Virtue is ever sowing of her seeds, in the trenches for the soldiers
in the wakeful study for the scholar, in the furrows of the sea
for the men of our profession: of all which and springs up Honor
By Romelio,
in The Devil's Law Case (1.1.60-64),
John Webster
in Bodleian Library MS Sancroft 29, p. 69
If ever I would have mine drawn to th'life, I would have a painter steal it at such a time when I were devoutly kneeling at my prayers:
There then a heavenly Beauty in't: the soul
moves in the Superficies—
By Leonora,
in The Devil's Law Case (1.1.134-135),
John Webster
in Bodleian Library MS Sancroft 29, p. 69
--the Court to well-composed nature adds much to perfection, for it is, or should be As a bright crystal mirror to
the world, to dress itself but I must tell you, sister, If th'excellency of the place could have wrought salvation, the Devil had new fallen from Heaven.
By Romelio,
in The Devil's Law Case (3.3.10-15),
John Webster
in Bodleian Library MS Sancroft 29, p. 70
-The Ravens feather is as gentle and sleek as the mole on Venus
cheek. Hence vain show! I only care to preserve my soul most fair; Never mind the outward skin, But the jewel, that’s within.
By Jolenta,
in The Devil's Law Case (5.6.35-),
John Webster
in Bodleian Library MS Sancroft 29, p. 70
Out of the epistle
A great part of the grace of this I confess lay in action; yet can no action ever be
gracious, where the decency of language, and ingenious structure of the scene, arrive
not to make up a perfect harmony.
By Epistle,
in The Devil's Law Case (ToTheReader),
John Webster
in British Library Additional MS 22608, f. 74r
With what a compelled face a woman sits / While she is drawing! I have noted divers / either
to feign smiles, or suck in the lips / to have a little mouth; ruffle the cheeks / to have the
dimple seen ,and so disorder the face with affectat i on, at the next sitting / it has not been the same
By Leonora,
in The Devil's Law Case (1.1.148-154),
John Webster
in British Library Additional MS 22608, f. 74v
in deed if ever I would have my face drawn to the life, I would have a painter steal
it, at such a time, I were devoutly kneeling at my prayers, there is then a heaven
ly beauty in't, the soul moves in the superficies.
By Leonora,
in The Devil's Law Case (1.1.160-164),
John Webster
in British Library Additional MS 22608, f. 74v
+
Too much light / makes you moon-eyed, are you in love with the title? / I will have a herald,
whose continual practice / is all in pedigree, come awooing to you, or an antiquary in
old buskins.
By Romelio,
in The Devil's Law Case (1.2.42-45),
John Webster
in British Library Additional MS 22608, f. 74v
You that dwell near these graves and vaults / which oft do hide physicians' faults / note what
a small room does suffice / to express mens good. their vanities / would fill more
volume in small hand / than all the evidence of Church-land/
By Romelio,
in The Devil's Law Case (2.3.98-103),
John Webster
in British Library Additional MS 22608, f. 75r
xx
Oh look the last
act be the best i'th play, / and then rest gentle bones, yet pray / that when by the
precise you are viewed, / a supersede as be not sued, to remove you to a place
more airy /
By Romelio,
in The Devil's Law Case (2.3.112-116),
John Webster
in British Library Additional MS 22608, f. 75r
Act. 3.
To poison a man by pulling but a loose hair from's beard, or give a drench
he should linger of it nine years, and ne'er complain, but in the spring and fall,
and for the cause imputed to the disease natural.
By Romelio,
in The Devil's Law Case (3.2.8-11),
John Webster
in British Library Additional MS 22608, f. 75r
+ for it is or should be as a bright crystal mirror to the world, to dress itself; but
I must tell you, sister, if the excellency of the place have wrought salvation, the devil had ne'er fallen from heaven
By Romelio,
in The Devil's Law Case (3.3.11-15),
John Webster
in British Library Additional MS 22608, f. 75r
x ie, they love their present sweetheart Widows, as men report of our best picture-makers, we love the piece we are in hand with
better, then all the excellent work we have done before.
By Leonora,
in The Devil's Law Case (3.3.251-254),
John Webster
in British Library Additional MS 22608, f. 75v
+ that's good for nought, / unless 't be to fill the office full of
fleas, / or a winter itch wears that spacious ink-horn / all the vacation unless only
to cure tetters, / and his penknife to weed corns from from the splay toes / of the right
worshipfull of the office.
By Ariosto,
in The Devil's Law Case (4.1.49-54),
John Webster
in British Library Additional MS 22608, f. 75v
Yet why do I Take bastardy so distastefully, when i'th' world A many things that are essential parts Of greatness are but by-slips, and are fathered On the wrong parties;[...] for that woman's sin, To which you all swear when it was done, I would not give my consent.
By Romelio,
in The Devil's Law Case (4.2.302-318),
John Webster
in British Library Additional MS 22608, f. 75v
You're a lady who have outdone example
When I trespass in aught but duty and
respects of service may hopes of joy for
sake me,
By Camillo,
in The White Devil (4.2.79-83),
John Webster
in Folger MS V.a.87, f. 34v
For if there were Jews enough; so many Christians would not turn Userers? If priests enough; one should not have
have six. Benefices? and if Gentlemen enough; so many early mushrooms, whose best growth sprang from a dunghill, should not aspire to gentility.
By Flamineo,
in The White Devil (3.3.41-45),
John Webster
in Bodleian Library MS Sancroft 18, f.5
It seems you are jealous: I’ll shew you the error of it by a familiar example: I have seen a pair of
spectacles fashioned with such perpective art, that lay
down but one twelve pence a* th’ board, ’twill appear as if there were twenty; now should you wear a pair of these spectacles, and see your wife tying her shoe , you would imagine twenty hands were taking up of your wife’s clotlies, and this would put you into a horrible these spectacles, and see
By Flamineo,
in The White Devil (1.2.p.19),
John Webster
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 81r
Alcestides objecting thatEuripides had onely in three daies composed three
verses, whereas himselfe had written throe hundredth
Thou telst truth quoth he but heres the difference,
thine shall onely bee read for three daies whereas mine
shall continue three ages.
By To the Reader,
in The White Devil (To the Reader, p.7),
John Webster
in Bodleian Library MS English poetry d. 3, f. 42v