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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
Oh my worthy lord,
I’ve an ill bargain, never man had worse!
The woman that, unworthy, wears your blood
To countenance sin in her – your niece – she’s false.
GOVERNOR
False?
ANTONIO    Impudent, adulterous.
GOVERNOR      You’re too loud, 95
And grow too bold too with her virtuous meekness.
Enter FLORIDA [wounded]
Who dare accuse her?
FLORIDA      Here’s one dare and can.
She lies this night with Celio, her own servant –
The place Fernando’s house.
GOVERNOR      Thou dost amaze us.
ANTONIO
Why here’s but lust translated from one baseness 100
Into another. Here I thought to have caught ’em
But lighted wrong by false intelligence
And made me hurt the innocent. But now
I’ll make my revenge dreadfuller than a tempest; 105
An army should not stop me or a sea
Divide ’em from my revenge. Exit
GOVERNOR      I’ll not speak
To have her spared if she be base and guilty.
If otherwise, heaven will not see her wronged;
I need not take care for her. Let that woman
Be carefully looked to, both for health and sureness. 110
[To FLORIDA] It is not that mistaken wound thou wear’st
Shall be thy privilege.
FLORIDA      You cannot torture me
Worse than the surgeon does – so long I care not.
[Exit FLORIDA guarded]
GOVERNOR
If she be adulterous, I will never trust
Virtues in women; they’re but veils for lust. 115
Exit [with remaining attendants]
HERMIO
To what a lasting ruin mischief runs!
I had thought I had well and happily ended all
In keeping back the poison, and new rage now
Spreads a worse venom! My poor lady grieves me –
’Tis strange to me that her sweet-seeming virtues 120
Should be so meanly overtook with Celio,
A servant; ’tis not possible.
Enter ISABELLA and SEBASTIAN [as CELIO]
ISABELLA      Good morrow Hermio.
My sister stirring yet?
HERMIO      How, stirring forsooth!
Here has been simple stirring! Are you not hurt madam?
Pray speak; we have a surgeon ready.
ISABELLA      How! a surgeon? 125
HERMIO
Hath been at work these five hours.
ISABELLA      How he talks!
HERMIO
Did you not meet my master?
ISABELLA      How! your master?
Why, came he home tonight?
HERMIO      Then know you nothing. Madam,
Please you but walk in, you shall hear strange business.
ISABELLA
[To SEBASTIAN] I’m much beholding to your truth now, am I not? 130
You’ve served me fair; my credit’s stained for ever!
Exit [with HERMIO]
SEBASTIAN
This is the wicked’st fortune that e’er blew.
We’re both undone for nothing. There’s no way
Flatters recovery now, the thing’s so gross.
Her disgrace grieves me more than a life’s loss.   Exit 135

[Act V,] Scene ii

Enter DUCHESS, HECATE, FIRESTONE [A cauldron onstage]