HIPPOLITA: How foolishly this beast con...

HIPPOLITA: How foolishly this beast contemns his fate,

And shuns the use of that which I more scorn

Than I once loved, his love. But let him go;

My vengeance shall give comfort to his woe.

She offers to go away

VASQUES: Mistress, mistress, Madam Hippolita, pray, a word or two.

HIPPOLITA: With me, sir?

VASQUES: With you, if you please.

HIPPOLITA: What is't?

VASQUES: I know you are infinitely moved now, and you think you have cause: some I confess you have, but sure not so much as you imagine.

HIPPOLITA: Indeed.

VASQUES: O, you were miserably bitter, which you followed even to the last syllable. Faith, you were somewhat too shrewd. By my life, you could not have took my lord in a worse time since I first knew him: tomorrow you shall find him a new man.

HIPPOLITA: Well, I shall wait his leisure.

VASQUES: Fie, this is not a hearty patience, it comes sourly from you; troth, let me persuade you for once.

HIPPOLITA [aside]: I have it, and it shall be so; thanks, opportunity!

[To him] Persuade me to what?

VASQUES: Visit him in some milder temper. O, if you could but master a little of your female spleen, how might you win him!

HIPPOLITA: He will never love me. Vasques, thou hast been a too trusty servant to such a master, and I believe thy reward in the end will fall out like mine.

VASQUES: So, perhaps too.

HIPPOLITA: Resolve thyself it will. Had I one so true, so truly honest, so secret to my counsels, as thou hast been to him and his, I should think it a slight acquittance, not only to make him master of all I have, but even of myself.

VASQUES: O, you are a noble gentlewoman!

HIPPOLITA: Wilt thou feed always upon hopes? Well, I know thou art wise, and seest the reward of an old servant daily what it is.

VASQUES: Beggary and neglect.

HIPPOLITA: True; but Vasques, wert thou mine, and wouldst be private tome and my designs, I here protest, myself and all what I can else call mine, should be at thy dispose.

VASQUES [aside]: Work you that way, old mole? Then I have the wind of you. [To her} I were not worthy of it by any desert that could lie within my compass; if I could-

HIPPOLITA: What then?

VASQUES: I should then hope to live in these my old years with rest and security.

HIPPOLITA: Give me thy hand: now promise but they silence,

And help to bring to pass a plot I have,

And here in sight of Heaven, that being done,

I make thee lord of me and mine estate.

VASQUES: Come, you are merry; this is such a happiness that I can neither think or believe.

HIPPOLITA: Promise thy secrecy, and 'tis confirmed.

VASQUES: Then here I call our good genii for witnesses, whatsoever your designs are, or against whomsoever, I will not only be a special actor therein, but never disclose it till it be effected.

HIPPOLITA: I take thy word, and with that, thee for mine.

Come then, let's more confer of this anon.

On this delicious bane my thoughts shall banquet:

Revenge shall sweeten what my griefs have tasted.

Exeunt.

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

Read the full text of 'Tis Pity She's a Whore here at Galeon.com