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Chapters (43)
  1. Cover Page
  2. The Witch
  3. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
  4. ABBREVIATIONS
  5. INTRODUCTION
  6. FURTHER READING
  7. The Witch
  8. [DRAMATIS PERSONAE]
  9. THE WITCH
  10. [Act I,] Scene ii
  11. Act II, Scene i
  12. [Act II,] Scene ii
  13. [Act II,] Scene iii
  14. Act III, Scene i
  15. [Act III,] Scene ii
  16. [Act III,] Scene iii
  17. Act IV, Scene i
  18. [Act IV,] Scene ii
  19. [Act IV,] Scene iii
  20. Act V, Scene i
  21. [Act V,] Scene ii
  22. [Act V,] Scene iii
  23. APPENDIX
  24. In a maiden time profess’d
  25. Come Away, Hecate!
  26. Notes
  27. Thomas Holmes, Esquire
  28. Act I, Scene i
  29. [Act I,] Scene ii
  30. Act II, Scene i
  31. [Act II,] Scene ii
  32. [Act II,] Scene iii
  33. Act III, Scene i
  34. [Act III,] Scene ii
  35. [Act III,] Scene iii
  36. Act IV, Scene i
  37. [Act IV,] Scene ii
  38. Act IV Scene iii
  39. Act V, Scene i
  40. [Act V,] Scene ii
  41. [Act V,] Scene iii
  42. Appendix
  43. Footnotes
The scene Ravenna 5
THE PERSONS
DUKE
LORD GOVERNOR
SEBASTIAN, contracted to Isabella
FERNANDO, his friend 10
ANTONIO, husband to Isabella
ABERZANES, a gentleman neither honest, wise nor valiant
ALMACHILDES, a fantastical gentleman
Image
15
FIRESTONE, the clown and Hecate’s son
DUCHESS
ISABELLA, niece to the Lord Governor
FRANCISCA, Antonio’s sister
AMORETTA, the Duchess’ woman 20
FLORIDA, a courtesan
HECATE, the chief witch
Image
Image
25
[MALKIN] a spirit like a cat
[A boy]
[An old woman]
[Messengers, attendants on the Lord Governor] 30

To the truly worthy and generously affected
Thomas Holmes, Esquire

Noble Sir,
As a true testimony of my ready inclination to your service,
I have, merely upon a taste of your desire, recovered into 5
my hands (though not without much difficulty) this ignorantly
ill-fated labour of mine. Witches are, ipso facto, by the
law condemned and that only, I think, hath made her lie
so long in an imprisoned obscurity. For your sake alone
she hath thus far conjured herself abroad and bears no other 10
charms about her but what may tend to your recreation, nor
no other spell but to possess you with a belief that as she,
so he that first taught her to enchant, will always be, your
devoted
Tho[mas] Middleton. 15

THE WITCH

Act I, Scene i

Enter SEBASTIAN and FERNANDO

SEBASTIAN
My three years spent in war has now undone
My peace for ever.
FERNANDO      Good, be patient sir.
SEBASTIAN
She is my wife by contract before heaven
And all the angels sir.
FERNANDO      I do believe you,
But where’s the remedy now? You see she’s gone; 5
Another has possession.
SEBASTIAN      There’s the torment.
FERNANDO
This day being the first of your return
Unluckily proves the first too of her fastening.
Her uncle, sir, the governor of Ravenna,
Holding a good opinion of the bridegroom, 10
As he’s fair spoken, sir, and wondrous mild –
SEBASTIAN
There goes the devil in a sheepskin!
FERNANDO     – with all speed
Clapped it up suddenly. I cannot think, sure,
That the maid over-loves him – though being married
Perhaps, for her own credit, now she intends 15
Performance of an honest, duteous wife.
SEBASTIAN
Sir, I’ve a world of business. Question nothing;
You will but lose your labour; ’tis not fit
For any – hardly mine own secrecy –
To know what I intend. I take my leave sir. 20
I find such strange employments in myself
That unless death pity me, and lay me down,
I shall not sleep these seven years; that’s the least sir.
Exit
FERNANDO
That sorrow’s dangerous can abide no counsel;
’Tis like a wound past cure. Wrongs done to love 25
Strike the heart deeply; none can truly judge on’t
But the poor, sensible sufferer whom it racks
With unbelieved pains, which men in health,
That enjoy love, not possibly can act –
Nay, not so much as think. In troth, I pity him; 30
His sighs drink life-blood in this time of feasting.

[Sound of banquet within]