Act 5 — WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN.
Reading edition
513Women Beware Women. A Tragedy, By Tho. Middleton, Gent. London: Printed for Humphrey Moseley, 1657—is the second of Two New Playes, originally published together in 8vo: see vol. iii. p. 553.
It has been reprinted in the 5th vol. of A Continuation of Dodsley’s Old Plays, 1816.
“The Foundation of this Play,” says Langbaine, “is borrow’d from a Romance called Hyppolito and Isabella, octavo.” Acc. of Engl. Dram. Poets, p. 374.
515UPON THE TRAGEDY OF MY FAMILIAR
ACQUAINTANCE, THO. MIDDLETON.
Women beware Women; ’tis a true text
Never to be forgot; drabs of state vext
Have plots, poisons, mischiefs that seldom miss,
To murder virtue with a venom-kiss.
Witness this worthy tragedy, exprest
By him that well deserv’d among the best
Of poets in his time: he knew the rage,
Madness of women cross’d, and for the stage
Fitted their humours; hell-bred malice, strife
Acted in state, presented to the life.
I that have seen’t can say, having just cause,
Never came tragedy off with more applause.
Nath. Richards.[1008]
516
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
Duke of Florence.
Lord Cardinal, brother to the duke.
Fabricio, father to Isabella.
Hippolito, brother to Fabricio.
Guardiano, uncle to the Ward.
The Ward, a rich young heir.
Leantio, a factor, husband to Bianca.
Sordido, servant to the Ward.
Cardinals, Knights, States of Florence, Citizens, &c.
Livia, sister to Fabricio and Hippolito.
Isabella, daughter to Fabricio.
Bianca,[1009] wife to Leantio.
Mother to Leantio.
Ladies.
Scene, Florence.
517WOMEN BEWARE WOMEN.