my wife’s prostitution to him? 140
Rog. What a spite’s this; I had kept in my breath of purpose, thinking to go away the quieter, and must we now back?
Duke. Since you are to die, we’ll give you winding-sheets,
Wherein you shall be shrouded alive,
By which we wind out all these miseries.
Signor Rogero, bestow a while your eye,
And read here of your true wife’s chastity.
[Gives him a letter.
Rog. Chastity?
I will sooner expect a Jesuit’s recantation, 150
Or the great Turk’s conversion, than her chastity.
Pardon, my liege; I will not trust mine eyes:
Women and devils will deceive the wise!
Duke. The like, sir, is apparent on your side.
[To Claridiana.
Cla. Who? my wife?—chaste? Has your grace your sense? I’ll sooner believe a conjuror may say his prayers with zeal, than her honesty. Had she been an hermaphrodite, I would scarce have given credit to you.
Let him that hath drunk love-drugs trust a woman.
By Heaven, I think the air is not more common! 160
Duke. Then we impose a strict command upon you.
On your allegiance read what there is writ.