The Revenger's Tragedy

"Duke: It well becomes that judge to nod at crimes That does commit greater himself and lives. I may forgive a disobedient error That expect pardon for adultery, And in my old days am a youth in lust: Many a beauty have I turnd to poison In the denial, covetous of all. Age hot is like a monster to be seen: My hairs are white, and yet my sins are green."

"Hippolito: Last evening predecessor unto this, The dukes son warily enquird for me, Whose pleasure I attended: he began By policy to open and unhusk me About the time and common rumour; But I had so much wit to keep my thoughts Up in their built houses, yet afforded him An idle satisfaction without danger. But the whole aim and scope of his intent Ended in this: conjuring me in private To seek some strange-digested fellow forth Of ill-contented nature, either disgracd In former times, or by new grooms displacd Since his stepmothers nuptials, such a blood A man that were for evil only good; To give you the true word, some base-coind pander."

"[Spurio and the Duchess kiss] Spurio: Had not that kiss a taste of sin, twere sweet. Duchess: Why, theres 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 Ill poison him. Spurio: Madam, you urge a thought which neer had life. So deadly do I loathe him for my birth, That if he took me haspd within his bed, I would add murther to adultery, And with my sword give up his years to death."

"Ambitioso: Brother, this makes for thee; Fear not, well have a trick to set thee free. Junior: Brother, I will expect it from you both, And in that hope I rest."

"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 theyll swallow Because their sex is easy in belief."

"Vindice: What think you now, lady? Speak, are you wiser? What said advancement to you? Thus it said: The daughters fall lifts up the mothers head. Did it not, madam? But Ill swear it does In many places; tut, this age fears no man: "Tis no shame to be bad, because tis common."

"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 worlds divided into knaves and fools."

"Supervacuo: Brother, let my opinion sway you once, I speak it for the best, to have him die Surest and soonest; if the signet come Unto the judges hands, why, then his doom Will be deferrd till sittings and court-days, Juries and further. Faiths are bought and sold; Oaths in these days are but the skin of gold."

"Vindice: Duke, royal lecher, go, gray-haird adultery; And thou his son, as impious steepd as he; And thou his bastard, true-begot in evil; And thou his duchess that will do with [the] devil: Four exlent characters."

"Vindici: Here might a scornful and ambitious woman Look through and through herself; see, ladies, with false forms You deceive men but cannot deceive worms."