Pride

I am the Spirit that always denies! 11

Am I a god? I see so clearly!

Pride in their port, defiance in their eye, I see the lords of humankind 3 pass by.

They please, are pleas’d, they give to get esteem, Till, seeming blest, they grow to what they seem. 2

Too poor for a bribe, and too proud to importune, He had not the method of making a fortune.

Wit that can creep, and pride that licks the dust.

I hate the man who builds his name On ruins of another’s fame.

The love of praise, howe’er conceal’d by art, Reigns more or less, and glows in ev’ry heart.

Of ancient race by birth, but nobler yet In his own worth.

His tribe were God Almighty’s gentlemen.

He that is down, needs fear no fall, He that is low, no pride.

Her virtue and the conscience of her worth, That would be woo’d, and not unsought be won.

Two of far nobler shape erect and tall, Godlike erect, with native honor clad In naked majesty seem’d lords of all.

Rather than be less Car’d not to be at all.

High on a throne of royal state, which far Outshone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind, Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, Satan exalted sat, by merit rais’d To that bad eminence; and from despair Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue Vain war with heav’n.

Mammon, the least erected spirit that fell From heaven; for ev’n in heaven his looks and thoughts Were always downward bent, admiring more The riches of heaven’s pavement, trodden gold, Than aught divine or holy else enjoyed In vision beatific.

To reign is worth ambition though in hell: Better to reign in hell than serve in heav’n.

I am Duchess of Malfi still.

The force of his own merit makes his way.

Knowing I lov’d my books, he furnish’d me, From mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.

My library Was dukedom large enough.

’Tis better to be vile than vile esteem’d, When not to be receives reproach of being.

First Guard: … Charmian, is this well done? Charmian: It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. 51

Those he commands move only in command, Nothing in love; now does he feel his title Hang loose about him, like a giant’s robe Upon a dwarfish thief.