In this thou imitat'st one rich and wise, That sees his good deeds done before he dies: As he by works, thou by this work of fame Hath well provided for thy living name. To trust to others' honourings is worth's crime, Thy monument is raised in thy life-time; And 'tis most just; for every worthy man Is his own marble, and his merit can Cut him to any figure, and express More art than death's cathedral palaces Where royal ashes keep their court. Thy note Be ever plainness; 'tis the richest coat: Thy epitaph only the title be, Write DUCHESS, that will fetch a tear for thee; For who e'er saw this Duchess live and die, That could get off under a bleeding eye? In Tragædiam. Ut lux ex tenebris ictu percussa tonantis, Illa, ruina malis, claris fit vita poetis. THOMAS MIDDLETONUS, Poeta et Chron. Londinensis. * * * * * TO HIS FRIEND MR. JOHN WEBSTER, UPON HIS "DUCHESS OF MALFI." I never saw thy Duchess till the day That she was lively bodied in thy play: Howe'er she answered her low-rated love Her brothers' anger did so fatal prove, Yet my opinion is, she might speak more, But never in her life so well before. WIL. ROWLEY. * * * * * TO THE READER OF THE AUTHOR, AND HIS "DUCHESS OF MALFI." Crown him a poet, whom nor Rome nor Greece Transcend in all their's for a masterpiece; In which, whiles words and matter change, and men Act one another, he, from whose clear pen They all took life, to memory hath lent A lasting fame to raise his monument. JOHN FORD. _DRAMATIS PERSONÆ._ FERDINAND, Duke of Calabria. The CARDINAL, his Brother. ANTONIO BOLOGNA, Steward of the household to the DUCHESS. DELIO, his Friend. DANIEL DE BOSOLA, Gentleman of the horse to the DUCHESS. CASTRUCCIO. MARQUIS OF PESCARA. COUNT MALATESTI. RODERIGO. SILVIO. GRISOLAN. Doctor. Several Madmen, Pilgrims, Executioners, Officers, Attendants, &c. DUCHESS OF MALFI. CARIOLA, her Woman. JULIA, Castruccio's Wife, and the Cardinal's Mistress. Old Lady, Ladies and Children. SCENE--MALFI, ROME, and MILAN. _THE DUCHESS OF MALFI._ ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I.--_The Presence-chamber in the_ DUCHESS' _Palace at Malfi._ _Enter_ ANTONIO _and_ DELIO. _Delio._ You are welcome to your country, dear Antonio; You have been long in France, and you return A very formal Frenchman in your habit: How do you like the French court?