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Tis Pity She's a Whore

'Love's measure is extreme, the comfort,...

Overview

Character
Gender
Male
Playing Age
Adult
Style
Dramatic
Act/Scene
Act Two, Scene Two
Time & Place
The monologue takes place inside Soranzo's elegant private residence in Parma, Italy, as he contemplates his courtship of Annabella.
Length
Short
Time Period
Classical
Show Type
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)

Context

Text

'Love's measure is extreme, the comfort, pain,

The life unrest, and the reward disdain.'

What's here? Look't o'er again:'tis so, so writes

This smooth licentious poet in his rhymes.

But Sannazar thou liest, for had thy bosom

Felt such oppression as is laid on mine,

Thou wouldst have kissed the rod that made the smart.

To work then, happy Muse, and contradict

What Sannazar hath in his envy writ.

'Love's measure is the mean, sweet his annoys,

His pleasure's life, and his reward all joys.'

Had Annabella lived when Sannazar

Did in his brief encomium celebrate

Venice, that queen of cities, he had left

That verse which gained him such a sum of gold,

And for one only look from Annabella

Had writ of her, and her diviner cheeks.

Ford, John. Tis Pity She’s a Whore. http://www.johnwebster.galeon.com/writersworks/pity/act2.2pity.htm

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