The Revenger's Tragedy

The Revenger's Tragedy is an English language Jacobean revenge tragedy, formerly attributed to Cyril Tourneur but now generally recognized as the work of Thomas Middleton. It was performed in 1606, and published in 1607 by George Eld. Quotes Act I Vindice: Duke, royal lecher, go, gray-hair'd adultery;And thou his son, as impious steep'd as he;And thou his bastard, true-begot in evil;And thou his duchess that will do with [the] devil:Four ex'lent characters. Act I, scene i Hippolito: Last evening predecessor unto this,The duke's son warily enquir'd for me,Whose pleasure I attended: he beganBy policy to open and unhusk meAbout the time and common rumour;But I had so much wit to keep my thoughtsUp in their built houses, yet afforded himAn idle satisfaction without danger.But the whole aim and scope of his intentEnded in this: conjuring me in privateTo seek some strange-digested fellow forthOf ill-contented nature, either disgrac'dIn former times, or by new grooms displac'dSince his stepmother's nuptials, such a bloodA man that were for evil only good;To give you the true word, some base-coin'd pander. Act I, scene i Vindici: We must coin.Women are apt, you know, to take false money,But I dare stake my soul for these two creatures,Only excuse excepted that they'll swallowBecause their sex is easy in belief. Act I, scene i Ambitioso: Brother, this makes for thee;Fear not, we'll have a trick to set thee free.Junior: Brother, I will expect it from you both,And in that hope I rest. Act I, scene ii Act II Vindice: What think you now, lady?Speak, are you wiser?What said advancement to you?Thus it said:The daughter's fall lifts up the mother's head.Did it not, madam? But I'll swear it doesIn many places; tut, this age fears no man:"'Tis no shame to be bad, because 'tis common." Act II, scene i Lussurioso: I much applaud thy judgment; thou art well-read in a fellow,And 'tis the deepest art to study man.I know this, which I never learnt in schools:The world's divided into knaves and fools. Act II, scene ii Duke: It well becomes that judge to nod at crimesThat does commit greater himself and lives.I may forgive a disobedient errorThat expect pardon for adultery,And in my old days am a youth in lust:Many a beauty have I turn'd to poisonIn the denial, covetous of all.Age hot is like a monster to be seen:My hairs are white, and yet my sins are green. Act I, scene iii Act III Supervacuo: Brother, let my opinion sway you once,I speak it for the best, to have him dieSurest and soonest; if the signet comeUnto the judges' hands, why, then his doomWill be deferr'd till sittings and court-days,Juries and further.Faiths are bought and sold;Oaths in these days are but the skin of gold. Act III, scene i [Spurio and the Duchess kiss]Spurio: Had not that kiss a taste of sin, 'twere sweet.Duchess: Why, there's no pleasure sweet but it is sinful.Spurio: True, such a bitter sweetness fate hath given;Best side to us is the worst side to heaven.Duchess: Push, come: 'tis the old duke thy doubtful father;The thought of him rubs heaven in thy way,But I protest by yonder waxen fire,Forget him or I'll poison him.Spurio: Madam, you urge a thought which ne'er had life.So deadly do I loathe him for my birth,That if he took me hasp'd within his bed,I would add murther to adultery,And with my sword give up his years to death. Act III, scene v Vindici: Here might a scornful and ambitious womanLook through and through herself; see, ladies, with false formsYou deceive men but cannot deceive worms. Act III, scene v External links Category:Plays