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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
ABERZANES
So, so, away with him! I love to get ’em,
But not to keep ’em. Dost thou know the house?
[OLD] WOMAN
No matter for the house, I know the porch.
ABERZANES
There’s sixpence more for that. Away; keep close.
[Exit OLD WOMAN]
My tailor told me he sent away a maidservant 5
Well ballast of all sides, within these nine days –
His wife ne’er dreamed on’t – gave the drab ten pound
And she ne’er troubles him. A common fashion
He told me ’twas, to rid away a scape –
And I have sent him this for’t. I remember 10
A friend of mine once served a prating tradesman
Just on this fashion, to a hair in troth.
’Tis a good ease to a man; you can swell a maid up
And rid her for ten pound; there’s the purse back again,
Whate’er becomes of your money or your maid. 15
This comes of bragging now. It’s well for the boy too.
He’ll get an excellent trade by’t and on Sundays
Go like a gentleman that has pawned his rapier.
He need not care what countryman his father was,
Nor what his mother was when he was gotten. 20
The boy will do well, certain – give him grace
To have a quick hand and convey things cleanly!
’Twill be his own another day.
Enter FRANCISCA
Oh well said!
Art almost furnished? There’s such a toil always
To set a woman to horse, a mighty trouble. 25
The letter came to your brother’s hands, I know,
On Thursday last by noon; you were expected there
Yesterday night.
FRANCISCA      It makes the better sir.
ABERZANES
We must take heed we ride through all the puddles
’Twixt this and that now, that your safe-guard there 30
May be most probably dabbled.
FRANCISCA      Alas, sir,
I never marked till now – I hate myself! –
How monstrous thin I look!
ABERZANES      Not monstrous neither –
A little sharp i’th’nose, like a country woodcock.
FRANCISCA
Fie, fie, how pale I am! I shall betray myself. 35
I would you’d box me well and handsomely
To get me into colour.
ABERZANES      Not I, pardon me;
That let a husband do when he has married you;
A friend at court will never offer that.
Come, how much spice and sugar have you left now 40
At this poor one month’s voyage?
FRANCISCA      Sure not much sir.
I think some quarter of a pound of sugar
And half an ounce of spice.
ABERZANES      Here’s no sweet charge!
And there was thirty pound, good weight and true –
Beside what my man stole when’t was a-weighing, 45
And that was three pound more, I’ll speak with least.
The Rhenish wine, is’t all run out in caudles too?
FRANCISCA
Do you ask that sir? ’Tis of a week’s departure.
You see what ’tis now to get children sir.
[Enter BOY]
BOY
Your mares are ready both sir.
ABERZANES      Come, we’ll up then. 50
Youth, give my sister a straight wand. There’s twopence.
BOY
I’ll give her a fine whip sir.
ABERZANES       No, no, no –
[Aside] Though we have both deserved it.
BOY            Here’s a new one.
ABERZANES
Prithee, talk to us of no whips, good boy;
My heart aches when I see ’em. Let’s away. 55
Exeunt