Of John Webster's life almost nothing is known. The dates 1580-1625 given for his birth and death are conjectural inferences, about which the best that can be said is that no known facts contradict them.

The first notice of Webster so far discovered shows that he was collaborating in the production of plays for the theatrical manager, Henslowe, in 1602, and of such collaboration he seems to have done a considerable amount. Four plays exist which he wrote alone, "The White Devil," "The Duchess of Malfi," "The Devil's Law-Case," and "Appius and Virginia."

"The Duchess of Malfi" was published in 1623, but the date of writing may have been as early as 1611. It is based on a story in Painter's "Palace of Pleasure," translated from the Italian novelist, Bandello; and it is entirely possible that it has a foundation in fact. In any case, it portrays with a terrible vividness one side of the court life of the Italian Renaissance; and its picture of the fierce quest of pleasure, the recklessness of crime, and the worldliness of the great princes of the Church finds only too ready corroboration in the annals of the time.

Webster's tragedies come toward the close of the great series of tragedies of blood and revenge, in which "The Spanish Tragedy" and "Hamlet" are landmarks, but before decadence can fairly be said to have set in. He, indeed, loads his scene with horrors almost past the point which modern taste can bear; but the intensity of his dramatic situations, and his superb power of flashing in a single line a light into the recesses of the human heart at the crises of supreme emotion, redeems him from mere sensationalism, and places his best things in the first rank of dramatic writing.

Dramatis Personae:

FERDINAND [Duke of Calabria].

CARDINAL [his brother].

ANTONIO [BOLOGNA, Steward of the Household to the Duchess].

DELIO [his friend].

DANIEL DE BOSOLA [Gentleman of the Horse to the Duchess].

[CASTRUCCIO, an old Lord].

MARQUIS OF PESCARA.

[COUNT] MALATESTI.

RODERIGO, ]

SILVIO,] [Lords].

GRISOLAN, ]

DOCTOR.

The Several Madmen.

DUCHESS [OF MALFI].

CARIOLA [her woman].

[JULIA, Castruccio's wife, and] the Cardinal's mistress.

[Old Lady].

Ladies, Three Young Children, Two Pilgrims, Executioners,

Court Officers, and Attendants.

ACT I

SCENE I1

[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? ANTONIO. I admire it: In seeking to reduce both state and people To a fix'd order, their judicious king Begins at home; quits first his royal palace Of flattering sycophants, of dissolute And infamous persons, – which he sweetly terms His master's master-piece, the work of heaven; Considering duly that a prince's court Is like a common fountain, whence should flow Pure silver drops in general, but if 't chance Some curs'd example poison 't near the head, Death and diseases through the whole land spread. And what is 't makes this blessed government But a most provident council, who dare freely Inform him the corruption of the times? Though some o' the court hold it presumption To instruct princes what they ought to do, It is a noble duty to inform them What they ought to foresee.2– Here comes Bosola, The only court-gall; yet I observe his railing Is not for simple love of piety: Indeed, he rails at those things which he wants; Would be as lecherous, covetous, or proud, Bloody, or envious, as any man, If he had means to be so. – Here's the cardinal.

[Enter CARDINAL and BOSOLA]

BOSOLA. I do haunt you still. CARDINAL. So.BOSOLA. I have done you better service than to be slighted thus.Miserable age, where only the reward of doing well is the doingof it! CARDINAL. You enforce your merit too much.BOSOLA. I fell into the galleys in your service: where, for twoyears together, I wore two towels instead of a shirt, with a knoton the shoulder, after the fashion of a Roman mantle. Slighted thus!I will thrive some way. Black-birds fatten best in hard weather;why not I in these dog-days? CARDINAL. Would you could become honest!BOSOLA. With all your divinity do but direct me the way to it.I have known many travel far for it, and yet return as arrant knavesas they went forth, because they carried themselves always along withthem. [Exit CARDINAL.] Are you gone? Some fellows, they say,are possessed with the devil, but this great fellow were ableto possess the greatest devil, and make him worse. ANTONIO. He hath denied thee some suit?BOSOLA. He and his brother are like plum-trees that grow crookedover standing-pools; they are rich and o'erladen with fruit, but nonebut crows, pies, and caterpillars feed on them. Could I be oneof their flattering panders, I would hang on their ears like ahorseleech, till I were full, and then drop off. I pray, leave me.Who would rely upon these miserable dependencies, in expectationto be advanc'd to-morrow? What creature ever fed worse than hopingTantalus? Nor ever died any man more fearfully than he that hopedfor a pardon. There are rewards for hawks and dogs when they havedone us service; but for a soldier that hazards his limbs in abattle, nothing but a kind of geometry is his last supportation. DELIO. Geometry?BOSOLA. Ay, to hang in a fair pair of slings, take his latter swingin the world upon an honourable pair of crutches, from hospitalto hospital. Fare ye well, sir: and yet do not you scorn us;for places in the court are but like beds in the hospital, wherethis man's head lies at that man's foot, and so lower and lower.

[Exit.]

DELIO. I knew this fellow seven years in the galleys For a notorious murder; and 'twas thought The cardinal suborn'd it: he was releas'd By the French general, Gaston de Foix, When he recover'd Naples. ANTONIO. 'Tis great pity He should be thus neglected: I have heard He 's very valiant. This foul melancholy Will poison all his goodness; for, I 'll tell you, If too immoderate sleep be truly said To be an inward rust unto the soul, If then doth follow want of action Breeds all black malcontents; and their close rearing, Like moths in cloth, do hurt for want of wearing.

SCENE II3

ANTONIO, DELIO, [Enter SILVIO, CASTRUCCIO, JULIA, RODERIGO and GRISOLAN]

DELIO. The presence 'gins to fill: you promis'd me To make me the partaker of the natures Of some of your great courtiers. ANTONIO. The lord cardinal's And other strangers' that are now in court? I shall. – Here comes the great Calabrian duke.

[Enter FERDINAND and Attendants]

FERDINAND. Who took the ring oftenest?4 SILVIO. Antonio Bologna, my lord.FERDINAND. Our sister duchess' great-master of her household?Give him the jewel. – When shall we leave this sportive action,and fall to action indeed?CASTRUCCIO. Methinks, my lord, you should not desire to go to warin person. FERDINAND. Now for some gravity. – Why, my lord?CASTRUCCIO. It is fitting a soldier arise to be a prince, but notnecessary a prince descend to be a captain. FERDINAND. No? CASTRUCCIO. No, my lord; he were far better do it by a deputy.FERDINAND. Why should he not as well sleep or eat by a deputy?This might take idle, offensive, and base office from him, whereasthe other deprives him of honour.CASTRUCCIO. Believe my experience, that realm is never long in quietwhere the ruler is a soldier. FERDINAND. Thou toldest me thy wife could not endure fighting. CASTRUCCIO. True, my lord.FERDINAND. And of a jest she broke of5 a captain she met full ofwounds: I have forgot it.CASTRUCCIO. She told him, my lord, he was a pitiful fellow, to lie,like the children of Ismael, all in tents.6FERDINAND. Why, there's a wit were able to undo all thechirurgeons7 o' the city; for although gallants should quarrel,and had drawn their weapons, and were ready to go to it, yet herpersuasions would make them put up.CASTRUCCIO. That she would, my lord. – How do you like my Spanishgennet?8 RODERIGO. He is all fire.FERDINAND. I am of Pliny's opinion, I think he was begotby the wind; he runs as if he were ballass'd9 with quicksilver.SILVIO. True, my lord, he reels from the tilt often. RODERIGO, GRISOLAN. Ha, ha, ha!FERDINAND. Why do you laugh? Methinks you that are courtiersshould be my touch-wood, take fire when I give fire; that is,laugh when I laugh, were the subject never so witty.CASTRUCCIO. True, my lord: I myself have heard a very good jest,and have scorn'd to seem to have so silly a wit as to understand it. FERDINAND. But I can laugh at your fool, my lord.CASTRUCCIO. He cannot speak, you know, but he makes faces; my ladycannot abide him. FERDINAND. No?CASTRUCCIO. Nor endure to be in merry company; for she says too muchlaughing, and too much company, fills her too full of the wrinkle.FERDINAND. I would, then, have a mathematical instrument madefor her face, that she might not laugh out of compass. – I shallshortly visit you at Milan, Lord Silvio.SILVIO. Your grace shall arrive most welcome.FERDINAND. You are a good horseman, Antonio; you have excellentriders in France: what do you think of good horsemanship?ANTONIO. Nobly, my lord: as out of the Grecian horse issued manyfamous princes, so out of brave horsemanship arise the first sparksof growing resolution, that raise the mind to noble action. FERDINAND. You have bespoke it worthily. SILVIO. Your brother, the lord cardinal, and sister duchess.

[Enter CARDINAL, with DUCHESS, and CARIOLA]

CARDINAL. Are the galleys come about? GRISOLAN. They are, my lord. FERDINAND. Here 's the Lord Silvio is come to take his leave. DELIO. Now, sir, your promise: what 's that cardinal? I mean his temper? They say he 's a brave fellow, Will play his five thousand crowns at tennis, dance, Court ladies, and one that hath fought single combats.ANTONIO. Some such flashes superficially hang on him for form;but observe his inward character: he is a melancholy churchman.The spring in his face is nothing but the engend'ring of toads;where he is jealous of any man, he lays worse plots for them thanever was impos'd on Hercules, for he strews in his way flatterers,panders, intelligencers, atheists, and a thousand such politicalmonsters. He should have been Pope; but instead of coming to itby the primitive decency of the church, he did bestow bribesso largely and so impudently as if he would have carried it awaywithout heaven's knowledge. Some good he hath done — DELIO. You have given too much of him. What 's his brother? ANTONIO. The duke there? A most perverse and turbulent nature. What appears in him mirth is merely outside; If he laught heartily, it is to laugh All honesty out of fashion. DELIO. Twins? ANTONIO. In quality. He speaks with others' tongues, and hears men's suits With others' ears; will seem to sleep o' the bench Only to entrap offenders in their answers; Dooms men to death by information; Rewards by hearsay. DELIO. Then the law to him Is like a foul, black cobweb to a spider, — He makes it his dwelling and a prison To entangle those shall feed him. ANTONIO. Most true: He never pays debts unless they be shrewd turns, And those he will confess that he doth owe. Last, for this brother there, the cardinal, They that do flatter him most say oracles Hang at his lips; and verily I believe them, For the devil speaks in them. But for their sister, the right noble duchess, You never fix'd your eye on three fair medals Cast in one figure, of so different temper. For her discourse, it is so full of rapture, You only will begin then to be sorry When she doth end her speech, and wish, in wonder, She held it less vain-glory to talk much, Than your penance to hear her. Whilst she speaks, She throws upon a man so sweet a look That it were able to raise one to a galliard.10That lay in a dead palsy, and to dote On that sweet countenance; but in that look There speaketh so divine a continence As cuts off all lascivious and vain hope. Her days are practis'd in such noble virtue, That sure her nights, nay, more, her very sleeps, Are more in heaven than other ladies' shrifts. Let all sweet ladies break their flatt'ring glasses, And dress themselves in her. DELIO. Fie, Antonio, You play the wire-drawer with her commendations. ANTONIO. I 'll case the picture up: only thus much; All her particular worth grows to this sum, — She stains11 the time past, lights the time to come. CARIOLA. You must attend my lady in the gallery, Some half and hour hence. ANTONIO. I shall.

[Exeunt ANTONIO and DELIO.]

FERDINAND. Sister, I have a suit to you. DUCHESS. To me, sir? FERDINAND. A gentleman here, Daniel de Bosola, One that was in the galleys — DUCHESS. Yes, I know him. FERDINAND. A worthy fellow he is: pray, let me entreat for The provisorship of your horse. DUCHESS. Your knowledge of him Commends him and prefers him. FERDINAND. Call him hither.

[Exit Attendant.]

We [are] now upon12 parting. Good Lord Silvio, Do us commend to all our noble friends At the leaguer. SILVIO. Sir, I shall. [DUCHESS.] You are for Milan? SILVIO. I am. DUCHESS. Bring the caroches.13– We 'll bring you down To the haven.

[Exeunt DUCHESS, SILVIO, CASTRUCCIO, RODERIGO, GRISOLAN, CARIOLA, JULIA, and Attendants.]

CARDINAL. Be sure you entertain that Bosola For your intelligence.14 I would not be seen in 't; And therefore many times I have slighted him When he did court our furtherance, as this morning. FERDINAND. Antonio, the great-master of her household, Had been far fitter. CARDINAL. You are deceiv'd in him. His nature is too honest for such business. — He comes: I 'll leave you.

[Exit.]

[Re-enter BOSOLA]

BOSOLA. I was lur'd to you. FERDINAND. My brother, here, the cardinal, could never Abide you. BOSOLA. Never since he was in my debt. FERDINAND. May be some oblique character in your face Made him suspect you. BOSOLA. Doth he study physiognomy? There 's no more credit to be given to the face Than to a sick man's urine, which some call The physician's whore, because she cozens15 him. He did suspect me wrongfully. FERDINAND. For that You must give great men leave to take their times. Distrust doth cause us seldom be deceiv'd. You see the oft shaking of the cedar-tree Fastens it more at root. BOSOLA. Yet take heed; For to suspect a friend unworthily Instructs him the next way to suspect you, And prompts him to deceive you. FERDINAND. There 's gold. BOSOLA. So: What follows? [Aside.] Never rain'd such showers as these Without thunderbolts i' the tail of them. – Whose throat must I cut? FERDINAND. Your inclination to shed blood rides post Before my occasion to use you. I give you that To live i' the court here, and observe the duchess; To note all the particulars of her haviour, What suitors do solicit her for marriage, And whom she best affects. She 's a young widow: I would not have her marry again. BOSOLA. No, sir? FERDINAND. Do not you ask the reason; but be satisfied. I say I would not. BOSOLA. It seems you would create me One of your familiars. FERDINAND. Familiar! What 's that? BOSOLA. Why, a very quaint invisible devil in flesh, — An intelligencer.16 FERDINAND. Such a kind of thriving thing I would wish thee; and ere long thou mayst arrive At a higher place by 't. BOSOLA. Take your devils, Which hell calls angels! These curs'd gifts would make You a corrupter, me an impudent traitor; And should I take these, they'd take me [to] hell. FERDINAND. Sir, I 'll take nothing from you that I have given. There is a place that I procur'd for you This morning, the provisorship o' the horse; Have you heard on 't? BOSOLA. No. FERDINAND. 'Tis yours: is 't not worth thanks? BOSOLA. I would have you curse yourself now, that your bounty (Which makes men truly noble) e'er should make me A villain. O, that to avoid ingratitude For the good deed you have done me, I must do All the ill man can invent! Thus the devil Candies all sins o'er; and what heaven terms vile, That names he complimental. FERDINAND. Be yourself; Keep your old garb of melancholy; 'twill express You envy those that stand above your reach, Yet strive not to come near 'em. This will gain Access to private lodgings, where yourself May, like a politic dormouse — BOSOLA. As I have seen some Feed in a lord's dish, half asleep, not seeming To listen to any talk; and yet these rogues Have cut his throat in a dream. What 's my place? The provisorship o' the horse? Say, then, my corruption Grew out of horse-dung: I am your creature. FERDINAND. Away!

[Exit.]

BOSOLA. Let good men, for good deeds, covet good fame, Since place and riches oft are bribes of shame. Sometimes the devil doth preach.

[Exit.]

[Scene III]17

[Enter FERDINAND, DUCHESS, CARDINAL, and CARIOLA]

CARDINAL. We are to part from you; and your own discretion Must now be your director. FERDINAND. You are a widow: You know already what man is; and therefore Let not youth, high promotion, eloquence — CARDINAL. No, Nor anything without the addition, honour, Sway your high blood. FERDINAND. Marry! they are most luxurious18 Will wed twice. CARDINAL. O, fie! FERDINAND. Their livers are more spotted Than Laban's sheep.19 DUCHESS. Diamonds are of most value, They say, that have pass'd through most jewellers' hands. FERDINAND. Whores by that rule are precious. DUCHESS. Will you hear me? I 'll never marry. CARDINAL. So most widows say; But commonly that motion lasts no longer Than the turning of an hour-glass: the funeral sermon And it end both together. FERDINAND. Now hear me: You live in a rank pasture, here, i' the court; There is a kind of honey-dew that 's deadly; 'T will poison your fame; look to 't. Be not cunning; For they whose faces do belie their hearts Are witches ere they arrive at twenty years, Ay, and give the devil suck. DUCHESS. This is terrible good counsel. FERDINAND. Hypocrisy is woven of a fine small thread, Subtler than Vulcan's engine:20 yet, believe 't, Your darkest actions, nay, your privat'st thoughts, Will come to light. CARDINAL. You may flatter yourself, And take your own choice; privately be married Under the eaves of night — FERDINAND. Think 't the best voyage That e'er you made; like the irregular crab, Which, though 't goes backward, thinks that it goes right Because it goes its own way: but observe, Such weddings may more properly be said To be executed than celebrated. CARDINAL. The marriage night Is the entrance into some prison. FERDINAND. And those joys, Those lustful pleasures, are like heavy sleeps Which do fore-run man's mischief. CARDINAL. Fare you well. Wisdom begins at the end: remember it.

[Exit.]

DUCHESS. I think this speech between you both was studied, It came so roundly off. FERDINAND. You are my sister; This was my father's poniard, do you see? I 'd be loth to see 't look rusty, 'cause 'twas his. I would have you give o'er these chargeable revels: A visor and a mask are whispering-rooms That were never built for goodness, – fare ye well — And women like variety of courtship. What cannot a neat knave with a smooth tale Make a woman believe? Farewell, lusty widow.

[Exit.]

DUCHESS. Shall this move me? If all my royal kindred Lay in my way unto this marriage, I 'd make them my low footsteps. And even now, Even in this hate, as men in some great battles, By apprehending danger, have achiev'd Almost impossible actions (I have heard soldiers say so), So I through frights and threatenings will assay This dangerous venture. Let old wives report I wink'd and chose a husband. – Cariola, To thy known secrecy I have given up More than my life, – my fame. CARIOLA. Both shall be safe; For I 'll conceal this secret from the world As warily as those that trade in poison Keep poison from their children. DUCHESS. Thy protestation Is ingenious and hearty; I believe it. Is Antonio come? CARIOLA. He attends you. DUCHESS. Good dear soul, Leave me; but place thyself behind the arras, Where thou mayst overhear us. Wish me good speed; For I am going into a wilderness, Where I shall find nor path nor friendly clue To be my guide.[Cariola goes behind the arras.]

[Enter ANTONIO]

I sent for you: sit down; Take pen and ink, and write: are you ready? ANTONIO. Yes. DUCHESS. What did I say? ANTONIO. That I should write somewhat. DUCHESS. O, I remember. After these triumphs and this large expense It 's fit, like thrifty husbands,21 we inquire What 's laid up for to-morrow. ANTONIO. So please your beauteous excellence. DUCHESS. Beauteous! Indeed, I thank you. I look young for your sake; You have ta'en my cares upon you. ANTONIO. I 'll fetch your grace The particulars of your revenue and expense. DUCHESS. O, you are An upright treasurer: but you mistook; For when I said I meant to make inquiry What 's laid up for to-morrow, I did mean What 's laid up yonder for me. ANTONIO. Where? DUCHESS. In heaven. I am making my will (as 'tis fit princes should, In perfect memory), and, I pray, sir, tell me, Were not one better make it smiling, thus, Than in deep groans and terrible ghastly looks, As if the gifts we parted with procur'd22 That violent distraction? ANTONIO. O, much better. DUCHESS. If I had a husband now, this care were quit: But I intend to make you overseer. What good deed shall we first remember? Say. ANTONIO. Begin with that first good deed began i' the world After man's creation, the sacrament of marriage; I 'd have you first provide for a good husband; Give him all. DUCHESS. All! ANTONIO. Yes, your excellent self. DUCHESS. In a winding-sheet? ANTONIO. In a couple. DUCHESS. Saint Winifred, that were a strange will! ANTONIO. 'Twere stranger23 if there were no will in you To marry again. DUCHESS. What do you think of marriage? ANTONIO. I take 't, as those that deny purgatory, It locally contains or heaven or hell; There 's no third place in 't. DUCHESS. How do you affect it? ANTONIO. My banishment, feeding my melancholy, Would often reason thus. DUCHESS. Pray, let 's hear it. ANTONIO. Say a man never marry, nor have children, What takes that from him? Only the bare name Of being a father, or the weak delight To see the little wanton ride a-cock-horse Upon a painted stick, or hear him chatter Like a taught starling. DUCHESS. Fie, fie, what 's all this? One of your eyes is blood-shot; use my ring to 't. They say 'tis very sovereign. 'Twas my wedding-ring, And I did vow never to part with it But to my second husband. ANTONIO. You have parted with it now. DUCHESS. Yes, to help your eye-sight. ANTONIO. You have made me stark blind. DUCHESS. How? ANTONIO. There is a saucy and ambitious devil Is dancing in this circle. DUCHESS. Remove him. ANTONIO. How? DUCHESS. There needs small conjuration, when your finger May do it: thus. Is it fit?[She puts the ring upon his finger]: he kneels. ANTONIO. What said you? DUCHESS. Sir, This goodly roof of yours is too low built; I cannot stand upright in 't nor discourse, Without I raise it higher. Raise yourself; Or, if you please, my hand to help you: so.

[Raises him.]

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