'Tis Pity She's a Whore/Act IV Scene I

by John Ford (1586-c. 1639)

 

ACTUS QUARTUS.

 

[SCENA PRIMA. A room in Florio's house.]

 

A banquet. Hoboyes.

 

Enter the Fryar, Giovanni, Annabella, Philotis, Soranzo, Donado, Florio, Richardetto, Putana and Vasques.

 

 Fryar. These holy rights perform'd, now take your timesTo spend the remnant of the day in feast:Such fit repasts are pleasing to the saintsWho are your guests, though not with mortall eyes5To be beheld. Long prosper in this day,You happy couple, to each others joy! Soranzo. Father, your prayer is heard; the hand of goodnesseHath beene a sheild for me against my death;And, more to blesse me, hath enricht my life10With this most precious jewell; such a prizeAs earth hath not another like to this.Cheere up, my love; and, gentlemen my friends,Rejoyce with mee in mirth: this day wee'le crowneWith lusty cups to Annabella's health.15 Giovanni (aside). Oh, torture! were the marriage yet undone, Ere I'de endure this sight, to see my loveClipt by another, I would dare confusion,And stand the horrour of ten thousand deaths. Vasques. Are you not well, sir? Gio.Prethee, fellow, wayte;20I neede not thy officious diligence. Florio. Signior Donado, come, you must forgetYour late mishaps, and drowne your cares in wine. Soran. Vasques! Vas.My lord. Soran.Reach me that weighty bowle.Here, brother Giovanni, here's to you;25Your turne comes next, though now a batchelour;Here's to your sisters happinesse and mine! Gio. I cannot drinke. Soran.What! Gio.'Twill indeede offend me. Annabella. Pray, doe not urge him, if hee be not willing. Flo. How now! what noyse is this?^[1]30 Vas. O, sir, I had forgot to tell you; certaineyoung^[2] maidens of Parma, in honour to MadamAnnabella's marriage, have sent their loves to her in a masque, for which they humbly craveyour patience and silence.35 Soran. Wee are much bound to them; so much the moreAs it comes unexpected: guide them in.^[3]Hoboyes.Enter Hippolita and Ladies in white roubes with garlands of willowes.Musicke and a Daunce. Soran. Thanks, lovely virgins! now might wee but knowTo whom wee have beene beholding for this^[4] love,We shall acknowledge it. Hippolita.Yes, you shall know.[Unmasks.] What thinke you now? Omnes.Hippolita!40 Hip.'Tis shee;Bee not amaz'd; nor blush young lovely bride;I come not to defraud you of your man:'Tis now no time to reckon up the talkeWhat Parma long hath rumour'd of us both:45Let rash report run on; the breath that vents it Will, like a bubble, breake it selfe at last.But now to you, sweet creature;—lend's your hand;—Perhaps it hath beene said that I would claimeSome interest in Soranzo, now your lord;50What I have right to doe his soule knowes best:But in my duty to your noble worth,Sweete Annabella, and my care of you,Here take, Soranzo, take this hand from me;I'le once more joyne what by the holy Church55Is finish't and allow'd. Have I done well? Soran. You have too much ingag'd us. Hip.One thing more,That you may know my single charity,Freely I here remit all interestI ere could clayme, and give you backe your vowes;60And to confirm't,—reach me a cup of wine,—My Lord Soranzo, in this draught I drinkeLong rest t'ee!—[Aside to Vasques.] Looke to it, Vasques. Vas. Fear nothing.He gives her a poysond cup; she drinks.  Soran. Hippolita, I thanke you, and will pledge65This happy union as another life.—Wine, there! Vas. You shall have none; neither shall you pledge her.  Hip. How! Vas. Know now, mistresse shee devill, your70owne mischievous treachery hath kild you; Imust not marry you. Hip. Villaine! Omnes. What's the matter? Vas. Foolish woeman, thou art now like a75fire-brand that hath kindled others and burnt thyselfe:—Troppo sperar, inganna^[5],—thy vaine hopehath deceived thee; thou art but dead; if thouhast any grace, pray. Hip. Monster!80 Vas. Dye in charity, for shame. This thingof malice, this woman, had privately corruptedmee with promise of malice^[6], under this politiquereconciliation to poyson my lord, whiles sheemight laugh at his confusion on his marriage day.85I promis'd her faire, but I knew what my rewardshould have beene, and would willingly havespar'd her life, but that I was acquainted withthe danger of her disposition; and now havefitted her a just payment in her owne coyne:90there shee is, shee hath yet—and end thy dayesin peace, vild woman; as for life, there's nohope; think not on't. Omnes. Wonderfull justice!  Richardetto. Heaven, thou art righteous. Hip.O, 'tis true;95I feele my minute comming. Had that slaveKept promise,—O, my torment,—thou this houreHad'st dyed, Soranzo;—heate above hell fire!—Yet ere I passe away,—cruell, cruell flames,—Take here my curse amongst you; may thy bed100Of marriage be a racke unto thy heart,Burne bloode and boyle in vengeance—O, my heart,My flame's intolerable!—maist thou liveTo father bastards; may her wombe bring forthMonsters; and dye together in your sinnes,105Hated, scorn'd and unpittied—Oh!—Oh!Dyes.  Flo. Was e're so vild a creature? Rich.Here's the endOf lust and pride. Anna.It is a fearefull sight. Soran. Vasques, I know thee now a trusty servant,And never will forget thee.—Come, my love,110Wee'le home, and thanke the heavens for this escape.Father and friends, wee must breake up this mirth;It is too sad a feast.  Donado.Beare hence the body. Fry. [aside to Gio]. Here's an ominous change!Marke this, my Giovani, and take heed!115I feare the event; that marriage seldome's goodWhere the bride-banquet so begins in blood.Exeunt. 

1. 29 How . . . this? G-D inserts the stage direction Hautboys before this line.
2. 31 young. Q, youg.
3. 35-6 Wee . . . in. Q prints as prose.
4. this. So G-D; so copy in British Museum and copy in Boston Public Library. Dyce's copy had thy; so copy in library of the University of Illinois.
5. 76 inganna. So G-D. Q, niganna.
6. 82 malice. Changed in G-D to marriage.