This play was entered on the stationers' books in 1607, and was sometimes called _The Loyal Brother_. There are two quarto editions of it, one dated 1607 and one 1608, and from the care with which the text is printed it is probable that the author revised the proofs. The play has several times been reprinted. Tourneur's plots have no known source. _DRAMATIS PERSONÆ._ THE DUKE. LUSSURIOSO, the Duke's Son. SPURIO, a Bastard. AMBITIOSO, the Duchess' Eldest Son. SUPERVACUO, the Duchess' Second Son. The Duchess' Youngest Son. VENDICE, disguised as PIATO, HIPPOLITO, also called CARLO, Brothers of CASTIZA. ANTONIO, PIERO, DONDOLO, Nobles. Judges, Nobles, Gentlemen, Officers, Keeper, Servants. THE DUCHESS. CASTIZA. GRATIANA, Mother of CASTIZA. SCENE--A CITY OF ITALY. _THE REVENGER'S TRAGEDY._ ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I.--_Near the House of_ GRATIANA. _Enter_ VENDICE.[180] The DUKE, DUCHESS, LUSSURIOSO, SPURIO, _with a train, pass over the stage with torchlight._ _Ven._ Duke! royal lecher! go, grey-haired adultery! And thou his son, as impious steeped as he: And thou his bastard, true begot in evil: And thou his duchess, that will do with devil: Four excellent characters! O, that marrowless age Should stuff the hollow bones with damned desires! And, 'stead of heat, kindle infernal fires Within the spendthrift veins of a dry duke, A parched and juiceless luxur.[181] O God! one, That has scarce blood enough to live upon; And he to riot it, like a son and heir! O, the thought of that Turns my abusèd heart-strings into fret. Thou sallow picture of my poisoned love, [_Views the skull in his hand._ My study's ornament, thou shell of death, Once the bright face of my betrothèd lady, When life and beauty naturally filled out These ragged imperfections; When two heaven-pointed diamonds were set In those unsightly rings--then 'twas a face So far beyond the artificial shine Of any woman's bought complexion That the uprightest man (if such there be, That sin but seven times a day) broke custom, And made up eight with looking after her. O, she was able to ha' made a usurer's son Melt all his patrimony in a kiss; And what his father fifty years[182] told, To have consumed, and yet his suit been cold. But, O accursèd palace! Thee, when thou wert apparelled in thy flesh, The old duke poisoned, Because thy purer part would not consent Unto his palsied lust; for old men lustful Do show like young men angry, eager, violent, Outbidden like their limited performances. O, 'ware an old man hot and vicious! "Age, as in gold, in lust is covetous." Vengeance, thou murder's quit-rent, and whereby Thou show'st thyself tenant to tragedy; O keep thy day, hour, minute, I beseech, For those thou hast determined. Hum! who e'er knew Murder unpaid? faith, give revenge her due,