[PREPASSO _and_ GUERRINO _lead away_ AURELIA _guarded_. My lords, Address to public council; 'tis most fit: The train of fortune is borne up by wit. Away! our presence shall be sudden; haste. [_All depart, except_ MENDOZA, MALEVOLE, _and_ PIETRO. _Mal._ Now, you egregious devil! ha, ye murdering politician! how dost, duke? how dost look now? brave duke, i'faith. 170 _Men._ How did you kill him? _Mal._ Slatted[497] his brains out, then soused him in the briny sea. _Men._ Brained him, and drowned him too? _Mal._ O 'twas best, sure work; for he that strikes a great man, let him strike home, or else 'ware, he'll prove no man: shoulder not a huge fellow, unless you may be sure to lay him in the kennel. _Men._ A most sound brain-pan! I'll make you both emperors. 180 _Mal._ Make us Christians, make us Christians. _Men._ I'll hoist ye, ye shall mount. _Mal._ To the gallows, say ye? come:[498] _præmium incertum petit certum scelus_.[499] How stands the progress? _Men._ Here, take my ring unto the citadel; [_Giving ring._ Have entrance to Maria, the grave duchess Of banish'd Altofront. Tell her we love her; Omit no circumstance to grace our person: do't. _Mal._ I'll[500] make an excellent pander: duke, farewell; 'dieu, adieu, duke. 190 _Men._ Take Maquerelle with thee; for 'tis found None cuts a diamond but a diamond. [_Exit_ MALEVOLE. Hermit, Thou art a man for me, my confessor: O thou selected spirit, born for my good! Sure thou wouldst make An excellent elder in a deform'd church. Come, we must be inward,[501] thou and I all one. _Pietro._ I am glad I was ordained for ye. _Men._ Go to, then; thou must know that Malevole is a strange villain; dangerous, very dangerous: you see how broad 'a speaks; a gross-jawed rogue: I would have thee poison him: he's like a corn upon my great toe, I cannot go for him; he must be cored out, he must. Wilt do't, ha? _Pietro._ Anything, anything. 204 _Men._ Heart of my life! thus, then. To the citadel: Thou shalt consort with this Malevole; There being at supper, poison him: it shall be laid Upon Maria, who yields love or dies: Scud quick.[502] _Pietro._ Like lightning: good deeds crawl, but mischief flies. [_Exit._ 210 _Re-enter_ MALEVOLE. _Mal._ Your devilship's ring has no virtue: the buff-captain, the sallow Westphalian gammon-faced zaza cries, "Stand out;" must have a stiffer warrant, or no pass into the castle of comfort.