Lus. Pooh! am I a lord for nothing, think you? quickly now!
Ven. Sa, sa, sa, thump [Stabs the Duke's corpse]—there he lies.
Lus. Nimbly done.—Ha! O villains! murderers!
'Tis the old duke, my father.
Ven. That's a jest.
Lus. What stiff and cold already!
O, pardon me to call you from your names:
'Tis none of your deed. That villain Piato,
Whom you thought now to kill, has murdered
And left him thus disguised.
Hip. And not unlikely.
Ven. O rascal! was he not ashamed
To put the duke into a greasy doublet?
Lus. He has been stiff and cold—who knows how long?
Ven. Marry, that I do. [Aside.
Lus. No words, I pray, of anything intended.
Ven. O my lord.
Hip. I would fain have your lordship think that we have small reason to prate.
Lus. Faith, thou say'st true; I'll forthwith send to court
For all the nobles, bastard, duchess; tell,
How here by miracle we found him dead,
And in his raiment that foul villain fled.
Ven. That will be the best way, my lord,
To clear us all; let's cast about to be clear.
Lus. Ho! Nencio, Sordido, and the rest!
Enter all of them.
1st Ser. My lord.
2nd Ser. My lord.
Lus. Be witnesses of a strange spectacle.
Choosing for private conference that sad room,
We found the duke my father gealed in blood.
1st Ser. My lord the duke! run, hie thee, Nencio.
Startle the court by signifying so much.
Ven. Thus much by wit a deep revenger can,
When murder's known, to be the clearest man.
We're farthest off, and with as bold an eye
Survey his body as the standers-by. [Aside.
Lus. My royal father, too basely let blood
By a malevolent slave!
Hip. Hark! he calls thee slave again. [Aside.
Ven. He has lost: he may. [Aside.
Lus. O sight! look hither, see, his lips are gnawn
With poison.
Ven. How! his lips? by the mass, they be.
O villain! O rogue! O slave! O rascal!
Hip. O good deceit! he quits him with like terms.
[Aside.
Amb. [Within.] Where?
Sup. [Within.] Which way?