THE SPANISH TRAGEDY Essay Example For Students

THE SPANISH TRAGEDY Essay A monologue from the play by Thomas Kyd NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Spanish Tragedy. Thomas Kyd. London: J. M. Dent Co., 1898. BEL-IMPERIA: Is this the love thou bearst Horatio?Is this the kindness that thou counterfeits?Are these the fruits of thine incessant tears?Hieronimo, are these thy passions,Thy protestations and thy deep laments,That thou wert wont to weary men withal?O unkind father! O deceitful world!With what excuses canst thou show thyselfWith what dishonor and the hate of menFrom this dishonor and the hate of men,Thus to neglect the loss and life of himWhom both my letters and thine own beliefAssures thee to be causeless slaughtered?Hieronimo, for shame, Hieronimo,Be not a history to aftertimesOf such ingratitude unto thy son.Unhappy mothers of such children then!But monstrous fathers to forget so soonThe death of those whom they with care and costHave tendered so, thus careless should be lost.Myself a stranger in respect of thee,So loved his life as still I wish their deaths.Nor shall his death be unrevenged by me,Although I bear it out for fashions sake,For here I swear, in sight of heaven an d earth,Shouldst thou neglect the love thou shouldst retain,And give it over and devise no more,Myself should send their hateful souls to hellThat wrought his downfall with extremest death.