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Back The Witch
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
HERMIO
The duchess comes my lord.
GOVERNOR      Be you then all witnesses
Of an intent most horrid.
DUCHESS  [Aside]      One poor night
Ends Almachildes now. 65
Better his meaner fortunes wept than ours,
That took the true height of a princess’ spirit
To match unto their greatness. Such lives as his
Were only made to break the force of fate
Ere it came at us, and receive the venom. 70
’Tis but a usual friendship for a mistress
To lose some forty years’ life in hopeful time
And hazard an eternal soul for ever;
As young as he has done’t and more desertful.
GOVERNOR
Madam.
DUCHESS   My lord? 75
GOVERNOR
This is the hour that I’ve so long desired.
The tumult’s full appeased; now may we both
Exchange embraces with a fortunate arm
And practise to make love knots, thus –

[The DUKE is discovered [as if dead]

DUCHESS      My lord!
GOVERNOR
Thus, lustful woman and bold murd’ress, thus! 80
Blessed powers, to make my loyalty and truth so happy!
Look thee, thou shame of greatness, stain of honour!
Behold thy work, and weep before thy death –
If thou be’st blessed with sorrow and a conscience,
Which is a gift from heaven and seldom knocks 85
At any murderer’s breast with sounds of comfort –
See this, thy worthy and unequalled piece;
A fair encouragement for another husband!
DUCHESS
Bestow me upon death sir; I am guilty,
And of a cruelty above my cause. 90
His injury was too low for my revenge.
Perform a justice that may light all others
To noble actions. Life is hateful to me,
Beholding my dead lord. Make us an one
In death, whom marriage made one of two living, 95
Till cursed fury parted us. My lord
I covet to be like him.
GOVERNOR      No, my sword
Shall never stain the virgin brightness on’t
With blood of an adult’ress.
DUCHESS      There, my lord,
I dare my accuser and defy the world, 100
Death, shame and torment. Blood I am guilty of
But not adultery, not the breach of honour.
GOVERNOR
No? Come forth Almachildes!

Enter ALMACHILDES

DUCHESS      Almachildes?
Hath time brought him about to save himself
By my destruction? I am justly doomed. 105
GOVERNOR
Do you know this woman?
ALMACHILDES
I have known her better, sir, than at this time.
GOVERNOR
But she defies you there.
ALMACHILDES      That’s the common trick of them all.
DUCHESS
Nay, since I am touched so near, before my death then,
In right of honour’s innocence, I am bold 110
To call heaven and my woman here to witness.

Enter AMORETTA