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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
SEBASTIAN      Look, there is she, sir,
One good for nothing but to make use of –
And I’m constrained to employ her to make all things
Plain, easy and probable. For when she comes 25
And finds one here that claims him, as I’ve taught
Both this to do’t and she to compound with her,
’Twill stir belief the more of such a business.
FERNANDO
I praise the carriage well.
SEBASTIAN [To FLORIDA] Hark you, sweet mistress,
I shall do you a simple turn in this – 30
For she disgraced thus, you are up in favour
For ever with her husband.
FLORIDA      That’s my hope sir;
I would not take the pains else. Have you the keys
Of the garden-side that I may get betimes in
Closely and take her lodging?
SEBASTIAN      Yes, I have thought upon you. 35
Here be the keys.      [Gives keys]
FLORIDA      Marry and thanks, sweet sir.
Set me a-work so still.
SEBASTIAN [Aside]      Your joys are false ones;
You’re like to lie alone. You’ll be deceived
Of the bedfellow you look for – else my purpose
Were in an ill case. He’s on his fortnight’s journey; 40
You’ll find cold comfort there; a dream will be
Even the best market you can make tonight.
[To FLORIDA] She’ll not be long now; you may lose no time neither;
If she but take you at the door, ’tis enough.
When a suspect doth catch once, it burns mainly. 45
There may you end your business and as cunningly
As if you were i’th’chamber, if you please
To use but the same art.
FLORIDA      What need you urge that
Which comes so naturally I cannot miss on’t?
What makes the devil so greedy of a soul 50
But ’cause he’s lost his own, to all joys lost?
So ’tis our trade to set snares for other women
’Cause we were once caught ourselves.      [Exit]
SEBASTIAN      A sweet allusion!
Hell and a whore it seems are partners then
In one ambition. Yet thou’rt here deceived now; 55
Thou canst set none to hurt or wrong her honour –
It rather makes it perfect. [He embraces FERNANDO] Best of friends,
That ever love’s extremities were blessed with,
I feed mine arms with thee and call my peace
The offspring of thy friendship. I will think 60
This night my wedding-night, and with a joy
As reverend as religion can make man’s,
I will embrace this blessing. Honest actions
Are laws unto themselves and that good fear
Which is on others forced, grows kindly there. 65

[Knocking within]

FERNANDO
Hark, hark! One knocks. Away sir; ’tis she certainly.
It sounds much like a woman’s jealous ’larum.
[Exit SEBASTIAN]

Enter ISABELLA