_Duke._ Now to our kinsman, shame to royal blood; Bring him before us. 121 _Enter_ MENDOZA _in his nightgown and cap, guarded, with the_ Captain. Theft in a prince is sacrilege to honour; 'Tis virtue's scandal, death of royalty. I blush to see my shame. Nephew, sit down. Justice, that smiles on those, on him must frown! Speak freely, captain; where found you him wounded? _Capt._ Between the widow's house and these cross neighbours; Besides, an artificial ladder made of ropes Was fasten'd to her window, which he confess'd He brought to rob her of jewels and coin. 130 My knowledge yields no further circumstance. _Duke._ Thou know'st too much; would I were past all knowledge, I might forget my grief springs from my shame! Thou monster of my blood, answer in brief To these assertions made against thy life. Is thy soul guilty of so base a fact? _Men._ I do confess I did intend to rob her; In the attempt I fell and hurt myself. Law's thunder is but death; I dread it not, So my Lentulus' honour be preserved 140 From black suspicion of a lustful night. _Duke._ Thy head's thy forfeit for thy heart's offence; Thy blood's prerogative may claim that favour. Thy person then to death doom'd by just laws; Thy death is infamous, but worse the cause. [_Exeunt._ [264] Old eds. "Mizaldus." [265] Ed. 1631 "act." [266] "Lanthorn and candle-light"--the cry of the bellman. See Middleton, i. 70. [267] So the editor of 1820.--Old eds. "sinnes." [268] Old eds. "Mizaldus." [269] Rigid rules were enacted from time to time forbidding the consumption of flesh in Lent: see Overall's _Remembrancia_. It may be seen from Middleton's _Chaste Maid_ that promoters (_i.e._, informers) were busily engaged in preventing any infringement of the regulations. SCENE II. _Pavia._--ISABELLA'S _house_. _Enter ISABELLA alone, GNIACA following her._ _Isa._ O Heavens, that I was born to be hate's slave, The food of rumour that devours my fame! I am call'd Insatiate Countess, lust's paramour, A glorious devil, and the noble whore! I am sick, vex'd, and tormented. O revenge! _Gni._ On whom would my Isabella be revenged? _Isa._ Upon a viper, that does eat[270] mine honour; I will not name him till I be revenged. See, here's the libels are divulg'd against me-- An everlasting scandal to my name-- 10 And thus the villain writes in my disgrace:-- [_She reads._