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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
Please you to look upon’t, and when you’ve done,
If you did weep, it could not be amiss,
A sign you could say grace after a full meal. 95
You had not need look paler, yet you do.
’Twas ill done to abuse yourself and us,
To wrong so good a brother and the thoughts
That we both held of you. I did doubt you much
Before our marriage-day – but then my strangeness 100
And better hope still kept me off from speaking.
Yet may you find a kind and peaceful sister of me,
If you desist here and shake hands with folly,
Which you’ve more cause to do than I to wish you.
As truly as I bear a love to goodness, 105
Your brother knows not yet on’t, nor shall ever
For my part – so you leave his company.
But if I find you impudent in sinning,
I will not keep’t an hour, nay, prove your enemy
And you know who will aid me. As you’ve goodness, 110
You may make use of this; I’ll leave it with you.   Exit
FRANCISCA
Here’s a sweet churching after a woman’s labour
And a fine ‘give you joy’! [To the letter] Why, where the devil
Lay you to be found out? The sudden hurry
Of hastening to prevent shame brought shame forth. 115
That’s still the curse of all lascivious stuff;
Misdeeds could never yet be wary enough.
Now must I stand in fear of every look,
Nay, tremble at a whisper. She can keep it secret?
That’s very likely, and a woman too! 120
I’m sure I could not do’t – and I am made
As well as she can be for any purpose.
’Twould never stay with me two days – I’ve cast it –
The third would be a terrible sick day with me,
Not possible to bear it. Should I then 125
Trust to her strength in’t, that lies every night
Whispering the day’s news in a husband’s ear?
No – and I have thought upon the means. Blessed fortune!
I must be quit with her in the same fashion
Or else ’tis nothing. There’s no way like it – 130
To bring her honesty into question cunning.
My brother will believe small likelihoods
Coming from me too. I, lying now i’th’ house,
May work things to my will, beyond conceit too.
Disgrace her first, her tale will ne’er be heard. 135
I learned that counsel first of a sound guard.
I do suspect Gasper, my brother’s squire there,
Had some hand in this mischief, for he’s cunning
And I perhaps may fit him.

Enter ANTONIO