in The White Devil (Vittoria Corombona) — Webster, John
Metadata
Play
The White Devil (Vittoria Corombona)
Author
Webster, John
Year (catalogued)
1612
First performance
1612
Decade
1610s
Genre
Tragedy
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Queen Anne's Men
Speech prefix(es)
CON.
Words
356
Characters
2010
Typicality
0.48 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A14875
BritDrama no.
1689
Cluster
Cluster 20 — Conjurers, witches & physicians
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 20 (ithimore, nat, invisible, notary, glycerie, humfrey…). Matches are highlighted.
Julio Observing this, infects it with and oil And other poisoned stuff, which presently Did suffocated her spirits. He was, and by my art I find he did most passionately dote Upon your Duchess, now turn another way, And view Camillo's far more politic face, Strike louder music from this charmed ground, To yield, as fits the act,
Full speech
You have wone me by your bounty to a deed, I do not often practice, some there are, Which by Sophistic tricks, aspire that name Which I would gladly lose, of Nigromancer: As some that use to juggle upon cards, Seeming to conjure, when indeed they cheat. Others that raise up their confederate spirits, About windmills, and endanger their own necks, For making of a squib, and some their are Will keep a curtal to show juggling tricks And give out it's a spirit: beside these Such a whole ream of Almanac-makers, figure-flingers. Fellows indeed that only live by stealth, Since they do merely lie about stolen goods, Thei'd make men think the devil were fast and lose, With speaking fustian Lattine: pray fit down, Put on this nightcap sir, it's charmed, and now I'll show you by my strong-commanding Art The circumstance that breaks your Dutchsse heart. She's poisoned, By the fumed picture, 'twas her custom nightly, Before she went to bed, to go and visit Your picture, and to feed her eyes and lips On the dead shadow, Doctor Julio Observing this, infects it with and oil And other poisoned stuff, which presently Did suffocated her spirits. He was, and by my art I find he did most passionately dote Upon your Duchess, now turn another way, And view Camillo's far more politic face, Strike louder music from this charmed ground, To yield, as fits the act, a Tragic found. Oh 'twas most apparent, You saw them enter charged with their deep helthes To their boon voyage, and to second that, Flamineo calls to have a vaulting horse Maintain their sport. The virtuous Marcello, Is innocently plotted forth the room, While your eye saw the rest, and can inform you The engine of all. Yes, you saw them guarded, And now they are come with purpose to apprehend Your Mistress, fair Vittoria; we are now Beneath her roof: 'twere fit we instantly Make out by some back postern: Sir I thank you. Both flowers and weeds, spring when the Sun is warm, And great men do great good, or else great harm. Isabella, Isabella,
Plot summary
Plot — The White Devil (Vittoria Corombona)
Count Lodovico is banished from Rome after a career of drunkenness, riot, and murder; but, he comments, not all malefactors fall foul of the law, for the Duke of ===== PAGE 257 ===== 1612 Bracciano seems to be getting away with his designs against the honour of Vittoria Corombona. In this, Bracciano is abetted by Vittoria’s brother Flaminio, who persuades her husband Camillo that their sleeping apart will make her more amorous. Vittoria tells Bracciano of a dream which seems to suggest the murder of Camillo and the Duchess Isabella; but the liaison is forestalled by the intervention of Vittoria’s mother, Cornelia. Flaminio inveighs against Cornelia for compromising his chances of preferment. Isabella comes to Rome to effect a reconciliation with her husband. Cardinal Monticelso and the Great Duke of Florence also put pressure on him to fulfil his responsibilities, both marital and political. In a private interview with Isabella, Bracciano vows never again to sleep with her, but she tries to limit the political damage by making the same vow herself in public. Florence and Monticelso plan to tempt Bracciano into adultery by getting Camillo out of Rome on public business, but Bracciano plots murder: Isabella is killed when she kisses a poisoned picture of Bracciano, and Flaminio breaks Camillo’s neck. Vittoria is arrested and arraigned before an ecclesiastical court; unable to prove her complicity in Camillo’s murder, it convicts her of adultery and commits her to a house of convertites. Flaminio feigns madness to evade interrogation. Lodovico witnesses Isabella’s murder. He returns to Rome illegally to bring Florence the news, but his pardon is signed after the event. He and Flaminio meet and quarrel. Florence borrows from Monticelso a list of villains, in order to select an agent of vengeance. By writing a letter feigning love for Vittoria, he induces Bracciano to contrive her escape from the house of convertites, disguised as a page. Monticelso is elected Pope; his first act is to excommunicate Bracciano and Vittoria. Florence sends Lodovico to Padua to assassinate Bracciano, and by trickery makes it appear that Monticelso supports the conspiracy. Bracciano marries Vittoria and accepts into his court Mulinassar, a Moorish soldier, who is actually Florence in disguise. Marcello challenges Flaminio toa duel over the latter’s liaison with Zanche the Moor, but Flaminio kills him without ceremony. Instead of a pardon, Bracciano grants him only a daily lease of…