The White Devil (Vittoria Corombona) · chunk 44 of 49
Webster, John · published 1612 · first performed or written 1612 [Winter 1612-1613] (Annals) tragedy · Queen Anne's Men T1 Death, grief and revenge typicality 0.76 · 483 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T1: death, life, dead, die, blood, revenge, soul, father, heart, heaven.
I have a strange thing in me, to th' which I cannot give a name, without it be Compassion, I pray leave me. This night I'll know the utmost most of my fate, I'll be resolved what my rich sister means T'assign me for my service: I have lived Riotously ill, like some that live in Court. And sometimes, when my face was full of smiles, Have felt the maze of conscience in my breast. Oft gay and honoured robes those tortures try, " we think caged birds sing, when indeed they cry. Ha! I can stand thee. nearer, nearer yet. What a mockery hath death made of thee? thou look'st sad. In what place art thou? in you starry gallery, Or in the cursed dungeon? No? not speak? Pray, Sir, resolve me, what religions best For a man to die in? or is it in your knowledge To answer me how long I have to live? That's the most necessary question. Not answer? Are you still like some great men That only walk like shadows up and down, And to no purpose: say:— What's that? O fatal! he throws earth upon me. A dead man's skull beneath the roots of flowers. I pray speak Sir, our Italian Churchmen Make us believe, dead men hold conference With their familiars, and many times Will come to bed to them, and eat with them. he's gone; and see, the skull and earth are vanished. This is beyond melancholy. I do dare my fate To do its worst. Now to my sister's lodging, And sum up all these horrors; the disgrace The Prince threw on me; next the piteous sight Of my dead brother; and my Mother's dotage; And last this terrible vision. All these Shall with Vittoria's bounty turn to good, Or I will drown this weapon in her blood. My Lord upon my soul you shall no further: You have most ridiculously engaged yourself Too far already. For my part, I have paid All my debts, so if I should chance to fall My Creditors fall not with me; and I vow To quite all in this bold assembly To the meanest follower. My Lord leave the City, Or I'll forswear the murder. Farewell Lodovico. If thou dost perish in this glorious act, I'll rear unto thy memory that fame Shall in the ashes keep alive thy name. There's some black deed on foot. I'll presently down to the Citadel, and raise some force. These strong Court factions that do brook no checks, In the career of't break the rider's necks. What are you at your prayers? Giue e. How Ruffin? I come to you 'bout worldly business: Sit down, sit down: Nay stay blouze, you may hear it, The doors are fast enough. Ha, are you drunk? Yes, yes, with wormwood water, you shall taste Some of it presently. What intends the fury?
nodes 2737–2798 (positions in the processed text, not lines of the printed book) · chunk 44 of 49 in this edition
Length
483 words · 626 tokens
Topic (seed 42)
T1 — Death, grief and revengecross-work theme (confirmed, in the genre comparison) · typicality 0.758 (cosine to the topic centroid)
Other seeds
seed 43: T10 · seed 44: T1 — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
I haue a strange thing in mee, to th' which I cannot giue a name, without it bee Compassion, I pray leaue mee. This night Ile know the vt most of my fate▪ Ile bee resolu'd what my rich sister meanes T'assigne mee for my seruice: I haue liu'd Riotously ill, like some that liue in Court. And sometimes, when my face was full of smiles▪ Haue felt the mase of conscience in my brest. Oft gay and honour'd robes those tortures trie, "Wee thinke cag'd birds sing, when indeed they crie. Ha! I can stand thee. Neerer, neerer yet. What a mockerie hath death made of thee? thou look'st sad. In what place art thou? in you starrie gallerie, Or in the cursed dungeon? No? not speake? Pray, Sir, resolue mee, what religions best For a man to die in? or is it in your knowledge To answere mee how long I haue to liue? That's the most necessarie question. Not answere? Are you still like some great men That onely walke like shadowes vp and downe, And to no purpose: say:— What's that? O fatall! hee throwes earth vpon mee▪ A dead mans scull beneath the rootes of flowers. I pray speake Sir, our Italian Church-men Make vs beleue, dead men hold conference With their familiars, and many times Will come to bed to them, and eat with them. Hee's gone; and see, the scull and earth are vanisht. This is beyond melancholie. I doe dare my fate To doe its worst. Now to my sisters lodging, And summe vp all these horrours; the disgrace The Prince threw on mee; next the pitious sight Of my dead brother; and my Mothers dotage; And last this terrible vision. All these Shall with Vittoria's bountie turne to good, Or I will drowne this weapon in her blood. My Lord vpon my soule you shall no further: You haue most ridiculously ingag'd your selfe Too far allready. For my part, I haue payd All my debts, so if I should chance to fall My Creditours fall not with mee; and I vow To quite all in this bold assemblie To the meanest follower. My Lord leaue the Cittie, Or Ile forsweare the murder. Farewell Lodouico. If thou do'st perish in this glorious act, Ile reare vnto thy memorie that fame Shall in the ashes keepe aliue thy name. There's some blacke deed on foot. Ile presently Downe to the Citadell, and raise some force. These strong Court factions that do brooke no checks, In the cariere of't breake the Riders neckes. What are you at your prayers? Giue e. How Ruffin? I come to you 'bout worldly businesse: Sit downe, sit downe: Nay stay blouze, you may heare it, The dores are fast inough. Ha, are you drunke? Yes, yes, with wormewood water, you shall tast Some of it presently. What intends the fury?