Why didst not thou pity her? What an exc...

Why didst not thou pity her? What an excellent

Honest man might'st thou have been

If thou hadst borne her to some sanctuary

Or bold in a good cause, opposed thyself

With thy advanced sword above thy head

Between her innocence and my revenge!

I bade thee, when I was distracted of my wits,

Go kill my dearest friend, and thou hast done’t.

For let me but examine well the cause:

What was the meanness of her match to me?

Only I must confess, I had a hope,

Had she continued widow, to have gained

An infinite mass of treasure by her death.

And that was the main cause: her marriage,

That drew a stream of gall, quite through my heart.

For thee, (as we observe in tragedies

That a good actor many times is cursed

For playing a villain’s part) I hate thee for’t.

And for my sake say thou has done much ill well.

John Webster, The Duchess of Malfi Act 4, Sc.2 ll.285-303.

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