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Feb 7, 2013 · [Reads.] 'The duchess was deliver'd of a son, 'tween the hours twelve and one in the night, Anno Dom. 1504,'—that 's this year—'decimo nono Decembris,'—that 's this night— 'taken according to the meridian of Malfi,'—that 's our duchess: happy discovery!—'The lord of the first house being combust in the ascendant, signifies short ...
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- TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORGE HARDING, BARON BERKELEY, OF BERKELEY CASTLE,
- MY NOBLE LORD,
- CHARACTERS:
- DOCTOR
- Act I, Scene I.
- I make you lord of.
- Duch. Now she pays it.
- Enter CARIOLA.
- Ant. What's your conceit in this?
- Act I, Scene II.
- Bos. To make a pippin grow upon a crab,
- Ant. How now, madam?
- [Exit Duchess.
- Act II, Scene I.
- Serv. There was taken even now a Switzer in the duchess' bed-chamber-
- Enter CARIOLA.
- Act II, Scene III.
- Ant. My nose bleeds.
- Act II, Scene IV.
- Delio. Very fine.
- Act II, Scene V.
- Card. Speak lower.
- Act III, Scene I.
- Act III, Scene II.
- [Exit ANTONIO.
- Enter ANTONIO.
- What do you think of these?
- Act III, Scene III.
- Bos. I will.
- Act III, Scene IV.
- Act III, Scene V.
- [Reads the letter.
- Duch. Must I, like to a slav-born Russian, Account it praise to suffer tyranny?
- Act IV, Scene I.
- Enter FERDINAND.
- Duch. You are very cold:
- Bos. Fie, lady.
- Act IV, Scene II.
- Enter FERDINAND.
- [She dies.
- Act V, Scene I.
- [Exit.
- Act V, Scene II.
- Julia. Yes, confess to me Which of my women 'twas you hired to put Love-powder into my drink?
- Bos. For pity sake, hold.
- [Exit Cardinal.
- Act V, Scene III.
- Act V, Scene IV.
- Card. The reason why I would not suffer these About my brother, is, because at midnight
- Enter FERDINAND.
- Serv. Where are you, sir?
- Act V, Scene V.
- Mal. Listen.
- Bos. Look there.
- Enter FERDINAND.
- There flies your ransom.
- [Dies.
AND KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF THE BATH TO THE ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE CHARLES.
THAT I may present my excuse why, being a stranger to your lordship, I offer this poem to your patronage, I plead this warrant: men who never saw the sea, yet desire to behold that regiment of waters, choose some eminent river to guide them thither, and make that, as it were, their conduct or postilion: by the like ingenious means has your fame arr...
THE DUCHESS OF MALFI CARIOLA (the Duchess' waiting woman) DANIEL DE BOSOLA (steward of the Duchess' horses) FERDINAND (Duke of Calabria) CARDINAL (Ferdinand's brother) ANTONIO BOLOGNA (steward of the Duchess' household) DELIO (Antonio's friend) CASTRUCCIO (a lord) COUNT MALATESTE (a courtier) THE MARQUIS OF PESCARA (a soldier) RODERIGO (a courtier)...
Three Young Children Two Pilgrims An Old Lady Several Madmen Court Officers
Enter ANTONIO, and DELIO. Delio. You are welcome to your country, dear Antonio; You have been long in France, and you return A very formal Frenchman in your habit. How do you like the French court? Ant. I admire it: In seeking to reduce both state and people To a fixt order, their judicious king Begins at home; quits first his royal palace Of flat...
Ant. O, my unworthiness! Duch. You were ill to sell yourself: This darkening of your worth is not like that Which tradesmen use i'th' city; their false lights Are to rid bad wares off; and I must tell you, If you will know where breathes a complete man, (I speak it without flattery,) turn your eyes, And progress through yourself. Ant. Were there no...
The misery of us that are born great! We are forc'd to woo, because none dare woo us; And as a tyrant doubles with his words, And fearfully equivocates, so we Are forc'd to express our violent passions In riddles, and in dreams, and leave the path Of simple virtue, which was never made To seem the thing it is not. Go, go brag You have left me heart...
Ant. Ha! Duch. Be not amaz'd, this woman's of my counsel: I have heard lawyers say, a contract in a chamber Per verba presenti is absolute marriage. Bless, heaven, this sacred gordian, which let violence Never untwine! Ant. And may our sweet affections, like the spheres, Be still in motion. Duch. Quickening, and make The like soft music. Ant. That ...
Duch. I would have you lead your fortune by the hand Unto your marriage bed: (You speak in me this, for we now are one:) We'll only lie, and talk together, and plot T'appease my humourous kindred; and if you please, Like the old tale in Alexander and Lodowick, Lay a naked sword between us, keep us chaste. O, let me shrowd my blushes in your bosom, ...
Enter BOSOLA and CASTRUCCIO. Bosola.. You say, you would fain be taken for an eminent courtier? Cast. 'Tis the very main of my ambition. Bos. Let me see: you have a reasonable good face for't already, And your night-cap expresses your ears sufficient largely. I would have you learn to twirl the strings of your band With a good grace, and in a set s...
damson on a black-thorn. How greedily she eats them! whirlwind strike off these bawd farthingales! For, but for that, and the loose-bodied gown, should have discover'd apparently The young springal cutting a caper in her belly. Duch. I thank you, Bosola: they were right good ones, If they do not make me sick.
Duch. This green fruit and my stomach are not friends: How they swell me! Bos. Nay, you are too much swell'd already. Duch. O, I am in an extreme cold sweat! Bos. I am very sorry. [Exit. Duch. Lights to my chamber. O, good Antonio, I fear I am undone! Delio. Lights there, lights.
Ant. O my most trusty Delio, we are lost! I fear she's fallen in labour; and there's left No time for her remove. Delio. Have you prepar'd Those ladies to attend her? and procur'd That politic safe conveyance for the midwife, Your duchess plotted? Ant. I have. Delio. Make use then of this forc'd occasion: Give out that Bosola hath poison'd her With...
Enter BOSOLA. Bos. So, so, there's no question but her tetchiness And most vulturous eating of the apricocks, are Apparent signs of breeding. Enter an OLD LADY. Now? Old Lady. I am in haste, sir. Bos. There was a young waiting-woman, had a monstrous desire To see the glass-house- Old Lady. Nay, pray let me go. Bos. And it was only to know wh...
Second Serv. A Switzer! Serv. With a pistol in his great cod-piece. Bos. Ha, ha, ha! Serv. The cod-piece was the case for't. Second Serv. There was a cunning traitor; who would have search'd his cod-piece? Serv. True, if he had kept out of the ladies' chambers: and all the moulds of his buttons were leaden bullets. Second Serv. O, wicked cannibal!...
Cari. Sir, you are the happy father of a son: Your wife commends him to you. Ant. Blessed comfort! For heaven' sake tend her well: I'll presently Go set a figure for's nativity. [Exeunt.
Enter BOSOLA, with a dark lantern. Bos. Sure I did hear a woman shriek: list, ha! And the sound came, if I receiv;d it right, From the duchess' lodgings. There's some stratagem In the confining all our courtiers To their several wards: I must have part of it; My intelligence will freeze else. List, again! It may be 'twas the melancholy bird, Best f...
One that were superstitious would count This ominous, when it merely comes by chance: Two letters, that are wrote here for my name, Are drown'd in blood! Mere accident.- For you, sir, I'll take order I'th' morn you shall be safe- 'tis that must colour Her lying in- sir, this door you pass not: I do not hold it fit that you come near The duchess' lo...
Enter CARDINAL, and JULIA. Card. Sit: thou art my best of wishes. Prithee tell me, What trick didst thou invent to come to Rome Without thy husband? Julia. Why, my lord, I told him I came to visit an old anchorite Here, for devotion. Card. Thou art a witty false one; I mean, to him. Julia. You have prevail'd with me Beyond my strongest thoughts: I ...
Is this her wit, or honesty, that speaks thus? I heard one say the duke was highly mov'd With a letter sent from Malfi. I do fear Antonio is betray'd: how fearfully Shews his ambition now! unfortunate fortune! They pass through whirlpools, and deep woes do shun, Who the event weigh, ere the action's done. [Exit.
Enter CARDINAL, and FERDINAND with a letter. Ferd. I have this night digg'd up a mandrake. Card. Say you? Ferd. And I am grown mad with't. Card. What's the prodigy? Ferd. Read there, a sister damn'd: she's loose i'th' hilts; Grown a notorious strumpet.
Ferd. Lower! Rogues do not whisper't now, but seek to publish't (As servants do the bounty of their lords) Aloud; and with a covetous searching eye, To mark who note them. O, confusion seize her! She hath had most cunning bawds to serve her turn, And more secure conveyances for lust, Than towns of garrison for service. Card. Is't possible? Can this...
Enter ANTONIO and DELIO. Antonio. Our noble friend, my most beloved Delio! O, you have been a stranger long at court: Came you along with the Lord Ferdinand? Delio. I did, sir: and how fares your noble duchess? Ant. Right fortunately well: she's an excellent Feeder of pedigrees; since you last saw her, She hath had two children more, a son and daug...
Enter DUCHESS, ANTONIO, and CARIOLA. Duch. Bring me the casket hither, and the glass. You get no lodging here to night, my lord. Ant. Indeed, I must persuade one. Duch. Very good: I hope in time 'twill grow into a custom, That noblemen shall come with cap and knee, To purchase a night's lodging of their wives. Ant. I must lie here. Duch. Must! you ...
Enter BOSOLA. Bos. The duke your brother is ta'en up in a whirlwind; Hath took horse, and 's rid post to Rome. Duch. So late! Bos. He told me, as he mounted into th' saddle, You were undone. Duch. Indeed, I am very near it. Bos. What's the matter? Duch. Antonio, the master of our household, Hath dealt so falsely with me in's accounts: My brother st...
Duch. The place that you must fly to, is Ancona: Hire a house there; I'll send after you My treasure, and my jewels. Our weak safety Runs upon enginous wheels: short syllables, Must stand for periods. I must now accuse you Of such a feigned crime, as Tasso calls Magnanima menzogna, a noble lie, 'Cause it must shield our honours:- hark, they are com...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
Card. Thou hast thy payment too. Bos. Yes, I hold my weary soul in my teeth; 'Tis ready to part from me. I do glory That thou, which stood'st like a huge pyramid Begun upon a large and ample base, Shalt end in a little point, a kind of nothing. Enter PESCARA and the others. Pes. How now, my lord! Mal. O, sad disaster! Rod. How comes this? Bo...
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The Complete Text with Notes and Commentary. by Larry A. Brown, professor of theater, Nashville, Tennessee. These pages are dedicated to one of the greatest achievements of English Renaissance drama, John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi. Here you will find the complete text of the play with links in each scene to notes and commentary. Several ...
The Duchess of Malfi. This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project to make the world’s books discoverable online. It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain.
The Duchess of Malfi PREFACE Date Of the Play. It seems probable that both Plays fall within the same period of Webster's life. For, though Vittoria was printed in 1612, and The Duchess not till 1623, it is certain that the latter must have been written at least five years earlier than its publication.
