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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
GOVERNOR
A skull my lord?
DUKE      Call it a soldier’s cup, man. 110
Fie, how you fright the women! I have sworn
It shall go round, excepting only you, sir,
For your late sickness, and the bride herself,
Whose health it is.
ISABELLA [Aside]      Marry, I thank heaven for that.
DUKE
Our duchess, I know, will pledge us, though the cup 115
Was once her father’s head – which as a trophy
We’ll keep till death in memory of that conquest.
He was the greatest foe our steel e’er struck at,
And he was bravely slain. Then took we thee
Into our bosom’s love; thou madest the peace 120
For all thy country, thou, that beauty, did.
We’re dearer than a father are we not?
DUCHESS
Yes, sir, by much.
DUKE      And we shall find that straight.
ANTONIO
[Aside] That’s an ill bride-cup for a marriage day;
I do not like the fate on’t.
GOVERNOR      Good my lord, 125
The duchess looks pale. Let her not pledge you there.
DUKE
Pale?
DUCHESS   Sir not I.
DUKE       See how your lordship fails now.
The rose’s not fresher, nor the sun at rising
More comfortably pleasing.
DUCHESS [To ANTONIO]      Sir to you,
The lord of this day’s honour.       [Drinks]
ANTONIO      All first moving 130
From your grace, madam, and the duke’s great favour.     [Drinks]
[To FRANCISCA]   Sister it must.
FRANCISCA [Aside]      This’s the worst fright that could come
To a concealed great belly. I’m with child,
And this will bring it out or make me come
Some seven weeks sooner than we maidens reckon. 135
[Drinks]
DUCHESS
[Aside] Did ever cruel, barbarous act match this?
Twice hath his surfeits brought my father’s memory
Thus spitefully and scornfully to mine eyes,
And I’ll endure’t no more. ’Tis in my heart since;
I’ll be revenged as far as death can lead me. 140
ALMACHILDES
Am I the last man then? I may deserve
To be first one day.      [Drinks]
GOVERNOR     Sir it has gone round now.
DUKE
The round? An excellent way to train up soldiers.
Where’s bride and bridegroom?
ANTONIO     At your happy service.
DUKE
A boy tonight at least! I charge you look to’t 145
Or I’ll renounce you for industrious subjects.
ANTONIO
Your grace speaks like a worthy and tried soldier.
Exeunt [all except GASPERO]
GASPERO
And you’ll do well, for one that ne’er tossed pike sir.
Exit

[Act I,] Scene ii

Enter HECATE