Tis Pity She's A Whore By John Ford 05/05 | level 7 Learn English Through Story | Audiobook

Act V. SCENE I. THE STREET BEFORE SORRANZO'S HOUSE. ANNABELLA APPEARS AT A WINDOW, ABOVE Pleasures, farewell! and all ye thriftless minutes wherein false joys have spun a weary life! To these my fortunes now I take my leave. Thou, precious time, that swiftly rids'd in post over the world, to finish up the race of my last fate, here stay thy restless course, and bear to ages that are yet unborn a wretched woeful woman's tragedy. My conscience now stands up against my lust, with depositions character'd in guilt, and tells me I am lost. Now I confess, beauty that clothes the outside of the face, is cursed if it be not clothed with grace. Here, like a turtle, mute up in a cage, unmated, I converse with air in walls, and descant on my vile unhappiness. O Giovanni, that hast had the spoil of thine own virtues, and my modest fame, would thou hadst been less subject to those stars that luckless reigned at my nativity! How would the scourge, due to my black offence, might pass from thee, that I alone might feel the torment of an uncontrollèd flame! What's this I hear? That man, that blessed friar, who joined in ceremonial knot my hand to him whose wife I now am, told me oft I trod the path to death, and showed me how. But they who sleep in lethargies of lust, hug their confusion, making heaven unjust, and so did I. Here's music to the soul. Forgive me, my good genius, and this once be helpful to my ends. Let some good man pass this way, to whose trust I may commit this paper, double-lined with tears and blood, which, being granted here, I sadly vow repentance, and the leaving of that life I long have died in. Lady, heaven hath heard you, and hath by providence ordained that I should be his minister for your behoof. What are you? Your brother's friend, the friar. Glad in my soul that I have lived to hear this free confession, to which your peace and you. What would you, or to whom? Fear not to speak. Is heaven so bountiful? Then I have found more favour than I hoped. Here, holy man, throws down a letter. Commend me to my brother. Give him that, that letter. Bid him read it and repent. Tell him that I, imprisoned in my chamber, bard of all company, even of my guardian, which gives me cause of much suspect, have time to blush at what hath passed. Bid him be wise, and not believe the friendship of my lord. I fear much more than I can speak. Good father, the place is dangerous, and spies are busy. I must break off. You'll do it? Be sure I will, and fly with speed. My blessing ever rest with thee, my daughter. Live to die more blessed. Exit. Thanks to the heavens who have prolonged my breath to this good use. Now I can welcome death. Withdraws from the window. Scene 2. Another room in the same. Enter Sorranso and Vasquez. Am I to be believed now? First, marry a strumpet that casts herself away upon you but to laugh at your horns, to feast on your disgrace, ride in your vexation, cuckold you in your bride-bed, waste your estate upon panders and bards. No more, I say, no more. A cuckold is a goodly tamed beast, my lord. I am resolved. Urge not another word. My thoughts are great, and all that's resolute is thunder. In meantime, I'll cause our lady to deck herself in all her bridal robes, kiss her and fold her gently in my arms. Begone, yet here are you. Are the banditti ready to wait an ambush? Good sir, trouble not yourself about other business than your own resolution. Remember that time lost cannot be recalled. With all the cunning words thou canst invite the states of Palma to my birthday's feast, haste to my brother Ivol and his father, and treat them gently, bid them not to fail, be speedy and return. Let not your pity betray you. Till my coming back, think upon incest and cuckoldry. Revenge is all the ambition I aspire. To that I'll climb or fall, my blood's on fire. XANT. SCENE III. A ROOM IN FLORIO'S HOUSE. Enter Giovanni. Busy opinion is an idle fool, as a school-rod keeps a child in awe, frights the unexperienced temper of the mind. So did it me, who, where my precious sister was married, thought all taste of love would die in such a contract. But I find no change of pleasure in this formal law of sports. She is still one to me, and every kiss as sweet and as delicious as the first I reaped, when yet the privilege of youth entitled her a virgin, oh, the glory of two united hearts like hers and mine. Let pouring bookmen dream of other worlds. My world and all of happiness is here, and I'd not change it for the best to come. A life of pleasure is Elysium. Enter Friar. Father, you enter on the jubilee of my retired delights. Now I can tell you, the hell you have oft prompted is naught else but slavish and fond superstitious fear, and I should prove it too. Thy blindness slays thee. Look there, tis writ to thee. Gives him the letter. From whom? Unrip the seals and see, the bloods yet seething hot, that will anon be frozen harder than congealed coral. Why do you change colour, son? For heaven, you make some petty devil-factor twixt my love and your religion-masked sorceries. Where had you this? Thy conscience, youth, is seared, else there would stoop to warning. And I know it, and tis all written in her blood. She writes, I know not what. Not fear an armed thunderbolt aimed at my heart. She writes, we are discovered. Pox on dreams of low, faint-hearted cowardice. Discovered, the devil we are. Which way is it possible? Are we grown traitors to our own delights? Confusion takes such dotage. Tis but forged. This is your peevish chattering, weak old man. Enter Vasquez. Now, sir, what news bring you? My lord, according to his yearly custom, keeping this day a feast in honour of his birthday by me invites you thither. Your worthy father, with the Pope's Reverend Nuncio, and other magnificios of Parma, have promised their presence. Will't please you to be of the number? Yes. Tell him I dare come. Dare come? So I said. And tell him more, I will come. These words are strange to me. Say, I will come. You will not miss? Yet more. I'll come, sir. Are you answered? So I'll say my service to you. Exit. You will not go, I trust? Not go? For what? Oh, do not go. This feast I'll gauge my life. Is but a plot to train you to your ruin. Be ruled, you shall not go. Not go. Stood Death, threatening his armies of confounding plagues, with hosts of dangers hot as blazing stars, I would be there. Not go. Yes, and resolve to strike as deep in slaughter as they all, for I will go where they're wilt. I see the wildness of thy fate draws to an end, to a bad, fearful end. I must not stay to know thy fall. Back to Benonia I with speed will haste, and shun this coming blow. Parma farewell. Would I had never known thee, or ought of thine. Well, young man, since no prayer can make thee safe, I leave thee to despair. Exit. Despair, or tortures of a thousand hells, holds one to me. I have set up my rest. Now, now, work serious thoughts on baleful plots. Be all a man, my soul. Let not the curse of old prescription rend from me the gall of courage which enrolls a glorious death. If I must totter like a well-grown oak, some undershrub shall in my weighty fall be crushed to splits. With me they all shall perish. You will not fail or shrink in the attempt. I will undertake for their parts. Be sure, my masters, to be bloody enough and as unmerciful as if you were preying upon a rich booty o'er the very mountains of Liguria. For your pardons, trust to my lord. But for reward, you shall trust none but your own pockets. We'll make a murder. His gold. Gives them money. His more want nothing. What you do is noble an act of brave revenge. I'll make you rich, bendity, and all free. Liberty! Liberty! Hold. Take every man a wizard. When you are withdrawn, keep as much silence as you can possibly. You know the watchword. To which be spoken, move not. But when you hear that, rush in like a stormy flood. I need not instruct you in your own profession. No! No! No! In then. Your ends are profit and preferment. Away. The guests will all come, Boscus? Yes, sir. And now let me a little edge your resolution. You see nothing is unready to this great work but a great mind in you. Call to your remembrance your disgrace, your loss of honor, Hippolyta's blood, and arm your courage in your own wrongs. So shall you best right those wrongs in vengeance, which you may truly call your own. Tis well. The less I speak, the more I burn, and blood shall quench that flame. Now you begin to turn Italian. This beside, when my young incest monger comes, he will be sharp-set on his old bit. Give him time enough. Let him have your chamber and bed at liberty. Let my hot hair have law, ere he be hunted to his death, that, if it be possible, he post to hell in the very act of his damnation. It shall be so, and see as we would wish, he comes himself first. Enter Giovanni. Welcome, my much-loved brother. Now I perceive you honor me. You are welcome. But where's my father? With the other states, attending on the nuncio of the Pope, to wait upon him hither. How's my sister? Like a good housewife, scarcely ready yet. You were best walked to her chamber. If you will. I must expect my honorable friends. Good brother, get her forth. You are busy, sir. Exit. Even as the great devil himself would have it, let him go and glut himself in his own destruction. Flourish. Hark! The nuncio is at hand. Good sir, be ready to receive him. Enter Cardinal, Florio, Donato, Riccardetto, and attendants. Most reverend lord, this grace hath made me proud, that you vouchsafe my house I ever rest your humble servant for this noble favor. You are our friend, my lord. His holiness shall understand how zealously you honor St. Peter's vicar in his substitute. Our special love to you. Signors, to you my welcome and my ever best of thanks for this so memorable courtesy. Pleaseth your grace walk near? My lord, we come to celebrate your feast with civil mirth, as ancient custom teacheth. We will go. Attend his grace there. Signors, keep your way. Exsunt. Scene 5. Annabella's bedchamber in the same. Annabella, richly dressed, and Giovanni. Changed so soon? Hath your new sprightly lord found out a trick in night-games more than we could know? In our simplicity? Is it so? Or does the fit come on you to prove treacherous to your past vows and oaths? Why should you jest at my calamity without all sense of the approaching dangers you were in? But dangers have so great as thy revolt. Thou art a faithless sister. Else thou knowest malice, or any treachery beside, would stoop to my bent brows. Why, I hold fate clasped in my fist, and could command the course of time's eternal motion. Hadst thou been one thought more steady than an ebbing sea, and what? You'll now be honest? That's resolved? Brother, dear brother, know what I have been, and know that now there's but a dining-time to extol us in our confusion. Let's not waste these precious hours in vain and useless speech. Alas, these gay attires were not put on but to some end. This sudden solemn feast was not ordained to riot in expense. I, that have now been chambered here alone, part of my guardian, or of any else, am not for nothing at an instant freed to fresh access? Be not deceived, my brother, this banquet is an harbinger of death to you and me. Resolve yourself it is, and be prepared to welcome it. Well then, the schoolmen teach that all this globe of earth shall be consumed to ashes in a minute. So I have read too. But were somewhat strange to see the waters burn. Could I believe this might be true? I could believe as well there might be hell or heaven. That's most certain. O, a dream, a dream! Else in this other world we should know one another. So we shall. Have you heard so? For certain. But do you think that I shall see you there? You look on me. May we kiss one another, prate, or laugh, or do as we do here? I know not that. But, brother, for the present, what do you mean to free yourself from danger? Some way think how to escape. I'm sure the guests are come. Look up, look here. What do you see in my face? Distraction and a troubled conscience. Death and a swift repining wrath. Yet look, what see you in mine eyes? Methinks you weep. I do, indeed. These are the funeral tears shed on your grave. These furrowed out my cheeks when first I loved and knew not how to woo. Fair Annabella, should I repent the story of my life, we might lose time. Berecord all the spirits of the air and all things else that are. That day and night, early and late, the tribute which my heart hath paid to Annabella's sacred love hath been these tears, which are her borders now. Never till now did nature do her best to show a matchless beauty to the world, which, in an instant, ere it scarce was seen, the jealous destinies required again. Pray, pray, since we must part, go thou into thy soul to fill a throne of innocence and sanctity in heaven. Pray, pray, my sister. Then I see your drift. Ye blessed angels, guard me. So say I. Kiss me. If ever after time should hear of our fastened affections, though perhaps the laws of conscience and of civil use may justly blame us, yet when they but know our loves, that love will wipe away that rigor which would in other incests be abhorred. Give me your hand. How sweetly life doth run in these well-colored veins. How constantly these palms do promise health. I could chide with nature for this cunning flattery. Oh, kiss me again. Forgive me. With my heart. Farewell. Will you be gone? Oh, be dark, bright sun, and make this midday night that thy guilt's rays may not behold a deed will turn their splendor more sooty than the poet's feign their sticks. One other kiss, my sister. What means this? To save thy fame and kill thee in a kiss. Stabs her. Thus die. Die by me and by my hand. Revenge is mine. Honor doth love command. Oh, brother, by your hand. When thou art dead, I'll give my reasons for it, for to dispute with thy, even in thy death, most lovely beauty would make me stagger to perform this act which I most glory in. Forgive him, heaven, and me my sins. Farewell, brother. Unkind, unkind. Mercy, great heaven. Oh, oh. Dies. She's dead. Alas, good soul. The hapless fruit that in her womb received its life from me hath had from me a cradle and a grave. I must not dally. This sad marriage-bed, in all her best, bore her alive and dead. Soronso, thou hast missed thy aim in this. I have prevented now thy reaching plots and killed a love for whose each drop of blood I would have pawned my heart. Fair Annabella, how overglorious art thou in thy wounds, triumphing over infamy and hate. Shriek not, courageous hand. Stand up, my heart, and boldly act my last and greater part. The scene closes. Scene 6. A Banqueting Room in the Seine A banquet. Enter the Cardinal, Florio, Donato, Soronso, Riccardetto, Vasquez, in attendance. A part to Soronso. Remember, sir, what you have to do. Be wise and resolute. Enough. My heart is fixed. Blisseth your grace to taste these coarse confections, though the use of such set entertainments more consists in custom than in cause. Yet, reverend sir, I am still made your servant by your presence. And we your friend. But where's my brother Giovanni? Enter Giovanni with a heart upon his dagger. Hear, hear, Soronso, trimmed in reeking blood that triumphs over death, proud in the spoil of love and vengeance, fate, or all the powers that guide the motions of immortal souls, could not prevent me. What means this, son Giovanni? Aside. Shall I be forestalled? Be not amazed. If your misgiving hearts shrink at an idle sight, what bloodless fear of coward passion would have seized your senses had you beheld the rape of life and beauty, which I have acted. My sister. Oh, my sister. Ah, whatever. The glory of my deed darkened the midday sun. Moon is night. You came to feast, my lords, with dainty fare? I came to feast too. But I digged for food in a much richer mine than gold or stone of any value balanced. Tis a heart, a heart, my lords, in which is mine entombed. Look well upon it. Do you know it? Aside. What strange riddle is this? Tis Annabella's heart. Tis. Why do you startle? I vowed is hers. The stagger's point ploughed up her fruitful womb and left to me the fame of a most glorious executioner. I, madman, art thyself? Yes, father. And that times to come may know how as my fate I honored my revenge. List, father, to your ears I will yield up how much I have deserved to be your son. What is it thou say'st? Nine moons have had their changes since I first thoroughly viewed and truly loved your daughter and my sister. How? Alas, my lords, he is a frantic madman. Father, no. For nine months' space in secret I enjoyed sweet Annabella's sheets. Nine months I lived a happy monarch of her heart and her. Sir Anzo, thou know'st this. Thy paler cheeks bears the confounding print of thy disgrace. For her too fruitful womb too soon berate the happy passage of our stolen delights and made her mother to a child unborn. Incestuous villain! Ah, his rage belies him. It does not. Tis the oracle of truth, I vower to so. I shall burst with fury. Bring this trumpet forth. I shall, sir. Exit. O do, sir. Have you all no faith to credit yet my triumphs? Here I swear by all you call sacred by the love I bore my Annabella whilst she lived. Thy hands hath from her bosom ripped this heart. Re-enter Vasquez. Is it true or no, sir? Tis most strangely true. Cursed man! Have I lived to- Dice. Hold up, Florio. Monster of children. See what thou hast done. Broke thy old father's heart. Is none of you dares venture on him? Let them. My father. How well his death becomes him in his griefs. Why, this was done with courage. Now survives none of our house but I. Guilt in the blood of a fair sister and a hapless father. In human's court of men, hast thou a thought to outlive thy murders? Dross. I tell thee yes. For in my fists I bear the twists of life. Soranzo. See this heart which was thy wife's. Thus I exchange it royally for thine. They fight. Thus and thus. Now brave revenge is mine. Soranzo falls. I cannot hold any longer. You, sir. Are you grown insolent in your butcheries? Have at you. Come. I am armed to meet thee. They fight. No. Will it not be yet? If this will not, another shall. Not yet? I shall fit you anon. Vengeance. The banditi rush in. Welcome. Come more of you. What dare you be? I dare your worst. They surround and wound him. I can stand no longer. Feeble arms. Have you so soon lost strength? Falls. Now you are welcome, sir. A sigh to banditi. Away, my masters. All is done. Shift for yourselves. Your reward is your own. Shift for yourselves. Away. Exont. How do you, my lord? See you this? Pointing to Giovanni. How is't? Dead. Dead? But in death well pleased that I have lived to see my wrongs revenged on that black devil. O Vascus, to thy bosom let me give my last of breath. Let not that lecher live. How? Dies. The reward of peace and rest be with you, my ever dearest lord and master. Whose hand gave me this wound? Mine, sir. I was your first man. Have you enough? I thank thee. Thou hast done for me but what I would have else done on myself. Art sure thy lord is dead? O imprudent slave, as sure as I am sure to see thee die. Think on thy life and end and call for mercy. Mercy. I have found it in this justice. Strive yet to cry to heaven. O, I bleed fast. Death, thou art a guest long looked for. I embrace thee and thy wounds. My last minute comes. Where'er I go let me enjoy this grace. Freely to view my Annabella's face. Dies. Strange miracle of justice. Raise up the city. We shall be mad at all. You need not fear. You shall not. This strange task being ended, I have paid the duty to the son, which I have vowed to the father. Speak, wretched villain. What incarnate fiend hath led thee on to this? Honesty and pity of my master's wrongs. For no, my lord, I am by birth a Spaniard, brought forth my country and my youth by Lord Soronso's father, whom whilst he lived I served faithfully, since whose death I have been to this man as I was to him. What I have done was duty, and I repent nothing, but that the loss of my life had not ransomed his. Say, fellow, knowst thou any yet unnamed of counsel in this incest? Yes, an old woman, sometime guardian to this murdered lady. And what's become of her? Within this room she is, whose eyes after her confession I caused to be put out, but kept alive to confirm what from Giovanni's own mouth you have heard. Now, my lord, what I have done you may judge of, and let your own wisdom be a judge in your own reason. Peace. First, this woman, chief in these effects, my sentence is, that forthwith she be ta'en out of the city, for example's sake, there to be burned to ashes. Tis most just. Be at your charge, Donato. See it done. I shall. What for me? If death, tis welcome. I have been honest to the son, as I was to the father. Fellow, for thee, since what thou didst was done not for thyself, being no Italian, we banish thee for ever, to depart within three days. In this we do dispense with the grounds of reason, not of thine offence. Tis well. This conquest is mine, and I rejoice that a Spaniard out went an Italian in revenge. Exit. Take up these slaughtered bodies, see them buried, and all the gold and jewels, or whatsoever, confiscate by the canons of the church, we seize upon to the Pope's proper use. Discovers himself. Your graces pardon. Thus long I lived disguised, to see the effect of pride and lust, at once brought both to shameful ends. What! Ricciardetto, whom we thought for dead? Sir, was it you? Your friend. We shall have time to talk at large of all. But never yet incest and murder have so strangely met of one so young, so rich in nature's store. Who could not say? Tis pity she's a whore. Exsult. End of Act V. End of Tis pity she's a whore.