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How long hath this possession held the man?

Abbess
How long hath this possession held the man?
Adriana
This week he hath been heavy, sour, sad,
And much different from the man he was.
But till this afternoon his passion
Ne’er brake into extremity of rage.

The venom clamors of a jealous woman
Poisons more deadly than a mad dog’s tooth.

Abbess
Hath he not lost much wealth by wrack of sea?
Buried some dear friend? Hath not else his eye
Strayed his affection in unlawful love,
A sin prevailing much in youthful men
Who give their eyes the liberty of gazing?
Which of these sorrows is he subject to?
Adriana
To none of these, except it be the last,
Namely, some love that drew him oft from home.
Abbess
You should for that have reprehended him.
Adriana
Why, so I did.
Abbess
Ay, but not rough enough.
Adriana
As roughly as my modesty would let me.
Abbess
Haply in private.
Adriana
And in assemblies too.
Abbess
Ay, but not enough.
Adriana
It was the copy of our conference.
In bed he slept not for my urging it;
At board he fed not for my urging it.
Alone, it was the subject of my theme;
In company I often glancèd it.
Still did I tell him it was vile and bad.
Abbess
And thereof came it that the man was mad.
The venom clamors of a jealous woman
Poisons more deadly than a mad dog’s tooth.
It seems his sleeps were hindered by thy railing,
And thereof comes it that his head is light.
Thou sayst his meat was sauced with thy upbraidings.
Unquiet meals make ill digestions.
Thereof the raging fire of fever bred,
And what’s a fever but a fit of madness?
Thou sayest his sports were hindered by thy brawls.
Sweet recreation barred, what doth ensue
But moody and dull melancholy,
Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair,
And at her heels a huge infectious troop
Of pale distemperatures and foes to life?
In food, in sport, and life-preserving rest
To be disturbed would mad or man or beast.
The consequence is, then, thy jealous fits
Hath scared thy husband from the use of wits.

Source:
Act 5
Scene 1
Line 44

Source Type:

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