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Back The Witch
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
A banquet towards too? Not yet hath riot
Played out her last scene? At such entertainments still
Forgetfulness obeys and surfeit governs.
Here’s marriage sweetly honoured in gorged stomachs 35
And overflowing cups!

Enter GASPERO and SERVANT

GASPERO [To SERVANT]     Where is she sirrah?
SERVANT
Not far off.
GASPERO      Prithee where? Go fetch her hither.
[Exit SERVANT]
I’ll rid him away straight.
[To FERNANDO]      The duke’s now risen sir.
FERNANDO
I am a joyful man to hear it sir;
It seems he’s drunk the less – though I think he 40
That has the least he’s certainly enough.      Exit
GASPERO
I have observed this fellow; all the feast-time
He hath not pledged one cup, but looked most wickedly
Upon good Malego, flies to the black-jack still
And sticks to small drink like a water-rat. 45

Enter FLORIDA

Oh here she comes. Alas, the poor whore weeps.
’Tis not for grace now, all the world must judge;
It is for spleen and madness ’gainst this marriage.
I do but think how she could beat the vicar now,
Scratch the man horribly that gave the woman, 50
The woman worst of all, if she durst do it.
[To FLORIDA] Why how now mistress? This weeping needs not; for though
My master marry for his reputation,
He means to keep you too.
FLORIDA      How sir?
GASPERO                 He doth indeed;
He swore’t to me last night. Are you so simple, 55
And have been five years traded, as to think
One woman would serve him? Fie, not an empress!
Why he’ll be sick o’th’ wife within ten nights
Or never trust my judgement.
FLORIDA      Will he, think’st thou?
GASPERO
Will he!
FLORIDA   I find thee still so comfortable – 60
Beshrew my heart if I know how to miss thee.
They talk of gentlemen, perfumers and such things;
Give me the kindness of the master’s man
In my distress, say I.
GASPERO      ’Tis your great love, forsooth.
Please you withdraw yourself to yond private parlour. 65
I’ll send you ven’son, custard, parsnip pie.
For banquetting stuff – as suckets, jellies, syrups –
I will bring in myself.
FLORIDA      I’ll take ’em kindly sir.      Exit
GASPERO
She’s your grand strumpet’s complement to a tittle.
’Tis a fair building; it had need; it has 70
Just at this time some one and twenty inmates –
But half of ’em are young merchants; they’ll depart shortly –
They take but rooms for summer and away they
When’t grows foul weather. Marry, then come the termers
And commonly they’re well booted for all seasons. 75

Enter ALMACHILDES and AMORETTA

But peace, no more; the guests are coming in.
[GASPERO retires]
ALMACHILDES
The fates have blessed me. Have I met you privately?

[Attempts to kiss AMORETTA]