Duchess Key Quotes

Question 1

(Antonio on Ferdinand, Act 1) “A most perverse and turbulent nature; …

Answer 1

… what appears in him mirth is merely outside.”

Question 2

(Duchess, Act 1) “If all my royal kindred …

Answer 2

… Lay in my way unto this marriage / I’d mark them my low footsteps.”

Question 3

(Duchess to Antonio, Act 1) “‘twas my wedding ring, …

Answer 3

… And I did vow never to part with it / But to my second husband.”

Question 4

(Ferdinand to Duchess, Act 1) “Such weddings may more properly be said …

Answer 4

… To be executed than celebrated.”

Question 5

(Ferdinand to Bosola, Act 1) “She’s a young widow, …

Answer 5

… I would not have her marry again.”

Question 6

(Duchess to Antonio, Act 1) “Make not your heart so dead …

Answer 6

… a piece of flesh / To fear more than to love me.”

Question 7

** (Bosola to Cardinal, Act 1) “I fell …

Answer 7

… into the galleys in your service.”

Question 8

** (Bosola, Act 1) “I am …

Answer 8

… your creature.”

Question 9

** (Duchess, Act 1) “Diamonds are of most value, …

Answer 9

… they say, when they have past through most jewellers’ hands.”

Question 10

** (Duchess to Ferdinand, Act 1) “This is …

Answer 10

… terrible good council.”

Question 11

(Ferdinand, Act 1) “lusty …

Answer 11

… widow”

Question 12

(Duchess, Act 1) “Shall this …

Answer 12

… move me?”

Question 13

(Duchess, Act 1) “This is flesh and blood sir, …

Answer 13

… ‘tis not the figure cut in alabaster.”

Question 14

(Antonio about Duchess, Act 1) “All her particular worth grows to this sum, …

Answer 14

… she stains the time past, lights the come.”

Question 15

(Cardinal about Antonio, Act 1) “You are deceived in him, …

Answer 15

… His nature is too honest for this business.”

Question 16

(Ferdinand, Act 2) “here it shall stick …

Answer 16

… Till of her bleeding heat I make sponge / To wipe it out.”

Question 17

(Cardinal, Act 2) “Shall our blood, …

Answer 17

… The royal blood of Aragon and Castile, / Be thus attainted?”

Question 18

(Ferdinand, Act 2) “a sister damned, …

Answer 18

… she’s loose i’th’hills. Grown a notorious strumpet!”

Question 19

** (Bosola, Act 2) “Man stands amazed to see his deformity …

Answer 19

… in any other creature but himself.”

Question 20

** (Antonio to Bosola, Act 2) “You are …

Answer 20

… an impudent snake.”

Question 21

(Duchess, Act 2) “Lights to my chamber. …

Answer 21

… Oh, good Antonio, I fear I am undone.”

Question 22

(Duchess, Act 3) “Why should only I / Of all the other princes of the world …

Answer 22

… be cased up like a holy relic?”

Question 23

(Duchess, Act 3) “I am armed against misery, …

Answer 23

… Bent to all sways of the oppressor’s will.”

Question 24

(Ferdinand, Act 3) “Her guilt treads on …

Answer 24

… Hot burning coulters.”

Question 25

(Duchess, Act 3) “‘Tis welcome …

Answer 25

… For now, whether I am doomed to live, or die, I can do both like a prince.”

Question 26

(Ferdinand, Act 3) “I will …

Answer 26

… never see you more.”

Question 27

(Duchess, Act 3) “They have done wisely. …

Answer 27

… This puts me in mind of death.”

Question 28

(Duchess, Act 4) “I account for this world and tedious theatre …

Answer 28

… For i do play apart in’t against my will.”

Question 29

(Ferdinand, Act 4) “Damn her, that body of hers …

Answer 29

… While that my blood ran pure in’t was more worth / Than that which thou wouldst comfort, called a soul.”

Question 30

(Ferdinand, Act 4) “Cover her face; …

Answer 30

… Mine eyes dazzle. She died young.”

Question 31

(Ferdinand, Act 4) “Let me see her face again. …

Answer 31

… Why didst not thou pity her?”

Question 32

(Duchess, Act 4) “What would it pleasure me …

Answer 32

… to have my throat cut / With diamonds?”

Question 33

(Ferdinand, Act 4) “This darkness …

Answer 33

… suits you well.”

Question 34

(Ferdinand, Act 4) “Where shall thou find this judgement registered …

Answer 34

Unless in hell?”

Question 35

(Julia, Act 5) “What an excellent shape …

Answer 35

… hath that fellow!”

Question 36

(Cardinal, Act 5) “How tedious …

Answer 36

… is a guilty conscience!”

Question 37

(Bosola, Act 5) “The best part of my life …

Answer 37

… Hath done me best service.”

Question 38

(Bosola, Act 5) “We are merely the stars’ tennis ball,

Answer 38

… struck and banded / Which way please them.”

Question 39

(Bosola, Act 5) “O penitence, let me truly taste thy cup, …

Answer 39

… That throws men down, only to raise them up.”

Question 40

(Ferdinand, Act 5) “My sister! …

Answer 40

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

Question 41

(Cardinal about Bosola, Act 5) “When he hath served my turn, …

Answer 41

… He dies.”

Question 42

(Bosola, Act 5) “Mercy upon me, …

Answer 42

… what a fatal judgement / Hath fallen upon this Ferdinand.”

Question 43

(Antonio, Act 5) “Echo, I will not talk with thee, …

Answer 43

… For thou art a dead thing.”