No doubt you guess, from a rude earlier call
Our Captain paid you. Certain practices,
Which you may force me name, are charged upon
you
On testimony you may force me call
And may with freedom question.

_Fulvia_. I'll not question:
No, nor I will not answer.

_Lucio_. Then I'll answer!'
For me, for all, she is innocent!

_Regent_. For you?
We'll hope it: but 'for all' 's more wide an oath
Than you can swear, sir. I'll not bandy you
Words nor debate. Myself the ladder saw;
Lucetta, here, the ladder and the man.
_What_ man she will not say. Cesario
Has tracked his footprint on her garden plots.
Must we say more?

_Fulvia_. No need. Her fingering mind
Is a close cupboard turning all things rancid.

_Lucio_. Yea, for such wry-necks all the world's a lawn
To peek and peer and pounce a sinful worm;
The fatter, the more luscious.

_Regent. _ Lucio,
This woman nought gainsays.

_Fulvia (fiercely)._ As why should I?
I'll question not, nor answer. 'Neath your brow
My sentence hunches, crawls, like cat to spring.
Pah! there's no prude will match your virtuous wife
You'd banish me?

_Regent._ I do. Cesario,
See to it the City gate shuts not to-night.
And she this side.

_Fulvia (laughs recklessly)._ To-night? To-night's your own.
Most modest woman! Duchess, there's a well
By the road, some seven miles beyond the town.
There, 'neath the stars, I'll dip a hand and drink
To the good Duke's disport. But have a care!
That cup's not yet to lip.

_Regent. _ Captain, remove her.
Lucio, remain.

_[Exeunt the Countess Fulvia, Cesario following]_

_Lucio._ I'll not remain--When ice
Sits judge of fire, what justice shall be done?
Sister, there be your books--peruse them. There
The sea-line--bide you so with back to it.
While the cold inward heat of cruelty
Warms what was once your heart, now crusted o'er
With duty and slimed with poisonous drip of tongues.
God help the Duke, if what he left he'd find!

_[Exit Lucio]_

_Regent._ Is't so, I wonder? Go, Lucetta, fetch
My glass, if haply I may tell.

_[Exit Lucetta.]_

Is't so?
And have these years enforced, encrusted me
To something monstrous, neither woman n