Monologue

Antonio Monologue from The Duchess of Malfi

From The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster

male · romantic · 2:00 min

Most true: He never pays debts unless they be shrewd turns, And those he will confess that he doth owe. Last, for this brother there, the cardinal, They that do flatter him most say oracles Hang at his lips; and verily I believe them, For the devil speaks in them. But for their sister, the right noble duchess, You never fix'd your eye on three fair medals Cast in one figure, of so different temper. For her discourse, it is so full of rapture, You only will begin then to be sorry When she doth end her speech, and wish, in wonder, She held it less vain-glory to talk much, Than your penance to hear her. Whilst she speaks, She throws upon a man so sweet a look That it were able to raise one to a galliard. (10) That lay in a dead palsy, and to dote On that sweet countenance; but in that look There speaketh so divine a continence As cuts off all lascivious and vain hope. Her days are practis'd in such noble virtue, That sure her nights, nay, more, her very sleeps, Are more in heaven than other ladies' shrifts. Let all sweet ladies break their flatt'ring glasses, And dress themselves in her. (DELIO: Fie, Antonio, You play the wire-drawer with her commendations.) I 'll case the picture up: only thus much; All her particular worth grows to this sum,-- She stains (11) the time past, lights the time to come. (CARIOLA: You must attend my lady in the gallery, Some half and hour hence.) I shall. (Exeunt ANTONIO and DELIO.)

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