Malfi: Violence

As a tyrant doubles with his words, and so fearfully equivocates,

so we are forced to express our violent passions in riddles and dreams, and leave the path of simple virtue

Duchess,

Act 1, Scene 3

“[This song is set

to a dismal kind of music]”

Act 4 Scene 2

Thou’rt poisoned with that book; because I knew

thou couldst not keep my counsel, I have bound thee to’t by death.

Cardinal,

Act 5, Scene 2

Here is a present from your princely brothers, and may it

arrive welcome, for it brings last benefit, last sorrow.

Bosola,

Act 4, Scene 2

[Gives her a

dead man’s hand]

Act 4, Scene 1

I will[…]have her meat served up

by bawds and ruffians

Ferdinand,

Act 4, Scene 1

We must not now use balsamum, but fire […]

to purge such infected blood, such blood as hers.

Ferdinand,

Act 2, Scene 5

[Ferdinand gives her

a poniard] Die then quickly!

Act 3, Scene 2

‘Tis not your whore’s milk that shall

quench my wild fire, but your whore’s blood.

Ferdinand,

Act 2, Scene 5

…’Til of her bleeding heart

I make a sponge to wipe it out.

Ferdinand,

Act 2, Scene 5

Two letters that

are wrought here for my name are drowned in blood.

Antonio,

Act 2, Scene 3

Must I, like a slave born Russian,

account it praise to suffer tyranny?

Duchess,

Act 3, Scene 5

Man, like to cassia

is proved best to being bruised

Antonio,

Act 3, Scene 5

I had rather have his heart

than his money.

Ferdinand,

Act 3, Scene 5

You are my sister. This

was my father’s poniard[…]I’d be loth to see’t look rusty ‘cause ‘twas his.

Ferdinand,

Act 1, Scene 3

Your darkest actions—

nay your privat’st thoughts— will come to light.

Ferdinand,

Act 1, Scene 3

You live in a rank pasture here i’the court.

There is a kind of honeydew that’s deadly: ‘twill poison your fame

Ferdinand,

Act 1, Scene 3

Be not cunning, for those whose faces do belie their hearts

are witches ere they arrive at twenty years, ay, and give the devil suck.

Ferdinand,

Act 1, Scene 3

Were I a man

I’d beat that counterfeit face into thy other.

Duchess

Act 3, Scene 5

[Ferdinand throws the doctor down and

beats him]

Pescara: Doctor, he did not fear you thoroughly

Doctor: True, I was somewhat too forward

Act 5, Scene 2

If all my royal kindred lay in my way unto this marriage

I’d make them my low footsteps[…]so I through frights and threat’nings will assay this dangerous venture

Duchess,

Act 1, Scene 3

When shall we leave this

sportive action and fall to action indeed?

Ferdinand,

Act 1, Scene 1

Make your heart not so dead

a piece of flesh to fear rather than to love me

Duchess,

Act 1, Scene 3

What is’t distracts you? This is flesh and

blood, sir ‘tis not the figure cut in alabaster, kneels at my husband’s tomb.

Duchess,

Act 1, Scene 3

She’s a young widow, I would not

have her marry again. Do not ask the reason, but be satisfied I say I would not.

Ferdinand,

Act 1, Scene 2

This night I will force

confession from her. You told me you had got, within these two days, a false key into her bedchamber?

Ferdinand,

Act 3, Scene 2

[Shows noose] Here’s

your wedding ring.

Executioner,

Act 4, Scene 2

Or dip the sheets they lie in, in pitch or sulfur

wrap them in’t and light it like a match.

Ferdinand,

Act 2, Scene 5

‘Till I know who leaps my sister, I’ll not stir. That known, I’ll

find scorpions to string my whips, and fix her in a general eclipse.

Ferdinand,

Act 2, Scene 5

That I might toss her palace ‘bout her ears, root up her goodly forests, blast her meads

and lay her general territory as waste, as she hath done her honours.

Ferdinand,

Act 2, Scene 5

Whether we fall by ambition, blood or lust,

like diamonds we are cut with our own dust.

Ferdinand,

Act 5, Scene 5

‘Tis welcome, for know, whether

I am doomed to live or die, I can do both like a prince.

Duchess,

Act 3, Scene 2

Thy heart? What should I name’t,

unless a hollow bullet filled with unquenchable wild-fire?

Ferdinand,

Act 3, Scene 2

What e’er thou art that hast

enjoyed my sister[…]for thine own sake let me not know thee

Ferdinand,

Act 3, Scene 2

For thine own sake, let me not know thee I […] am now

persuaded it would beget such violent effects as would damn us both.

Ferdinand,

Act 3, Scene 2

Bosola: Doth death not frighten you?

Duchess: Who would be afraid

on’t, knowing to meet such excellent company in th’other world?

Duchess,

Act 4, Scene 2

I know death hath ten thousand several doors for men to take their exits[…]

tell my brothers that I perceive death[…]best gift they can give, or I can take.

Duchess,

Act 4, Scene 2

[Kneels] Come violent death[…]go

tell my brothers where I am laid out, then they may feed in quiet. [They strangle her]

Duchess,

Act 4, Scene 2

Mark Prince Ferdinand, a very salamander

lives in’s eye to mock the eager violence of fire.

Pescara,

Act 3, Scene 3

Intemperate agues

make physicians cruel

Ferdinand, Act 4 Scene 1

Your brother and yourself are worthy men! You

have a pair of hearts are hollow graves, rotten, and rotting others

Bosola, Act 4 Scene 2

‘Cause she needs be mad, I am resolved to move forth[…]all

the mad folk and place them near her lodging.

Ferdinand, Act 4 Scene 1

“The death of

young wolves is never to be pitied”

Ferdinand, Act 4 Scene 2