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

by John Ford (1586-c. 1639)

 

[SCENE TERTIA.

 

A hall in Florio's house.]

 

 Giovanni. Lost! I am lost! my fates have doom'd my death:The more I strive, I love; the more I love,The lesse I hope: I see my ruine certaine.What judgement or endevors could apply5To my incurable and restlesse wounds,I throughly have examin'd, but in vaine.O that it were not in religion sinneTo make our love a god, and worship it!I have even wearied heaven with prayers, dryed up10The spring of my continuall teares, even sterv'dMy veines with dayly fasts: what wit or artCould counsaile, I have practiz'd; but, alas,I find all these but dreames and old mens talesTo fright unsteedy youth; I'me still the same:15Or I must speake or burst; tis not, I know,My lust, but 'tis my fate that leads me on.Keepe feare and low faint hearted shame with slaves!I'le tell her that I love her, though my heartWere rated at the price of that attempt.Oh me! she comes. Enter Anna. and Putana. Annabella.Brother!20 Gio. [aside].If such a thingAs courage dwell in men, yee heavenly powers,Now double all that virtue in my tongue! Anna. Why, brother,Will you not speake to me? Gio.Yes: how d'ee, sister?25 Anna. Howsoever I am, me thinks you are not well. Putana. Blesse us! why are you so sad, sir? Gio. Let me intreat you, leave us awhile, Putana.Sister, I would be pryvate with you. Anna. With-drawe, Putana.30 Put. I will.—[Aside.] If this were anyother company for her, I should thinke my ab-sence an office of some credit; but I will leaveExit Putana.them together. Gio. Come, sister, lend your hand: let's walke together.35I hope you neede not blush to walke with mee;Here's none but you and I. Anna.How's this? Gio.Faith,I meane no harme. Anna.Harme? Gio.No, good faith.How is't with 'ee?  Anna.I trust hee be not franticke—I am very well, brother.40 Gio. Trust me, but I am sicke: I feare so sick'Twill cost my life. Anna. Mercy forbid it! 'tis not so, I hope. Gio. I thinke you love me, sister. Anna.Yes, you knowI doe.^[1] Gio.I know't, indeed—y'are very faire.45 Anna. Nay, then, I see you have a merry sicknesse. Gio. That's as it proves: the^[2]poets faigne, I read,That Juno for her forehead did exceedeAll other goddesses; but I durst sweareYour forehead exceeds hers, as hers did theirs.^[3] Anna. Troth, this is pretty!50 Gio.Such a paire of starresAs are thine eyes would, like Promethean fire,If gently glaun'st, give life to senselesse stones. Anna. Fie upon 'ee! Gio. The lilly and the rose, most sweetly strainge,55Upon your dimpled cheekes doe strive for change. Such lippes would tempt a saint; such hands as thoseWould make an anchoret lascivious. Anna. D'ee mock mee or flatter mee? Gio. If you would see a beauty more exact60Then art can counterfit or nature frame,Looke in your glasse, and there behold your owne. Anna. O, you are a trime youth.Offers his dagger to her. Gio. Here! Anna.What to doe? Gio.And here's my breast; strike^[4] home!Rip up my bosome; there thou shalt behold65A heart in which is writ the truth I speake.Why stand 'ee? Anna.Are you earnest? Gio.Yes, most earnest.You cannot love? Anna.Whom? Gio.Me! My tortur'd souleHath felt affliction in the heate of death—O Annabella, I am quite undone!70The love of thee, my sister, and the viewOf thy immortall beauty hath untun'dAll harmony both of my rest and life.Why d'ee not strike?  Anna.Forbid it, my just feares!If this be true, 'twere fitter I were dead.75 Gio. True, Annabella; 'tis no time to jest.I have too long supprest the hidden flamesThat almost have consum'd me: I have spentMany a silent night in sighes and groanes,Ran over all my thoughts, despis'd my fate,80Reason'd against the reasons of my love,Done all that smooth'd-cheeke^[5] vertue could advise;But found all bootelesse: 'tis my destinyThat you must eyther love, or I must dye. Anna. Comes this in sadnesse from you? Gio.Let some mischiefe85Befall me soone, if I dissemble ought. Anna. You are my brother, Giovanni. Gio.You,My sister Annabella; I know this,And could afford you instance why to loveSo much the more for this; to which intent90Wise nature first in your creation mentTo make you mine; else't had beene sinne and fouleTo share one beauty to a double soule.Neerenesse in birth or^[6] blood doth but perswadeA neerer neerenesse in affection.95I have askt counsell of the holy church, Who tells mee I may love you; and 'tis justThat, since I may, I should; and will, yes, will!Must I now live or dye? Anna.Live; thou hast wonneThe field, and never fought; what thou hast urg'd100My captive heart had long agoe resolv'd.I blush to tell thee,—but I'le tell thee now,—For every sigh that thou hast spent for meI have sigh'd ten; for every teare shed twenty:And not so much for that I lov'd, as that105I durst not say I lov'd, nor scarcely thinke it. Gio. Let not this musicke be a dreame, yee gods,For pittie's-sake, I begge 'ee.Shee kneeles. Anna.On my knees,Brother, even by our mothers dust, I charge you,Doe not betray mee to your mirth or hate:Love mee or kill me, brother.He kneeles. 110 Gio.On my knees,Sister, even by my mothers dust, I charge you,Doe not betray mee to your mirth or hate:Love mee or kill mee, sister. Anna. You meane good sooth, then? Gio.In good troth, I doe;115And so doe you, I hope: say, I'm in earnest.  Anna. I'le swear't, and I.^[7] Gio.And I; and by this kisse,—Kisses her. Once more! yet once more! now let's rise,—by this,I would not change this minute for Elyzium.What must we now doe? Anna.What you will. Gio.Come, then;120After so many teares as wee have wept,Exeunt.Let's learne to court in smiles, to kisse and sleepe.

1. 44 I doe.Q prints with line above.
2. 46 the. Q, they.
3. 49 theirs. G, theirs.D, their.
4. 63 strike.Q, strick.
5. 81 smooth'd-cheeke. Altered by G to smooth-cheek'd.
6. 93 or. G-D, and.
7. 116 I'le swear't, and I. G-D, I'll swear it, I.