_Enter the_ DUCHESS, _arm in arm with_ SPURIO, _looking lasciviously on her. After them, enter_ SUPERVACUO, _with a rapier, running;_ AMBITIOSO _stops him._ _Spu._ Madam, unlock yourself; Should it be seen, your arm would be suspected. _Duch._ Who is't that dares suspect or this or these? May not we deal our favours where we please? _Spu._ I'm confident you may. [_Exeunt_ DUCHESS _and_ SPURIO. _Amb._ 'Sfoot, brother, hold. _Sup._ Wouldst let the bastard shame us? _Amb._ Hold, hold, brother! there's fitter time than now. _Sup._ Now, when I see it! _Amb._ 'Tis too much seen already. _Sup._ Seen and known; The nobler she's, the baser is she grown. _Amb._ If she were bent lasciviously (the fault Of mighty women, that sleep soft)--O death! Must she needs choose such an unequal sinner, To make all worse?-- _Sup._ A bastard! the duke's bastard! shame heaped on shame! _Amb._ O our disgrace! Most women have small waists the world throughout; But their desires are thousand miles about. _Sup._ Come, stay not here, let's after, and prevent, Or else they'll sin faster than we'll repent. [_Exeunt._ SCENE IV.--_A Room in_ GRATIANA'S _House._ _Enter_ VENDICE _and_ HIPPOLITO, _bringing out_ GRATIANA _by the shoulders, and with daggers in their hands._ _Ven._ O thou, for whom no name is bad enough! _Gra._ What mean my sons? what, will you murder me? _Ven._ Wicked, unnatural parent! _Hip._ Fiend of women! _Gra._ O! are sons turned monsters? help! _Ven._ In vain. _Gra._ Are you so barbarous to set iron nipples Upon the breast that gave you suck? _Ven._ That breast Is turned to quarled[225] poison. _Gra._ Cut not your days for't! am not I your mother?[226] _Ven._ Thou dost usurp that title now by fraud, For in that shell of mother breeds a bawd. _Gra._ A bawd! O name far loathsomer than hell! _Hip._ It should be so, knew'st thou thy office well. _Gra._ I hate it. _Ven._ Ah! is't possible? thou only? Powers on high, That women should dissemble when they die! _Gra._ Dissemble! _Ven._ Did not the duke's son direct A fellow of the world's condition hither, That did corrupt all that was good in thee? Made thee uncivilly forget thyself, And work our sister to his lust? _Gra._ Who, I? That had been monstrous. I defy that man For any such intent! none lives so pure, But shall be soiled with slander. Good son, believe it not. _Ven._ O, I'm in doubt, Whether I am myself, or no--[_Aside._ Stay, let me look again upon this face. Who shall be saved, when mothers have no grace? _Hip._ 'Twould make one half despair. _Ven._ I was the man. Defy me now; let's see, do't modestly. _Gra._ O hell unto my soul! _Ven._ In that disguise, I, sent from the duke's son, Tried you, and found you base metal, As any villain might have done. _Gra._ O, no, No tongue but yours could have bewitched me so.