My wretched wife, more wretched in her s...

My wretched wife, more wretched in her shame

Than in her wrongs to me, hath paid too soon

The forfeit of her modesty and life;

And I am sure, my niece, though vengeance hover,

Keeping aloof yet from Soranzo's fall,

Yet he will fall, and sink with his own weight.

I need not now--my heart persuades me so--

To further his confusion; there is One

Above begins to work, for, as I hear,

Debates already 'twixt his wife and him

Thicken and run to head; she, as 'tis said,

Slightens his love, and he abandons hers.

Much talk I hear. Since things go thus, my niece,

In tender love and pity of your youth,

My counsel is, that you should free your years

From hazard of these woes by flying hence

To fair Cremona, there to vow your soul

In holiness a holy votaress:

Leave me to see the end of these extremes.

All human worldly courses are uneven;

No life is blessed but the way to Heaven.

Ford, John. Tis Pity She’s a Whore. http://www.johnwebster.galeon.com/writersworks/pity/act4.2pity.htm

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