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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
FLORIDA
Prithee be careful of me, very careful now.
GASPERO
I warrant you. He that cannot be careful of a quean can
be careful of nobody; ’tis every man’s humour that. I
should ne’er look to a wife half so handsomely.
FLORIDA
Oh softly, sweet sir! Should your mistress meet me now 5
In her own house, I were undone for ever.
GASPERO
Never fear her. She’s at her prick-song close;
There’s all the joy she has or takes delight in.
Look, here’s the garden key. My master gave’t me
And willed me to be careful. Doubt not you on’t. 10
FLORIDA
Your master is a noble, complete gentleman,
And does a woman all the right that may be.

Enter SEBASTIAN [disguised as CELIO]

SEBASTIAN
How now? What’s she?
GASPERO      A kind of doubtful creature –
I’ll tell thee more anon.
[Exeunt GASPERO and FLORIDA]
SEBASTIAN      I know that face
To be a strumpet’s – or mine eye is envious 15
And would fain wish it so where I would have it.
I fail if the condition of this fellow
Wears not about it a strong scent of baseness.
I saw her once before here, five days since ’tis,
And the same wary, panderous diligence 20
Was then bestowed on her. She came altered then,
And more inclining to the city-tuck.
Whom should this piece of transformation visit
After the common courtesy of frailty
In our house here? Surely not any servant; 25
They are not kept so lusty, she so low.
I’m at a strange stand. Love and luck assist me!
The truth I shall win from him by false play.

Enter GASPERO

He’s now returned. [To GASPERO] Well, sir, as you were saying –
Go forward with your tale.
GASPERO      What? I know nothing. 30
SEBASTIAN
The gentlewoman?
GASPERO      She’s gone out at back door now.
SEBASTIAN
Then farewell she, and you, if that be all.
GASPERO
Come, come, thou shalt have more. I have no power
To lock myself up from thee.
SEBASTIAN      So methinks.
GASPERO
You shall not think, trust me, sir, you shall not. 35
Your ear; she’s one o’th’ falling family,
A quean my master keeps; she lies at Rutneys.
SEBASTIAN
Is’t possible? I thought I had seen her somewhere.
GASPERO
I tell you truth sincerely. She’s been thrice here
By stealth within these ten days, and departed still 40
With pleasure and with thanks sir; ’tis her luck.
Surely I think if ever there were man
Bewitched in this world, ’tis my master, sirrah.
SEBASTIAN
Thinkst thou so Gasper?
GASPERO      Oh sir, too apparent.
SEBASTIAN
[Aside] This may prove happy. ’Tis the likeliest means 45
That fortune yet e’er showed me.

Enter ISABELLA [with a letter]