'Tis Pity She's a Whore
Critique • Quotes
First edition title pageAlso known as
'Tis Pity; Giovanni and Annabella; The Brother and Sister
First performed
c.1626–1633
First publication
1633
Literary form
Play
Genres
Tragedy
Writing language
English
Author's country
England
Length
Five acts, approx. 2,400 lines, 17,000 words
Notable lines
Dispute no more in this, for know, young man
These are no school points; nice philosophy
May tolerate unlikely arguments,
But heaven admits no jests.
— First lines
Lost, I am lost: my fates have doom'd my death.
The more I strive, I love; the more I love
The less I hope: I see my ruin certain.
Oh, that it were not in religion sin
To make our love a god and worship it!
O ignorance in knowledge!
...if we were sure there were no Deity,
Nor heaven nor hell; then to be led alone
By nature's light (as were philosophers
Of elder times) might instance some defence.
But 'tis not so: then, madman, thou wilt find,
That nature is in Heaven's positions blind.
But they who sleep in lethargies of lust
Hug their confusion, making Heaven unjust,
And so did I.
Death, thou art a guest long look'd for, I embrace
Thee and thy wounds; oh my last minute comes.
Busy opinion is an idle fool.
To talk at large of all, but never yet
Incest and murder have so strangely me
Of one so rich, so rich in nature's store,
Who could not say, 'tis pity she's a whore?
— Last lines
Critique • Quotes
