This chapter opens with a soliloquy by the Duke of Albany, in which he laments the fact that he has not yet found a suitable wife for himself. He laments that he is tired of the love of his life, and that she is not yet dead. He tells the Duke that he lost his temper this morning and wishes that he could forgive him for his behavior. He then tells Albany that he feels the pulse of his wife, but that it is not a sign that she has been poisoned, but an unusual sign of power. He advises the Duke to avoid sex with his wife for now, as she is a good match for the Duke. He goes on to say that he