[386] "What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculties! in form, and moving, how express and admirable! in action, how like an angel! in apprehension, how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals!"--_Hamlet_, act ii. sc. 2. SCENE II. _Palace of the Duke of Genoa._ _Enter_ FERNEZE _ushering_ AURELIA, EMILIA _and_ MAQUERELLE _bearing up her train_, BIANCA _attending: then exeunt_ EMILIA _and_ BIANCA. _Aurel._ And is't possible? Mendoza slight me! possible? _Fer._ Possible! What can be strange in him that's drank with favour,[387] Grows insolent with grace?--Speak, Maquerelle, speak. _Maq._ To speak feelingly, more, more richly in solid sense than worthless words, give me those jewels of your ears to receive my enforced duty. As for my part, 'tis well known I can put up[388] anything [FERNEZE _privately feeds_ MAQUERELLE'S _hands with jewels during this speech_]; can bear patiently with any man: but when I heard he wronged your precious sweetness, I was enforced to take deep offence. 'Tis most certain he loves Emilia with high appetite: and, as she told me (as you know we women impart our secrets one to another), when she repulsed his suit, in that he was possessed with your endeared grace, Mendoza most ingratefully renounced all faith to you. 16 _Fer._ Nay, called you--Speak, Maquerelle, speak. Maq. By heaven, witch, dried biscuit; and contested blushlessly he loved you but for a spurt or so. _Fer._ For maintenance. _Maq._ Advancement and regard. _Aurel._ O villain! O impudent Mendoza! _Maq._ Nay, he is the rustiest-jawed,[389] the foulest-mouthed knave in railing against our sex: he will rail against[390] women-- _Aurel._ How? how? _Maq._ I am ashamed to speak't, I. _Aurel._ I love to hate him: speak. _Maq._ Why, when Emilia scorned his base unsteadiness, the black-throated rascal scolded, and said-- 30 _Aurel._ What? _Maq._ Troth, 'tis too shameless. _Aurel._ What said he? _Maq._ Why, that, at four, women were fools; at fourteen, drabs; at forty, bawds; at fourscore, witches; and [at] a hundred, cats. _Aurel._ O unlimitable impudency! _Fer._ But as for poor Ferneze's fixèd heart, Was never shadeless meadow drier parch'd Under the scorching heat of heaven's dog, 40 Than is my heart with your enforcing eyes. _Maq._ A hot simile. _Fer._ Your smiles have been my heaven, your frowns my hell: O, pity, then! grace should with beauty dwell. _Maq._ Reasonable perfect, by'r lady. _Aurel._ I will love thee, be it but in despite Of that Mendoza:--witch!--Ferneze,--witch!-- Ferneze, thou art the duchess' favourite: Be faithful, private: but 'tis dangerous.