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Marcello
Cornelia is Flamineo, Marcello, and Vittoria’s mother. According to Flamineo, her husband died when her children were young, leaving the family without any money. Still, Cornelia feels strongly that her family’s lack of means does not justify any cruel or manipulative behavior, and she is horrified that both Vittoria and Flamineo resort to such extreme means to better their circumstances. Though at first it seems Cornelia cares more about her reputation than about her children, her profound grief at Marcello’s death—and her inability to hurt Flamineo even in her rage—shows that she really does care deeply for her children.
Cornelia Quotes in The White Devil
The The White Devil quotes below are all either spoken by Cornelia or refer to Cornelia . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, Scene 2
Quotes
CORNELIA:
The lives of princes should like dials move,
Whose regular example is so strong,
They make the times by them go right or wrong.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
CORNELIA:
What! because we are poor
Shall we be vicious?
FLAMINEO:
Pray, what means have you
To keep me from the galleys, or the gallows?
My father prov’d himself a gentleman,
Sold all ‘s land, and, like a fortunate fellow,
Died ere the money was spent. You brought me up
At Padua, I confess, where I protest,
For want of means--the University judge me--
I have been fain to heel my tutor’s stockings,
At least seven years; conspiring with a beard,
Made me a graduate; then to this duke’s service,
I visited the court, whence I return’d
More courteous, more lecherous by far,
But not a suit the richer. And shall I,
Having a path so open, and so free
To my preferment, still retain your milk
In my pale forehead? No, this face of mine
I ’ll arm, and fortify with lusty wine,
‘Gainst shame and blushing.
Act 5, Scene 2
Quotes
MARCELLO:
There are some sins which heaven doth duly punish
In a whole family. This is it to rise
By dishonest means. Let all men know
That tree shall long time keep a steady foot
Whose branches spread no wider than the root.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
CORNELIA:
Let me go, let me go.
She runs to Flamineo with her knife drawn, and coming to him lets it fall.
The God of heaven forgive thee! Dost not wonder
I pray for thee? I ’ll tell thee what ’s the reason,
I have scarce breath to number twenty minutes;
I ’d not spend that in cursing. Fare thee well:
Half of thyself lies there; and mayst thou live
To fill an hour-glass with his moulder’d ashes,
To tell how thou shouldst spend the time to come
In blessed repentance!
Act 5, Scene 4
Quotes
FLAMINEO:
I have a strange thing in me, to th’which
I cannot give a name without it be
Compassion.
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Cornelia Quotes in The White Devil
The The White Devil quotes below are all either spoken by Cornelia or refer to Cornelia . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, Scene 2
Quotes
CORNELIA:
The lives of princes should like dials move,
Whose regular example is so strong,
They make the times by them go right or wrong.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
CORNELIA:
What! because we are poor
Shall we be vicious?
FLAMINEO:
Pray, what means have you
To keep me from the galleys, or the gallows?
My father prov’d himself a gentleman,
Sold all ‘s land, and, like a fortunate fellow,
Died ere the money was spent. You brought me up
At Padua, I confess, where I protest,
For want of means--the University judge me--
I have been fain to heel my tutor’s stockings,
At least seven years; conspiring with a beard,
Made me a graduate; then to this duke’s service,
I visited the court, whence I return’d
More courteous, more lecherous by far,
But not a suit the richer. And shall I,
Having a path so open, and so free
To my preferment, still retain your milk
In my pale forehead? No, this face of mine
I ’ll arm, and fortify with lusty wine,
‘Gainst shame and blushing.
Act 5, Scene 2
Quotes
MARCELLO:
There are some sins which heaven doth duly punish
In a whole family. This is it to rise
By dishonest means. Let all men know
That tree shall long time keep a steady foot
Whose branches spread no wider than the root.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
CORNELIA:
Let me go, let me go.
She runs to Flamineo with her knife drawn, and coming to him lets it fall.
The God of heaven forgive thee! Dost not wonder
I pray for thee? I ’ll tell thee what ’s the reason,
I have scarce breath to number twenty minutes;
I ’d not spend that in cursing. Fare thee well:
Half of thyself lies there; and mayst thou live
To fill an hour-glass with his moulder’d ashes,
To tell how thou shouldst spend the time to come
In blessed repentance!
Act 5, Scene 4
Quotes
FLAMINEO:
I have a strange thing in me, to th’which
I cannot give a name without it be
Compassion.
