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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
ANTONIO
There perish both – down to the house of falsehood 45
Where perjurous wedlock weeps! Oh perjurous woman!
She’d took the innocence of sleep upon her
At my approach and would not see me come,
As if she’d lain there like a harmless soul
And never dreamed of mischief. What’s all this now? 50
I feel no ease; the burden’s not yet off
So long as th’ abuse sticks in my knowledge.
Oh ’tis a pain of hell to know one’s shame.
Had it been hid and done, it’d been done happy –
For he that’s ignorant lives long and merry. 55
FRANCISCA
[Aside] I shall know all now. [To ANTONIO] Brother!
ANTONIO      Come down quickly,
For I must kill thee too.
FRANCISCA      Me?
ANTONIO      Stay not long,
If thou desir’st to die with little pain.
Make haste I’d wish thee, and come willingly.
If I be forced to come, I shall be cruel 60
Above a man to thee.
FRANCISCA      Why sir! My brother!
ANTONIO
Talk to thy soul, if thou wilt talk at all;
To me thou’rt lost for ever.
FRANCISCA      This is fearful in you,
Beyond all reason brother. Would you thus
Reward me for my care and truth shown to you? 65
ANTONIO
A curse upon ’em both and thee for company!
’Tis that too diligent, thankless care of thine
Makes me a murderer – and that ruinous truth
That lights me to the knowledge of my shame.
Hadst thou been secret, then had I been happy 70
And had a hope, like man, of joys to come.
Now here I stand, a stain to my creation,
And, which is heavier than all torments to me,
Have understanding of this base adultery –
And that thou toldst me first, which thou deserv’st 75
Death worthily for.
FRANCISCA      If that be the worst, hold sir,
Hold brother! I can ease your knowledge straight,
By my soul’s hopes, I can. There’s no such thing.
ANTONIO
How?
FRANCISCA      Bless me but with life, I’ll tell you all.
Your bed was never wronged.
ANTONIO      What! Never wronged? 80
FRANCISCA
I ask but mercy as I deal with truth now.
’Twas only my deceit, my plot and cunning
To bring disgrace upon her – by that means
To keep mine own hid, which none knew but she.
To speak troth, I had a child by Aberzanes sir. 85
ANTONIO
How! Aberzanes?
FRANCISCA      And my mother’s letter
Was counterfeited to get time and place
For my delivery.
ANTONIO      Oh my wrath’s redoubled!
FRANCISCA
At my return she could speak all my folly
And blamed me with good counsel. I, for fear 90
It should be made known, thus rewarded her,
Wrought you into suspicion without cause,
And at your coming raised up Gasper suddenly,
Sent him but in before you by a falsehood,
Which to your kindled jealousy I knew 95
Would add enough. What’s now confessed is true.
ANTONIO
The more I hear, the worse it fares with me.
I’ve killed ’em now for nothing; yet the shame
Follows my blood still. Once more, come down.