Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

JULIA

in The Duchess of Malfi — Webster, John

Metadata

PlayThe Duchess of Malfi
AuthorWebster, John
Year (catalogued)1623
First performance1614
Decade1620s
GenreTragedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyKing's Men
TheaterBlackfriars;Globe;Indoor Professional;Outdoor Professional
Speech prefix(es)Iul. | Iul, | Iu • .
Words912
Characters4698
Typicality0.60 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA14872
BritDrama no.1726
ClusterCluster 4 — Constant hearts & virtuous ladies

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

Why, (my Lord) I told him I came to visit and old Anchorite Hear, for devotion You have prevailed with me Beyond my strongest thoughts: I would not now Find you inconstant. Did you ere find them? So, (my Lord) This is very well (my Lord.) I'll go home To my husband. You told me of a piteous wound i'th'heart, And a sick liuour, when you wooed me first, And spoke Like one in physic. Signior Delio? it's one of my old Suitors Sir, your are welcome. Sure, your own experience Will satisfy you no, our Roman Prelates Do not keep lodging, for Ladies. I hear he's come to Room? Your laughter, Is my pity. From my husband? I must hear the condition, ere I be bound to take it. I have a Bird more beautiful. A Lutestring far exceeds it, It hath no smell, Like Cassia, or Cyu to, Nor is it physical, though some found Doctors Persuade us, seeth's in Cullisses, i'll tell you, This is a Creature bred by— Sir, you hear, pray let me know your business, and your suit, As briefly as can be. Sir, i'll go ask my husband if I shall, And straight return your answer. Exit. My Lord, I am grown your poor Petitioner, And should be and ill beggar, had I not A Great men letter, here (the Cardinals) To Court you in my favour. Yes: Sir, I thank you: And he shall know how doubly I am engaged Both in your gum to, and speediness of giving, Which makes your grant, the greater. Exit. What and excellent shape hath that fellow? Exit. So, sir, you are well met. Nay, the doors are fast enough: Now Sir, I will make you confess your treachery. Yes, confess to me Which of my women 'twas you hired, to put Love-powder into my drink? Yes, when I was at Malfy, Why should I fallen in love with such a face else? I have already suffered for thee so much pain, The only remedy to do me good, Is to kill my longing. Compare thy form, and my eyes together, You'll ind my love no such great miracle: Now you'll say, I am wanton: This nice modesty, in Ladies Is but a troublesome familiar, That haunts them. The better, Sure, there wants fire, where there are no lively sparks Of roughness. Why ignorance in courtship cannot make you do amiss, If you have a heart to do well. Nay, if you lay beauty to my charge, I must plead unguilty. You will mar me with commendation, Put your self to the charge of courting me, Whereas now I woe you. No, he might count me a wanton, Not lay a scruple of offence on you: For if I see, and steal a Diamond, The fault is not i'th'stone, but in me the thief, That purloines it: I am sudden with you, We that are great women of pleasure, use to cut off These uncertain wishes, and unquiet longings, And in and instant join the sweet delight And the p tty excuse together: had you been in'th'streete, Under my chamber window, even there I should have courted you. Bid me do somewhat for you presently, To express I love you. Why would you know this? You shall not need follow the wars, I'll be your maintenance. Not leave and Ungrateful General, for the love of a sweet Lady? You are Like some, cannot sleep in featherbeds, But must have blocks for their pillows. Cunningly. To morrow? get you into my Cabinet, You shall have it with you: do not delay me, No more then I do you: I am Like one That is condemned: I have my pardon promised. But I would see it sealed: Go, get you in, You shall see me wind my tongue about his heart, Like a skein of silk. How now, my Lord? What ails you? O, you are much altered: Come, I must be your Secretary, and remove This led from off your bosom, what's the matter? Are you so far in love with sorrow, You cannot partly, with partly of it? or think you I cannot love your grace, when you are sad, As well as merry? or do you suspect I, that have been a secret to your heart, These many winter's, cannot be the same Unto your tongue? Tell your echo this, Or flatterers, that (Like echos) still report What they hear (though most imperfect) and not me: For, if that you be true unto your self, I'll know. No, judgement shall Draw it from you: It is and equal fault, To tell ones secrets, unto all, or none. But the last tyranny. Therefore may not I know it? You have concealed for me, as great a sin As adultery: Sir, never was occasion For perfect trial of my constancy Till now: Sir, I beseech you. Never. Now you dally with me. O heaven! (sir) what have you done? You have undone your self (sir.) It lies not in me to conceal it. Most religiously. I forgive you, This equal piece of Justice you have done: For I betrayed your council to that fellow, He over herd it; that was the cause I said It lay not in me, to conceal it. It's weakness, Too much to think what should have been done, I go, I know not whither. How (my Lord?) Sir, will you come in to Supper?

Plot summary

Plot — The Duchess of Malfi
There are two new arrivals at the Duchess of Malfi’s court. One is Antonio, her steward, who has returned from an extended visit to France. The other is Bosola, an ex-convict who committed a murder for the Cardinal, and who is now placed at court by the Duchess’s brother Ferdinand, with instructions to supply information. Ferdinand and the Cardinal leave the court, enjoining their sister not to marry again, but she defies them and secretly woos and marries Antonio. She clandestinely gives birth to a son, which Bosola discovers after Antonio accidentally drops the baby’s horoscope. The news is duly reported to the infuriated Ferdinand. The Duchess has two more children. Ferdinand visits Malfi, planning to marry her to Count Malateste. He visits her private chamber and catches her talking to Antonio, whose identity remains unknown because he has hidden as part of a practical joke. She banishes Antonio as a pretext to get him out of court, and follows him on a feigned pilgrimage to the state of Ancona. Bosola wins her confidence by speaking well of Antonio, unlike the other court flatterers; she entrusts him with the secret of their marriage, which he duly reports to his paymaster. The Cardinal is commissioned to fight in the war, and ceremonially puts off his ecclesiastical office. By papal decree, the Duchess and Antonio are banished ===== PAGE 347 ===== 1613 from Ancona and the Duchy of Malfi is seized by the Holy See; Antonio flees to Milan with his eldest son, and Bosola arrests the Duchess. Acting on Ferdinand’s orders, he imprisons and torments her, shows her the dead bodies of Antonio and her son (which turn out to be waxworks), and finally supervises her and her younger children’s murder. Ferdinand disowms him, then goes mad with lycanthropic delusions. The Cardinal schemes to have Antonio’s lands confiscated, poisons his mistress, and inadvertently reveals to Bosola his part in the Duchess’s death. Seeking revenge, Bosola mistakenly kills Antonio in the dark. In his madness, Ferdinand kills the Cardinal and Bosola, who kills him in turn. Delio decides to advance the rights of Antonio’s surviving son.