'Tis Pity She's a Whore

Full Text and Introduction (NHB Drama Classics)

John Ford

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781780013909
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Drama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price

The tragic story of incestuous love between Giovanni and his sister Annabella.

When Annabella is found to be pregnant by her brother, she agrees to marry her suitor Soranzo. But when the lovers' incestuous secret is discovered, vengeance and bloody murder follow.

John Ford's play 'Tis Pity She's a Whore was first performed in London between 1629 and 1633, and was first published in 1633.

This edition of the play, in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is edited and introduced by Lisa Hopkins.

[II.i]

Enter GIOVANNI and ANNABELLA, as from their chamber.

GIOVANNI. Come, Annabella; no more sister now,

But love, a name more gracious; do not blush,

Beauty’s sweet wonder, but be proud to know

That, yielding, thou hast conquered, and inflamed

A heart whose tribute is thy brother’s life.

ANNABELLA.

And mine is his. Oh, how these stolen contents

Would print a modest crimson on my cheeks,

Had any but my heart’s delight prevailed.

GIOVANNI. I marvel why the chaster of your sex

Should think this pretty toy called maidenhead

So strange a loss, when, being lost, ’tis nothing,

And you are still the same.

ANNABELLA. ’Tis well for you,

Now you can talk.

GIOVANNI. Music as well consists

In th’ear, as in the playing.

ANNABELLA. Oh, y’are wanton;

Tell on’t, y’are best, do.

GIOVANNI. Thou wilt chide me then.

Kiss me, so; thus hung Jove on Leda’s neck,

And sucked divine ambrosia from her lips.

I envy not the mightiest man alive,

But hold myself, in being king of thee,

More great than were I king of all the world:

But I shall lose you, sweetheart.

ANNABELLA. But you shall not.

GIOVANNI. You must be married, mistress.

ANNABELLA. Yes, to whom?

GIOVANNI. Some one must have you.

ANNABELLA. You must.

GIOVANNI. Nay, some other.

ANNABELLA. Now prithee do not speak so without jesting;

You’ll make me weep in earnest.

GIOVANNI. What, you will not?

But tell me, sweet, canst thou be dared to swear

That thou wilt live to me, and to no other?

ANNABELLA. By both our loves I dare, for didst thou know,

My Giovanni, how all suitors seem

To my eyes hateful, thou wouldst trust me then.

GIOVANNI. Enough, I take thy word. Sweet, we must part;

Remember what thou vow’st, keep well my heart.

ANNABELLA. Will you be gone?

GIOVANNI. I must.

ANNABELLA. When to return?

GIOVANNI. Soon.

ANNABELLA. Look you do.

GIOVANNI. Farewell.

Exit GIOVANNI.

ANNABELLA.

Go where thou wilt, in mind I’ll keep thee here,

And where thou art, I know I shall be there.

Guardian!

Enter PUTANA.

PUTANA. Child, how is’t, child? Well, thank Heaven, ha!

ANNABELLA. O guardian, what a paradise of joy

Have I passed over!

PUTANA. Nay, what a paradise of joy have you passed under! Why, now I commend thee, charge; fear nothing, sweetheart. What though he be your brother? your brother’s a man, I hope, and I say still, if a young wench feel the fit upon her, let her take anybody, father or brother, all is one.

ANNABELLA. I would not have it known for all the world.

PUTANA. Nor I, indeed, for the speech of the people; else ’twere nothing.

FLORIO [within]. Daughter Annabella!

ANNABELLA. O me! my father, – here, sir, – reach my work.

FLORIO [within]. What are you doing?

ANNABELLA. So, let him come now.

Enter FLORIO, RICHARDETTO disguised as a doctor, and

PHILOTIS with a lute in her hand.

FLORIO. So hard at work, that’s well; you lose no time. Look, I have brought you company: here’s one, a learned doctor, lately come from Padua, much skilled in physic, and for that I see you have of late been sickly, I entreated this reverent man to visit you some time.

ANNABELLA. Y’are very welcome, sir.

RICHARDETTO. I thank you, mistress.

Loud fame in large report hath spoke your praise,

As well for virtue as perfection:

For which I have been bold to bring with me

A kinswoman of mine, a maid, for song

And music, one perhaps will give content;

Please you to know her.

ANNABELLA. They are parts I love,

And she for them most welcome.

PHILOTIS. Thank you, lady.

FLORIO.

Sir, now you know my house, pray make not strange,

And if you find my daughter need your art,

I’ll be your paymaster.

RICHARDETTO. Sir, what I am

She shall command.

FLORIO. You shall bind me to you.

Daughter, I must have conference with you,

About some matters that concerns us both.

Good master doctor, please you but walk in,

We’ll crave a little of your cousin’s cunning.

I think my girl hath not quite forgot

To touch an instrument; she could have done’t.

We’ll hear them both.

RICHARDETTO. I’ll wait upon you, sir.

Exeunt.

[II.ii]

Enter SORANZO in his study reading a book.

SORANZO. ‘Love’s measure is extreme, the comfort, pain;

The life unrest, and the reward disdain.’

What’s here? look o’er again; ’tis so, so writes

This smooth licentious poet in his rhymes.

But, Sanazar, thou liest, for had thy bosom

Felt such oppression as is laid on mine,

Thou wouldst have kissed the rod that made thee smart.

To work, then happy Muse, and contradict

What Sanazar hath in his envy writ.

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

His pleasures life, and his reward all joys.’

Had Annabella lived when Sanazar

Did in his brief enconium 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 Annabell

Had writ of her, and her diviner cheeks.

O how my thou...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Introduction
• For Further Reading
• Ford: Key Dates
• Dramatis Personae
• Act One
• Act Two
• Act Three
• Act Four
• Act Five
• Glossary
• Copyright Information