The Duchess of Malfi

Cover her face; mine eyes dazzle. She died young.

Whether we fall by ambition, blood or lust Like diamonds, we are cut with our own dust

I account this world a tedious theater, For I do play a part in 't 'gainst my will.

Ambition, madam, is a great man's madness.

Whether we fall by ambition, blood, or lust, like diamonds we are cut with our own dust.

Do you not weep? Other sins only speak, murder shreaks out: The element of water moistens the earth, But blood flies upwards and bedews the heavens.

I know death hath ten thousand several doors For men to take their exits; and 'tis found They go on such strange geometrical hinges, You may open them both ways: any way, for heaven-sake

Heaven-gates are not so highly arched As princes' palaces; they that enter there Must go upon their knees.

The weakest arm is strong enough that strikes with the sword of justice.

What's this flesh? A little cruded milk Fantastical puff-paste. Our bodies are weaker than those Paper prisons boys use to keep flies in; more contemptible, Since our is to preserve earth-worms. Didst thou ever seen A lark in a cage? Such is the soul in the body: this world Is like her little turf of grass, and the heaven o'er our heads Like her looking-glass, only gives us a miserable knowledge Of the small compass of our prison.

You have left me heartless; mine is in your bosom.

we had need to borrow that fantastic glass,invented by Galileo the Florentine To view another spacious world in the moon and look to find a constant woman there

Integrity of life is fame's best friend, Which nobly, beyond death, shall crown the end.

Are you out of your princely wits?" What's he? Let me have his beard sawed off and his eyebrows filed more civil!

If all my royal kindred Lay in my way unto this marriage, I'ld make them my low foot-steps

Pull and pull strongly for your able strength / Must pull down heaven upon me

Search the heads of the greatest rivers in the world, you shall find them but bubbles of water.

FERDINAND: Look, what’s that follows me? MALATESTE: Nothing, my lord. FERDINAND: Yes. MALATESTE: ‘Tis your shadow. FERDINAND: Stay it; let it not haunt me. MALATESTE: Impossible, if you move, and the sun shine. FERDINAND: I will throttle it. [Throws himself upon his shadow.]

For all our wit and reading brings us to a truer sense of sorrow.

for places in the court are but like beds in the hospital, where this man's head lies at that man's foot, and so lower and lower.

She and I were twins: And should I die this instant, I had liv'd her time to a minute.

The Duchess: Diamonds are of most value They say, that have pass'd through most jewellers hands. Ferdinand: Whores, by that rule, are precious.

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.

BOSOLA. He and his brother are like plum-trees

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.

Thou art happy that thou hast not understanding to know thy misery; for all our wit and reading brings us to a truer sense of sorrow.

Thou art happy that thou hast not understanding. To know thy misery; for all our wit. And reading brings us to a truer sense of sorrow.