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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
HECATE
What death is’t you desire for Almachildes?
DUCHESS
A sudden and a subtle.
HECATE      Then I have fitted you.
Here lie the gifts of both sudden and subtle;
His picture made in wax and gently molten,
By a blue fire kindled with dead men’s eyes, 5
Will waste him by degrees.
DUCHESS      In what time prithee?
HECATE
Perhaps in a moon’s progress.
DUCHESS      What? A month?
Out upon pictures, if they be so tedious!
Give me things with some life.
HECATE      Then seek no farther.
DUCHESS
This must be done with speed, dispatched this night, 10
If it may possible.
HECATE      I have it for you;
Here’s that will do’t. Stay but perfection’s time
And that’s not five hours hence.
DUCHESS
Canst thou do this?
HECATE      Can I?
DUCHESS      I mean so closely.
HECATE
So closely do you mean too?
DUCHESS      So artfully, so cunningly? 15
HECATE
Worse and worse! Doubts and incredulities!
They make me mad. Let scrupulous greatness know –
Cum volui, ripis ipsis mirantibus amnes
In fontes rediere suos, concussaque sisto,
Stantia concutio cantu freta, nubila pello 20
Nubilaque induco, ventos abigoque vocoque,
Viperias rumpo verbis et carmine fauces,
Et silvas moveo iubeoque tremiscere montes
Et mugiré solum manesque exire sepulchris!
Teque, luna, traho. Can you doubt me then daughter? 25
That can make mountains tremble, miles of woods walk,
Whole earth’s foundation bellow and the spirits
Of the entombed to burst out from their marbles,
Nay, draw yond moon to my involved designs?
FIRESTONE
[Aside] I know as well as can be when my mother’s mad 30
and our great cat angry, for one spits French then and
th’ other spits Latin.
DUCHESS
I did not doubt you mother.
HECATE      No? What did you?
My power’s so firm, it is not to be questioned.
DUCHESS
Forgive what’s past – and now I know th’ offensiveness 35
That vexes art, I’ll shun th’ occasion ever.
HECATE
Leave all to me and my five sisters, daughter;
It shall be conveyed in at howlet-time.
Take you no care; my spirits know their moments.
Raven or screech-owl never fly by th’ door 40
But they call in – I thank ’em – and they lose not by’t;
I give ’em barley, soaked in infants’ blood.
They shall have semina, cum sanguine,
Their gorge crammed full, if they come once to our house.
We are no niggard. 45
[Exit DUCHESS]
FIRESTONE
They fare but too well when they come hither. They ate
up as much t’other night as would have made me a good,
conscionable pudding.
HECATE
Give me some lizard’s brain. Quickly Firestone!
Where’s Grannam Stadlin and all the rest o’th’ sisters? 50
FIRESTONE
All at hand forsooth.

[Enter STADLIN, HOPPO, HELLWAIN, PUCKLE and A WITCH]