Duchess of Malfi quotes

Ant on Bosola- lecherous

Would be as lecherous, covetous, or proud, Bloody, or envious, as any man

Bosola on Cardinal and Ferdinand- plum

He and his brother are like plum tree that grow crooked over standing pools

Antonio on Ferd- turbulent

A most perverse and turbulent nature; what appears in him mirth is merely outside

Ant on Duchess- sum

All her particular worth grows to this sum, she stains the time past, lights the time to come

Card on Ant- honest

You are deceived in him, his nature is too honest for this business

Ferd to Bos- widow

She’s a young widow I would not have him marry again

Ferd to Duchess- wedding

Such wedding may more properly be said to be executed than celebrated

Duchess to herself- royal

If all my royal kindred lay in my way unto this marriage I’d make them my low foot- steps

Duchess to Ant- ring

‘Twas my wedding ring and i did vow to never part with it but to my second husband

Duchess to Ant- heart

Make not your heart so dead a piece of flesh to fear more than to love me

Card on Duchess- fearful madness

Whether the spirit of greatness or of woman reign most in her, i know not, but it shows a fearful madness

Duch

Lights to my chamber. Oh, good Antonio,

                                I fear I am undone.

Ant to Bos

You are an impudent snake indeed, sir!

                                 Are you scarce warm and do you show your sting?

Card to Julia

You fear my constancy because you have approved

                                   Those giddy and wild turnings in yourself.

Card to Julia

‘Twas just like one

                                  That hath a little fingering on the lute,  

                                   Yet cannot tune it.

Ferd

a sister damned, she’s loose I’th’hilts,

                                Grown a notorious strumpet!

Ferd

here it shall stick

                                 Till of her bleeding heart I make a sponge  

                                  To wipe it out.

Card

Shall our blood,

                                  The royal blood of Aragon and Castile,  

                                   Be thus attainted?

Ferd

Foolish men,

                                  That e’er will trust their honour in…woman

Ferd.

Methinks I see her laughing,— Excellent hyena! … my imagination will carry me To see her in the shameful act of sin…

Duch

‘Tis welcome

                                           For know, whether I am doomed to live, or die,  

                                           I can do both like a prince.

Ferd

If thou do love him cut out thine own tongue

                                            Lest it bewray him.

Ferd

I will never see you more.

Duch

Why should only I

                                             Of all the other princes of the world  

                                             Be cased up like a holy relic?

Bos

it cannot be said yet

                                              That any ill happened unto thee,  

                                             Considering thy fall was accompanied with virtue.

Card

Doth she make religion her riding-hood

                                             To keep her from the sun, and tempest?

Ferd

A slave that only smelled of ink and counters,

                                              And ne’er in’s life looked like a gentleman

Duch

They have done wisely.

                                              This puts me in mind of death

Duch

I am armed ‘gainst misery,

                                              Bent to all sways of the oppressor’s will

Ferd

This darkness suits you well.

Ferd

I will leave this ring with you for a love token,

                                 And the hand, as sure as the ring

Duch

I account this world a tedious theatre,

                                 For I do play apart in’t gainst my will.

Ferd

Damn her, that body of hers While that my blood ran pure in’t, was more worth

Duch

What would it pleasure me to have my throat cut

                                   With diamonds?

Cariola

I am not prepared for’t! I will not die!

Ferd

Cover her face. Mine eyes dazzle. She died young.

Ferd

Let me see her face again.

                    Why didst not thou pity her?

Ferd

Where shall thou find this judgement registered

                                    Unless in hell?

Bos

Mercy upon me, what a fatal judgement

                                                   Hath fallen upon this Ferdinand.

Julia

What an excellent shape hath that fellow!

Julia

This nice modesty in ladies

                                                   Is but a troublesome familiar  

                                                   That haunts them.

Card

Because I knew thou couldst not keep my counsel,

                                                   I have bound thee to’t by death.

Bos

And wherefore should you lay fair marble colours

                                                  Upon your rotten purposes to me?

Bos

O penitence, let me truly taste thy cup,

                                                  That throws men down, only to raise them up.

Ant

Echo, I will not talk with thee,

                                                  For thou art a dead thing.

Card

When he (Bos) hath served my turn,

                                                   He dies.

Bos

We are merely the stars’ tennis balls, struck and banded

                                                    Which way please them.

Card

How tedious is a guilty conscience!

Bos

The last part of my life

                                                                  Hath done me best service.

Ferd

My sister! Oh, my sister, there’s the cause on’t!

Ferd- Poinard

My fathers poniard

Bosola- throat

Whose throat shall I cut

stage directions- figures

artificial figures of Antonio and his children appearing dead

ferd- coal

have their bodies burnt in a coal pit

duchess- malfi

I am duchess of malfi still

bosola- creature

I am your creature

duchess- diamonds

diamonds are most value that have passed through most jewelers hands

Ferd- witchcraft

the witchcarft lies in her rank blood

Antonio- noble

the right noble duchess

ferd- dust

like diamonds we are cut with our own dust