'TIS PITY SHE'S A WHORE, A TRAGEDY: BY THE SAME AUTHOR. GIOVANNI, a young gentleman of Parma, entertains an illicit love for his sister. He asks counsel of BONAVENTURA, a Friar.1 FRIAR. GIOVANNI. Friar. Dispute no more in this, for know, young man, These are no school-points; nice philosophy But Heaven admits no jests. Wits that presum'd No more; I may not hear it. Gio. Gentle father, To you have I unclasp'd my burthen'd soul, That beauty which, if framed anew, the gods 1 The good friar in this play is evidently a copy of Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet. He is the same kind physician to the souls of his young charges; but he has more desperate patients to deal with. And kneel to it, as I do kneel to them? A customary form, from man to man, 'Twixt my perpetual happiness and me? As from a sacred oracle, distils The life of counsel. Tell me, holy man, What cure shall give me ease in these extremes? Friar. Repentance, son, and sorrow for this sin : For thou hast mov'd a majesty above With thy unrangèd (almost) blasphemy. A wonder of thine age throughout Bononia? Thy government, behaviour, learning, speech, O Giovanni! hast thou left the schools Of knowledge, to converse with lust and death? For death waits on thy lust.-Look through the world, And thou shalt see a thousand faces shine More glorious than this idol thou ador'st. Leave her, and take thy choice, 'tis much less sin; Though in such games as those they lose that win. Gio. It were more ease to stop the ocean From floats and ebbs, than to dissuade my vows. Friar. Then I have done, and in thy wilful flames Friar. Hie to thy father's house, there lock thee fast On both thy knees, and grovel on the ground; I'll think on remedy. Pray for thyself Anna. Do you mock me or flatter me? [He has been praising her beauty. Gio. If you would see a beauty more exact Gio. Here. Anna. What to do? [Offers his dagger to her. Gio. And here's my breast. Strike home, Anna. Are you earnest ? You cannot love. Anna. Whom? Gio. Me. My tortur'd soul Hath felt affliction in the heat of death. Anna. Forbid it, my just fears! If this be true, 'twere fitter I were dead. Gio. True, Annabella! 'tis no time to jest ; I have too long suppress'd my hidden flames, That almost have consumed me: I have spent Many a silent night in sighs and groans, Ran over all my thoughts, despis'd my fate, Reason'd against the reasons of my love, Done all that smooth-cheek'd virtue could advise, But found all bootless: 'tis my destiny That you must either love, or I must die. Anna. Comes this in sadness from you? Gio. Let some mischief Befall me soon, if I dissemble aught. My sister, Annabella, I know this, He gives some sophistical reasons, and resumes. Must I now live or die? Anna. Live: thou hast won The field, and never fought. What thou hast urg'd, My captive heart had long ago resolv❜d. I blush to tell thee-but I tell thee now— Gio. Let not this music be a dream, ye gods, For pity's sake, I beg ye. Anna. On my knees, [She kneels. Brother, even by our mother's dust, I charge you, Do not betray me to your mirth or hate; Love me, or kill me, brother. Gio. On my knees, [He kneels. Sister, even by my mother's dust, I charge you, Do not betray me to your mirth or hate; Anna. You mean good sooth, then? Gio. In good troth I do ; And so do you, I hope: say, I'm in earnest. Anna. I'll swear it, and I. Gio. And I. I would not change this minute for Elysium. ANNABELLA proves pregnant by her brother. SORANO, her husband, to whom she is newly married, discovers that she is pregnant, but cannot make her confess by whom. At length by means of VASQUES, his servant, he comes to the truth of it. He feigns forgiveness and reconcilement with his wife: and makes a sumptuous feast to which are invited ANNABELLA's old father, with GIOVANNI, and all the chief Citizens in Parma; meaning to entrap GIOVANNI by that bait to his death.-ANNABELLA suspects his drift. GIOVANNI. ANNABELLA. Gio. What, chang'd so soon? Το -does the fit come on you, to prove treacherous your past vows and oaths? Anna. Why should you jest At my calamity, without all sense Of the approaching dangers you are in? Gio. What danger 's half so great as thy revolt? Malice, or any treachery beside, Would stoop to my bent brows: why, I hold fate Clasp'd in my fist, and could command the course Of time's eternal motion, hadst thou been |