The Duchess of Malfi

Antonio asks Delio if he has hope of reconciling with the Duchess’s brothers. Delio does not think so; land that Antonio held was seized by the Marquis of Pescara and Delio does not think the brothers would order the seizure of someone’s land if they intended to let him live. 

Pescara approaches. Delio says he will approach him as a prospective buyer of Antonio’s former land, to see whether it has been put up for sale. He petitions Pescara for a citadel; Pescara denies him and says he will tell Delio why privately.

Julia approaches with a letter from the Cardinal, telling Pescara to bestow Julia the same citadel Delio inquired about. Pescara grants it. Delio asks why he gave the land to Julia instead of him. Pescara explains that Antonio’s land was not legally forfeited but “ravished from his throat” by the Cardinal (V.1.42). Pescara did not want to give unjustly-obtained land to a friend.

Pescara says Ferdinand has recently arrived in Milan but is ill. When Antonio emerges, Delio asks him what he will do. Antonio says he will steal into the Cardinal’s chamber at midnight, hoping that an earnest plea of “love and duty” (V.