The Insatiate Countess

"Day was my night, and night must be my day; The sun shined on my pleasure with my love, And darkness must lend aid to my revenge. The stage of heaven is hung with solemn black, A time best fitting to act tragedies. The night’s great queen, that maiden governess, Musters black clouds to hide her from the world, Afraid to look on my bold enterprise. Cursed creatures, messengers of death, possess the world; Night-ravens, screetch-owls, and voice-killing mandrakes, The ghosts of misers, that imprison’d gold Within the harmless bowels of the earth, Are night’s companions. Bawds to lust and murder, Be all propitious to my act of justice Upon the scandalisers of her fame, That is the lifeblood of deliciousness, Deem’d Isabella, Cupid’s treasurer, Whose soul contains the richest gifts of love: Her beauty from my heart fear doth expel: They relish pleasure best that dread not hell!"