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)
MAR. | MRA.
Words
358
Characters
1921
Typicality
0.43 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A14875
BritDrama no.
1689
Cluster
Cluster 21 — Old fathers & plain counsel
Important excerpts
Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 21 (gar, shillings, alii, yongrave, ogenes, nat…). Matches are highlighted.
My Lord the Duke is here. Camill's come my Lord. 'Tis here. I am much honoured int. It seems Marcello, and Flamineo Are both committed. Oh my unfortunate sister! I would my daggers point had cleft her heart When she first saw Brachiano: You it's said, Were made his engine, and his stauking horse To undo my sister.
other discourse from you I have been a soldier too. Faith poorly. You're a strumpet. And impudent one. I had rather she were pitched upon a stake In some new-seeded garden, to affright Her fellow crows thence. If I take her near you I'll cut her throat. And for you; I'll whip This folly from you. Now by all my Hope's. Like the
Full speech
My Lord the Duke is here. Camill's come my Lord. 'Tis here. I am much honoured int. It seems Marcello, and Flamineo Are both committed. Oh my unfortunate sister! I would my daggers point had cleft her heart When she first saw Brachiano: You it's said, Were made his engine, and his stauking horse To undo my sister. Your ruin, Sir, Brother. Come, come. I'll interrupt you. For love of virtue bear and honest heart, And stride over every politic respect, Which where they most advance they most infect. Were I your father, as I am your brother, I should not be ambitious to leave you A better patrimony. Oh, there are too many. How? Mark this strange encounter. You are to blame, I'll force you hence. Why does this devil haunt you? say. She is your shame. You be too Stoical. The Duke will expect other discourse from you I have been a soldier too. Faith poorly. You're a strumpet. And impudent one. I had rather she were pitched upon a stake In some new-seeded garden, to affright Her fellow crows thence. If I take her near you I'll cut her throat. And for you; I'll whip This folly from you. Now by all my Hope's. Like the two slaughtered sons of Oedipus, The very flames of our affection, Shall turn 10 ways. Those words I'll make thee answer With thy heart blood. Very good, And thou be'st a noble, friend, bear him my sword, And bid him fit the length on't. Publish not a fear Which would convert to laughter; it's not so, Was not this Crucifix my father's? I have herd you say, giving my brother suck, He took the Crucifix between his hands, And broke a limb off. You have brought it home indeed. Oh mother now remember what I told, Of breaking off the Crucifix: farewell There are some sins which heaven does duly punish, In a whole family. This it is to rise By all dishonest means. Let all men know That tree shall long time keep a steady foot Whose branches spread no wilder then the root. It's and idle umour.
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…