Enter FLORIO, GIOVANNI, SORANZO, ANNABELLA, PUTTANA and VASQUEZ.
FLORIO
My lord Soranzo, though I must confess
The proffers that are made me have been great
In marriage of my daughter, yet the hope
Of your still-rising honours have prevailed
Above all other jointures.1 Here she is.
She knows my mind. Speak for yourself to her;
And hear you, daughter, see you use him nobly.
For any private speech, I’ll give you time.
Come, son, and you the rest. Let them alone,
Agree as they may.
SORANZO
10 I thank you, sir.
GIOVANNI [Aside to ANNABELLA]
Sister, be not all woman.2 Think on me.
SORANZO
Vasquez!
VASQUEZ
My lord?
SORANZO
Attend me without.3
Exeunt all but SORANZO and ANNABELLA.
ANNABELLA
Sir, what’s your will with me?
SORANZO
Do you not know what I should tell you?
ANNABELLA
Yes,
You’ll say you love me.
SORANZO
And I’ll swear it too.
Will you believe it?
ANNABELLA
’Tis not point of faith.4
Enter GIOVANNI above.
SORANZO
Have you not will to love?
Not you.
SORANZO
Whom then?
ANNABELLA
That’s as the Fates infer.1
GIOVANNI [Aside]
Of those I’m regent now.
SORANZO
What mean you, sweet?
ANNABELLA
To live and die a maid.
SORANZO
20 Oh, that’s unfit.
GIOVANNI [Aside]
Here’s one can say that’s but a woman’s note.2
SORANZO
Did you but see my heart, then would you swear –
ANNABELLA
That you were dead.
GIOVANNI [Aside]
That’s true, or somewhat near it.
SORANZO
See you these true love’s tears?
ANNABELLA
No.
GIOVANNI [Aside]
Now she winks.3
SORANZO
They plead to you for grace.
ANNABELLA
Yet nothing speak.
SORANZO
Oh, grant my suit!
What is’t?
SORANZO
To let me live –
ANNABELLA
Take it.
SORANZO
– still yours.
ANNABELLA
That is not mine to give.
GIOVANNI [Aside]
One such another word would kill his hopes.
SORANZO
Mistress, to leave those fruitless strifes of wit,
30 I know I have loved you long, and loved you truly.
Not hope of what you have, but what you are
Have drawn me on; then let me not in vain
Still feel the rigour of your chaste disdain.
I’m sick, and sick to th’heart.
ANNABELLA
Help! Aqua-vitae!1
SORANZO
What mean you?
ANNABELLA
Why, I thought you had been sick!
SORANZO
Do you mock my love?
GIOVANNI [Aside]
There, sir, she was too nimble.2
SORANZO [Aside]
’Tis plain; she laughs at me.
[To ANNABELLA] These scornful taunts
Neither become your modesty or years.
You are no looking-glass, or, if you were,
I’d dress my language by you.1
GIOVANNI [Aside]
40 I’m confirmed!
ANNABELLA
To put you out of doubt, my lord, methinks
Your common sense should make you understand
That if I loved you, or desired your love,
Some way I should have given you better taste;2
But since you are a nobleman, and one
I would not wish should spend his youth in hopes,3
Let me advise you here to forbear4 your suit;
And think I wish you well I tell you this.
SORANZO
Is’t you speak this?
ANNABELLA
Yes, I myself. Yet know –
50 Thus far I give you comfort – if mine eyes
Could have picked out a man, amongst all those
That sued to me, to make a husband of,
You should have been that man. Let this suffice.
Be noble in your secrecy, and wise.
GIOVANNI [Aside]
Why, now I see she loves me.
ANNABELLA
One word more:
As ever virtue lived within your mind,
As ever noble courses were your guide,
As ever you would have me know you loved me,
Let not my father know hereof by you.
60 If I hereafter find that I must marry,
It shall be you or none.
I take that promise.
ANNABELLA
Oh, oh, my head!
SORANZO
What’s the matter? Not well?
ANNABELLA
Oh, I begin to sicken.
GIOVANNI [Aside]
Heaven forbid!
Exit from above.
SORANZO
Help, help, within there! Ho!
Enter FLORIO, GIOVANNI, [and] PUTTANA.
Look to your daughter, Signor Florio.
FLORIO
Hold her up! She swoons.
[GIOVANNI takes her in his arms.]
GIOVANNI
Sister, how d’ee?
ANNABELLA
Sick! Brother, are you there?
FLORIO
Convey her to her bed instantly, whilst I send for a physician. Quickly, I say.
PUTTANA
70 Alas, poor child! Exeunt all but SORANZO.
Enter VASQUEZ.
VASQUEZ
My lord.
SORANZO
O Vasquez, now I doubly am undone,
Both in my present and my future hopes.
She plainly told me that she could not love,
And thereupon soon sickened, and I fear
Her life’s in danger.
SORANZO
She hath, and she hath not. I’m full of grief –
But what she said, I’ll tell thee as we go. Exeunt.
Enter GIOVANNI and PUTTANA.
PUTTANA
O sir, we are all undone, quite undone, utterly undone and shamed forever! Your sister, O your sister!
GIOVANNI
What of her? For heaven’s sake, speak! How does she?
PUTTANA
Oh, that ever I was born to see this day!
GIOVANNI
She is not dead, ha? Is she?
PUTTANA
Dead? No, she is quick!3 ’Tis worse, she is with child. You know what you have done, heaven forgive’ee! ’Tis too late to repent now, heaven help us!
GIOVANNI
With child? How dost thou know’t?
10 How do I know’t? Am I, at these years,1 ignorant what the meanings of qualms2 and water-pangs3 be, of changing of colours, queasiness of stomachs, pukings, and another thing that I could name?4 Do not, for her and your credit’s5 sake, spend the time in asking how and which way ’tis so. She is quick, upon my word. If you let a physician see her water6 y’are undone.
GIOVANNI
But in what case7 is she?
PUTTANA
Prettily amended; ’twas but a fit, which I soon espied, and she must look for often henceforward.
GIOVANNI
20 Commend me to her. Bid her take no care.8
Let not the Doctor visit her, I charge you.
Make some excuse till I return. [Aside] O me,
I have a world of business9 in my head!
[Aloud] Do not discomfort her. [Aside] How do this news perplex me!
[Aloud] If my father come to her, Tell him she’s recovered well.
Say ’twas but some Ill diet.10 D’ee hear, woman?
Look you to’t.
PUTTANA
I will, sir. Exeunt.
Enter FLORIO and RICHARDETTO [disguised].
FLORIO
And how d’ee find her, sir?
RICHARDETTO
Indifferent1 well.
I see no danger, scarce perceive she’s sick,
But that she told me she had lately eaten
Melons and, as she thought, those disagreed
With her young stomach.
FLORIO
Did you give her aught?
RICHARDETTO
An easy surfeit-water,2 nothing else.
You need not doubt her health; I rather think
Her sickness is a fullness of her blood3 –
You understand me?
FLORIO
I do – you counsel well –
10 And once within these few days will so order’t
She shall be married, ere she know the time.4
RICHARDETTO
Yet let not haste, sir, make unworthy choice;
That were dishonour.
FLORIO
Master Doctor, no,
I will not do so neither. In plain words,
My lord Soranzo is the man I mean.
A noble and a virtuous gentleman.
FLORIO
As any is in Parma. Not far hence
Dwells Father Bonaventure, a grave friar,
Once tutor to my son; now at his cell
I’ll have ’em married.
RICHARDETTO
20 You have plotted wisely.
FLORIO
I’ll send one straight to speak with him tonight.
RICHARDETTO
Soranzo’s wise; he will delay no time.
FLORIO
It shall be so.
Enter FRIAR and GIOVANNI.
FRIAR
Good peace be here and love.
FLORIO
GIOVANNI
Sir, with what speed I could, I did my best
To draw this holy man from forth his cell
To visit my sick sister, that with words
30 Of ghostly3 comfort in this time of need
He might absolve her, whether she live or die.
FLORIO
’Twas well done, Giovanni: thou herein
Hast showed a Christian’s care, a brother’s love.
[To the FRIAR] Come, father, I’ll conduct you to her chamber,
And one thing would entreat you –
FRIAR
Say on, sir.
I have a father’s dear impression,1
And wish, before I fall into my grave,
That I might see her married, as ’tis fit.
A word from you, grave man, will win her more
Than all our best persuasions.
FRIAR
40 Gentle sir,
All this I’ll say, that heaven may prosper her. Exeunt.
Enter GRIMALDI.
GRIMALDI
Now if the Doctor keep his word, Soranzo,
Twenty-to-one you miss your bride. I know
’Tis an un-noble act, and not becomes
A soldier’s valour; but in terms of love,
Where merit cannot sway, policy2 must.
I am resolved: if this physician
Play not on both hands3 then Soranzo falls.
Enter RICHARDETTO [disguised, with a box].
RICHARDETTO
You are come as I could wish. This very night
Soranzo, ’tis ordained, must be affied4
10 To Annabella, and, for aught I know,
Married.
GRIMALDI
How!
Yet your patience.
The place? ’Tis Friar Bonaventure’s cell.
Now I would wish you to bestow1 this night
In watching thereabouts. ’Tis but a night.
If you miss now, tomorrow I’ll know all.
GRIMALDI
Have you the poison?
RICHARDETTO
Here ’tis in this box.
[He hands GRIMALDI the poison.]
Doubt nothing, this will do’t. In any case,
As you respect your life, be quick and sure.
GRIMALDI
I’ll speed him.2
RICHARDETTO
Do. Away, for ’tis not safe
20 You should be seen much here. Ever my love.
GRIMALDI
And mine to you. Exit GRIMALDI.
RICHARDETTO
So, if this hit,3 I’ll laugh and hug revenge;
And they that now dream of a wedding-feast
May chance to mourn the lusty bridegroom’s ruin.
But to my other business:
Niece Philotis!
Enter PHILOTIS.
PHILOTIS
Uncle?
RICHARDETTO
My lovely niece,
You have bethought ’ee?4
Yes, and, as you counselled,
Fashioned my heart to love him; but he swears
He will tonight be married, for he fears
30 His uncle else, if he should know the drift,
RICHARDETTO
Tonight? Why, best of all. But let me see:
I – ha – yes – so it shall be: in disguise
We’ll early to the Friar’s, I have thought on’t.
Enter BERGETTO and POGGIO.
PHILOTIS
Uncle, he comes.
RICHARDETTO
Welcome, my worthy coz.
BERGETTO
POGGIO
There’s hope of this yet.
RICHARDETTO
You shall have time enough. Withdraw a little:
We must confer at large.3
BERGETTO
40 Have you not sweetmeats or dainty devices4 for me?
PHILOTIS
You shall enough, sweetheart.
BERGETTO
‘Sweetheart’? Mark that, Poggio! [To PHILOTIS] By my troth, I cannot choose but kiss thee once more for that word ‘sweetheart’.
[Kisses her.]
Poggio, I have a monstrous swelling1 about my stomach, whatsoever the matter be.
POGGIO
You shall have physic2 for’t, sir.
RICHARDETTO
Time runs apace.
BERGETTO
Time’s a blockhead.
[Kisses her.]
RICHARDETTO
50 Be ruled! When we have done what’s fit to do,
Then you may kiss your fill, and bed her too. Exeunt.
Enter the FRIAR in his study, sitting in a chair, ANNABELLA kneeling and whispering to him, a table before them and wax-lights.3 She weeps and wrings her hands.
FRIAR
I am glad to see this penance; for, believe me,
You have unripped4 a soul so foul and guilty
As, I must tell you true, I marvel how
The earth hath borne you up! But weep, weep on:
These tears may do you good. Weep faster yet,
Whiles I do read a lecture.5
ANNABELLA
Wretched creature!
FRIAR
Ay, you are wretched, miserably wretched,
Almost condemned alive. There is a place –
List,1 daughter! – in a black and hollow vault,
10 Where day is never seen. There shines no sun,
But flaming horror of consuming fires,
A lightless sulphur, choked with smoky fogs
Of an infected darkness. In this place
Dwell many thousand, thousand sundry sorts
Of never-dying deaths. There damnèd souls
Roar without pity; there are gluttons fed
With toads and adders; there is burning oil
Poured down the drunkard’s throat; the usurer
Is forced to sup whole draughts2 of molten gold;
20 There is the murderer forever stabbed,
Yet can he never die; there lies the wanton
On racks of burning steel, whiles in his soul
He feels the torment of his raging lust.
ANNABELLA
Mercy, oh mercy!
FRIAR
There stands these wretched things,
Who have dreamt out whole years in lawless sheets3
And secret incests,4 cursing one another.
Then you will wish each kiss your brother gave
Had been a dagger’s point. Then you shall hear
How he will cry ‘Oh, would my wicked sister
30 Had first been damned when she did yield to lust!’
But soft, methinks I see repentance work
New motions5 in your heart. Say, how is’t with you?
ANNABELLA
Is there no way left to redeem my miseries?
FRIAR
There is: despair not. Heaven is merciful
And offers grace, even now. ’Tis thus agreed:
First, for your honour’s safety, that you marry
The Lord Soranzo; next, to save your soul,
Leave off this life, and henceforth live to him.1
ANNABELLA
Ay me!
FRIAR
Sigh not. I know the baits of sin
40 Are hard to leave. Oh, ’tis a death to do’t!
Remember what must come.2 Are you content?
ANNABELLA
I am.
FRIAR
Enter FLORIO [and], GIOVANNI.
FLORIO
Did you call, father?
FRIAR
Is Lord Soranzo come?
FLORIO
He stays below.4
FRIAR
Have you acquainted him at full?
FLORIO
I have,
And he is overjoyed.
FRIAR
And so are we.
Bid him come near.
GIOVANNI [Aside]
My sister weeping, ha?
I fear this friar’s falsehood. [Aloud] I will call him. Exit.
Daughter, are you resolved?
ANNABELLA
Father, I am.
Enter GIOVANNI, SORANZO and VASQUEZ.
FLORIO
50 My lord Soranzo, here
Give me your hand; for that I give you this.
[He joins SORANZO and ANNABELLA’s hands.]1
SORANZO
Lady, say you so too?
ANNABELLA
I do, and vow
To live with you and yours.
FRIAR
Timely resolved;
My blessing rest on both. More to be done,2
You may perform it on the morning sun. Exeunt.
Enter GRIMALDI, with his rapier drawn, and a dark lantern.3
GRIMALDI
’Tis early night as yet, and yet too soon
To finish such a work. Here I will lie
To listen who comes next.
He lies down.
Enter BERGETTO and PHILOTIS disguised,1 and after
RICHARDETTO [disguised] and POGGIO.
BERGETTO
We are almost at the place, I hope, sweetheart.
GRIMALDI [Aside]
I hear them near, and heard one say ‘Sweetheart’.
’Tis he! Now guide my hand, some angry Justice,
Home to his bosom. [Aloud] Now, have at you, sir!
Strikes BERGETTO and exits.
BERGETTO
PHILOTIS
10 What ails my love?
BERGETTO
I am sure I cannot piss forward and backward, and yet I am wet before and behind.
Lights, lights! Ho, lights!
PHILOTIS
Alas, some villain here has slain my love!
RICHARDETTO
Oh heaven forbid it! Raise up the next neighbours instantly, Poggio, and bring lights.
Exit POGGIO.
How is’t, Bergetto? Slain? It cannot be. Are you sure y’are hurt?
BERGETTO
Oh, my belly seethes like a porridge-pot. Some cold water! I shall boil over else. My whole body is in a sweat, that you
20 may wring my shirt. Feel here! – Why, Poggio!
Enter POGGIO with OFFICERS, and lights and halberds.4
Here! Alas, how do you?
RICHARDETTO
Give me a light! What’s here? All blood! O sirs,
Signor Donado’s nephew now is slain!
Follow the murderer with all the haste
Up to the city;1 he cannot be far hence.
Follow, I beseech you!
OFFICERS
Follow, follow, follow!
Exeunt OFFICERS.
RICHARDETTO [To PHILOTIS]
Tear off thy linen,2 coz, to stop his wounds.
[To BERGETTO] Be of good comfort, man.
BERGETTO
Is all this mine own blood? Nay, then, goodnight with me.
30 Poggio, commend me to my uncle, dost hear? Bid him, for my sake, make much of this wench. Oh, I am going the wrong way, sure! My belly aches so. Oh, farewell, Poggio!
Oh, oh! [He] dies.
PHILOTIS
Oh, he is dead!
POGGIO
How? Dead?
RICHARDETTO
He’s dead, indeed.
’Tis now too late to weep. Let’s have him home,
And, with what speed we may, find out the murderer.
POGGIO
O my master, my master, my master! Exeunt.
Enter VASQUEZ and HIPPOLITA.
HIPPOLITA
Betrothed?
VASQUEZ
I saw it.
HIPPOLITA
And when’s the marriage-day?
VASQUEZ
Some two days hence.
HIPPOLITA
Two days? Why, man, I would but wish two hours
To send him to his last and lasting sleep;1
And, Vasquez, thou shalt see, I’ll do it bravely.
VASQUEZ
I do not doubt your wisdom, nor, I trust, you my secrecy.
I am infinitely yours.
HIPPOLITA
I will be thine in spite of my disgrace.2
So soon? O wicked man, I durst be sworn
10 He’d laugh to see me weep.
VASQUEZ
And that’s a villainous fault in him.
HIPPOLITA
No, let him laugh. I’m armed in my resolves.
Be thou still true.
VASQUEZ
I should get little by treachery against3 so hopeful a preferment as I am like to climb to.
Even to my bosom, Vasquez. Let my youth1
Revel in these new pleasures. If we thrive,
He now hath but a pair of days to live. Exeunt.
Enter FLORIO, DONADO [weeping], RICHARDETTO
[disguised], POGGIO and OFFICERS.
FLORIO
’Tis bootless2 now to show yourself a child,3
Signor Donado. What is done, is done.
Spend not the time in tears, but seek for justice.
RICHARDETTO
I must confess, somewhat I was in fault,
That had not first acquainted you what love
Passed ’twixt him and my niece; but, as I live,
His fortune grieves me as it were mine own.
DONADO
Alas, poor creature! He meant no man harm,
That I am sure of.
FLORIO
I believe that too.
10 But stay, my masters, are you sure you saw
The murderer pass here?
OFFICER
And it please you, sir, we are sure we saw a ruffian, with a naked4 weapon in his hand, all bloody, get into my Lord Cardinal’s grace’s gate, that we are sure of; but for fear of his grace – bless us! – we durst go no further.
DONADO
Know you what manner of man he was?
Yes, sure, I know the man. They say ’a is a soldier. [To FLORIO] He that loved your daughter, sir, an’t please ye. ’Twas he, for certain.
FLORIO
Grimaldi, on my life!
OFFICER
20 Ay, ay, the same.
RICHARDETTO
The Cardinal is noble; he, no doubt,
Will give true justice.
DONADO
Knock someone at the gate!
POGGIO
I’ll knock, sir.
POGGIO knocks.
SERVANT (Within):
What would’ee?
FLORIO
We require speech with the Lord Cardinal
About some present1 business. Pray, inform
His grace that we are here.
Enter CARDINAL and GRIMALDI.
CARDINAL
Why, how now, friends? What saucy mates2 are you
That know nor duty nor civility?
Are we a person fit to be your host?
30 Or is our house become your common inn,
To beat our doors at pleasure? What such haste
Is yours, as that it cannot wait fit times?3
Are you the masters of this commonwealth
And know no more discretion? [Sees DONADO] Oh, your news
Is here before you. You have lost a nephew,
Donado, last night by Grimaldi slain.
Is that your business? Well, sir, we have knowledge on’t.
Let that suffice.
GRIMALDI [Kneels.]
In presence of your grace,1
In thought2 I never meant Bergetto harm;
40 But, Florio, you can tell with how much scorn
Soranzo, backed with his confederates,
Hath often wronged me. I, to be revenged,
For that I could not win him else3 to fight,
Had thought by way of ambush to have killed him,
But was unluckily therein mistook,
Else he had felt what late Bergetto did.
And though my fault to him were merely chance,
Yet humbly I submit me to your grace,
To do with me as you please.
CARDINAL
Rise up, Grimaldi.
[GRIMALDI stands.]
50 You citizens of Parma, if you seek
For justice, know, as Nuncio from the Pope,
For this offence I here receive Grimaldi
Into his Holiness’s protection.
He is no common man, but nobly born,
Of prince’s blood, though you, Sir Florio,
Thought him too mean4 a husband for your daughter.
If more you seek for, you must go to Rome,
For he shall thither. Learn more wit,5 for shame.
Bury your dead. Away, Grimaldi; leave ’em.
Exeunt CARDINAL and GRIMALDI.
DONADO
60 Is this a churchman’s voice? Dwells Justice here?
FLORIO
Justice is fled to heaven6 and comes no nearer.
Soranzo? Was’t for him? Oh, impudence!
Had he the face to speak it, and not blush?
Come, come, Donado, there’s no help in this,
When cardinals think murder’s not amiss.
Great men may do their wills; we must obey.
But heaven will judge them for’t another day. Exeunt.
A banquet. Hautboys.1
Enter the FRIAR, GIOVANNI, ANNABELLA [as a bride],
PHILOTIS, SORANZO, DONADO, FLORIO, RICHARDETTO
[disguised], PUTTANA and VASQUEZ.
FRIAR
These holy rites performed, now take your times
To spend the remnant of the day in feast.
Such fit repasts2 are pleasing to the saints
Who are your guests, though not with mortal eyes
To be beheld. Long prosper in this day,
You happy couple, to each other’s joy!
SORANZO
Father, your prayer is heard. The hand of goodness3
Hath been a shield for me against my death;
And, more to bless me, hath enriched my life
10 With this most precious jewel [indicating ANNABELLA] – such a prize
As earth hath not another like to this.
Cheer up, my love – and gentlemen, my friends,
Rejoice with me in mirth. This day we’ll crown
With lusty4 cups to Annabella’s health.
Oh, torture! Were1 the marriage yet undone!
Ere I’d endure this sight – to see my love
Clipped2 by another – I would dare confusion,3
And stand the horror of ten thousand deaths.
VASQUEZ
Are you not well, sir?
GIOVANNI
Prithee, fellow, wait.4
20 I need not thy officious diligence.
FLORIO
Signor Donado, come. You must forget
Your late mishaps, and drown your cares in wine.
SORANZO
Vasquez?
VASQUEZ
My lord.
SORANZO
Reach me that weighty bowl.5
[VASQUEZ hands him the cup.]
Here, brother Giovanni, here’s to you.
Your turn comes next, though now a bachelor.
Here’s to your sister’s happiness and mine.
[SORANZO drinks and offers GIOVANNI the cup.]
GIOVANNI
I cannot drink.
SORANZO
What?
GIOVANNI
’Twill indeed offend6 me.
ANNABELLA
Pray, do not urge him if he be not willing.
[Sounds are heard offstage.]
How now, what noise is this?
VASQUEZ
30 O sir, I had forgot to tell you: certain young maidens of Parma, in honour to Madam Annabella’s marriage, have sent their loves to her in a masque,1 for which they humbly crave your patience and silence.
SORANZO
We are much bound to them, so much the more
As it comes unexpected. Guide them in. [Exit VASQUEZ.]
Hautboys. Enter HIPPOLITA and LADIES [masked] in white
robes with garlands of willows [led in by VASQUEZ].2 Music
and a dance.
SORANZO
Thanks, lovely virgins. Now, might we but know
To whom we have been beholding for this love,
We shall acknowledge it.
HIPPOLITA
Yes, you shall know.
[She removes her mask.]
What think you now?
ALL
Hippolita?
HIPPOLITA
’Tis she,
40 Be not amazed – nor blush, young lovely bride.
I come not to defraud you of your man.
[To SORANZO] ’Tis now no time to reckon up3 the talk,
What Parma long hath rumoured of us both.
Let rash report4 run on; the breath that vents it
Will, like a bubble, break itself at last.
[To ANNABELLA] But now to you, sweet creature, lend’s your hand.
Perhaps it hath been said that I would claim
Some interest in Soranzo, now your lord?1
What I have right to do, his soul knows best;
50 But in my duty to your noble worth,
Sweet Annabella, and my care of you,
Here take, Soranzo, take this hand from me.
I’ll once more join what, by the holy Church,
Is finished and allowed.2
[She joins their hands together.]
Have I done well?
SORANZO
You have too much engaged us.3
HIPPOLITA
One thing more:
That you may know my single charity,4
Freely I here remit5 all interest
I e’er could claim, and give you back your vows;
And to confirm’t – [To VASQUEZ] Reach me a cup of wine.
60 My lord Soranzo, in this draught I drink
Long rest t’ee. [Aside] Look to it, Vasquez!
VASQUEZ [Aside to HIPPOLITA]
Fear nothing.
He gives her a poisoned cup. She drinks.
SORANZO
Hippolita, I thank you, and will pledge6
This happy union as another life. [To VASQUEZ] Wine there!
VASQUEZ
You shall have none; neither shall you pledge her.
HIPPOLITA
How?
Know now, Mistress She-Devil, your own mischievous treachery hath killed you. I must not marry you.
HIPPOLITA
Villain!
ALL
What’s the matter?
VASQUEZ
HIPPOLITA
Monster!
VASQUEZ
Die in charity,3 for shame. [To the others] This thing of malice, this woman, had privately corrupted me with promise of marriage, under this politic4 reconciliation to poison my lord, whiles she might laugh at his confusion5 on his marriage-day. I promised her fair,6 but I knew what my reward should
80 have been,7 and would willingly have spared her life, but that I was acquainted with the danger of her disposition, and now have fitted her a just payment in her own coin. There she is; she hath yet – [To HIPPOLITA] – 8 and end thy days in peace, vile woman. As for life, there’s no hope; think not on’t.
ALL
Wonderful justice!
RICHARDETTO
Heaven, thou art righteous!
Oh, ’tis true,
I feel my minute1 coming. Had that slave
Kept promise – Oh, my torment! – thou this hour
Hadst died, Soranzo – Heat above hell-fire! –
90 Yet, ere I pass away – cruel, cruel flames! –
Take here my curse amongst you: may thy bed
Of marriage be a rack unto thy heart. –
Burn, blood, and boil in vengeance. Oh, my heart!
My flame’s intolerable! – May’st thou live
To father bastards; may her womb bring forth
Monsters; and die together in your sins,
Hated, scorned and unpitied! – Oh! Oh! [She] dies.
FLORIO
Was e’er so vile a creature?
RICHARDETTO
Here’s the end
Of lust and pride.
ANNABELLA
100 It is a fearful sight!
SORANZO
Vasquez, I know thee now a trusty servant,
And never will forget thee. [To ANNABELLA] Come, my love,
We’ll home, and thank the heavens for this escape.
Father and friends, we must break up this mirth;
It is too sad a feast.
DONADO [To VASQUEZ]
Bear hence the body.
FRIAR [Aside to GIOVANNI]