finished_summaries/shmoop/The White Devil/section_3_part_0.txt
The White Devil.act 2.scene 2
act 2, scene 2
{"name": "Act 2, Scene 2", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210510044810/https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/the-white-devil/summary/act-2-scene-2", "summary": "Brachiano enters with a Conjurer--the guy who's going to use magic to let him see how his wife and Vittoria's husband are murdered. The conjurer gives a little speech about how a lot of people are practicing fake magic, but he's the real deal. Thanks to genuine magic, the Duke is able to see his wife's murder. She enters her chamber with Giovanni, Lodovico , and other attendants. She kisses the Duke's picture as she does every night--only, this time, Doctor Julio and Christophero have smeared poison on the lips. She dies. Brachiano is delighted. Next--in a different vision--they see Flamineo, Marcello, Camillo, and four captains enter. They drink and dance. Marcello leaves the room, and they get ready to jump over a vaulting horse. But Flamineo breaks Camillo's neck, and makes sure he's dead with the help of the other four . They place the body to make it look like a gymnastics accident. Marcello enters and sends for the cardinal and the Duke--they apprehend Flamineo and the others with an armed guard, and go to find Vittoria. The Duke says he needs to leave, since he doesn't want to get caught . He exits. The conjurer exits after saying that great men do either \"great good\" or \"great harm.\"", "analysis": ""}
SCENE II


Enter Brachiano, with one in the habit of a conjurer


Brach.   Now, sir, I claim your promise: 'tis dead midnight,
  The time prefix'd to show me by your art,
  How the intended murder of Camillo,
  And our loath'd duchess, grow to action.


Conj.   You have won me by your bounty to a deed
  I do not often practise.  Some there are,
  Which by sophistic tricks, aspire that name
  Which I would gladly lose, of necromancer;
  As some that use to juggle upon cards,
  Seeming to conjure, when indeed they cheat;
  Others that raise up their confederate spirits
  'Bout windmills, and endanger their own necks
  For making of a squib; and some there are
  Will keep a curtal to show juggling tricks,
  And give out 'tis a spirit; besides these,
  Such a whole ream of almanac-makers, figure-flingers,
  Fellows, indeed that only live by stealth,
  Since they do merely lie about stol'n goods,
  They 'd make men think the devil were fast and loose,
  With speaking fustian Latin.  Pray, sit down;
  Put on this nightcap, sir, 'tis charmed; and now
  I 'll show you, by my strong commanding art,
  The circumstance that breaks your duchess' heart.


A Dumb Show


Enter suspiciously Julio and Christophero: they draw a curtain where
  Brachiano's picture is; they put on spectacles of glass, which cover
  their eyes and noses, and then burn perfumes before the picture, and
  wash the lips of the picture; that done, quenching the fire, and
  putting off their spectacles, they depart laughing.


Enter Isabella in her night-gown, as to bedward, with lights, after her,
  Count Lodovico, Giovanni, Guidantonio, and others waiting on her: she
  kneels down as to prayers, then draws the curtain of the picture, does
  three reverences to it, and kisses it thrice; she faints, and will not
  suffer them to come near it; dies; sorrow expressed in Giovanni, and in
  Count Lodovico.  She is conveyed out solemnly.


Brach.   Excellent! then she 's dead.


Conj.   She 's poisoned
  By the fumed picture.  'Twas her custom nightly,
  Before she went to bed, to go and visit
  Your picture, and to feed her eyes and lips
  On the dead shadow: Doctor Julio,
  Observing this, infects it with an oil,
  And other poison'd stuff, which presently
  Did suffocate her spirits.


Brach.   Methought I saw
  Count Lodowick there.


Conj.   He was; and by my art
  I find he did most passionately dote
  Upon your duchess.  Now turn another way,
  And view Camillo's far more politic fate.
  Strike louder, music, from this charmed ground,
  To yield, as fits the act, a tragic sound!


The Second Dumb Show


Enter Flamineo, Marcello, Camillo, with four more as captains: they drink
  healths, and dance; a vaulting horse is brought into the room; Marcello
  and two more whispered out of the room, while Flamineo and Camillo
  strip themselves into their shirts, as to vault; compliment who shall
  begin; as Camillo is about to vault, Flamineo pitcheth him upon his
  neck, and, with the help of the rest, writhes his neck about; seems to
  see if it be broke, and lays him folded double, as 'twere under the
  horse; makes show to call for help; Marcello comes in, laments; sends
  for the cardinal and duke, who comes forth with armed men; wonders at
  the act; commands the body to be carried home; apprehends Flamineo,
  Marcello, and the rest, and go, as 'twere, to apprehend Vittoria.


Brach.   'Twas quaintly done; but yet each circumstance
  I taste not fully.


Conj.   Oh, 'twas most apparent!
  You saw them enter, charg'd with their deep healths
  To their boon voyage; and, to second that,
  Flamineo calls to have a vaulting horse
  Maintain their sport; the virtuous Marcello
  Is innocently plotted forth the room;
  Whilst your eye saw the rest, and can inform you
  The engine of all.


Brach.   It seems Marcello and Flamineo
  Are both committed.


Conj.   Yes, you saw them guarded;
  And now they are come with purpose to apprehend
  Your mistress, fair Vittoria.  We are now
  Beneath her roof: 'twere fit we instantly
  Make out by some back postern.


Brach.   Noble friend,
  You bind me ever to you: this shall stand
  As the firm seal annexed to my hand;
  It shall enforce a payment.                            [Exit Brachiano.


Conj.   Sir, I thank you.
  Both flowers and weeds spring, when the sun is warm,
  And great men do great good, or else great harm.
                                                                   [Exit.




Act 2, Scene 2
Brachiano enters with a Conjurer--the guy who's going to use magic to let him see how his wife and Vittoria's husband are murdered. The conjurer gives a little speech about how a lot of people are practicing fake magic, but he's the real deal. Thanks to genuine magic, the Duke is able to see his wife's murder. She enters her chamber with Giovanni, Lodovico , and other attendants. She kisses the Duke's picture as she does every night--only, this time, Doctor Julio and Christophero have smeared poison on the lips. She dies. Brachiano is delighted. Next--in a different vision--they see Flamineo, Marcello, Camillo, and four captains enter. They drink and dance. Marcello leaves the room, and they get ready to jump over a vaulting horse. But Flamineo breaks Camillo's neck, and makes sure he's dead with the help of the other four . They place the body to make it look like a gymnastics accident. Marcello enters and sends for the cardinal and the Duke--they apprehend Flamineo and the others with an armed guard, and go to find Vittoria. The Duke says he needs to leave, since he doesn't want to get caught . He exits. The conjurer exits after saying that great men do either "great good" or "great harm."