Allegories of Creation: Glassmaking, Forests, and Fertility in Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi

Abstract

He was raign’d downe to us out of heaven, and drew Life to the spring, yet like a little dew Quickly drawne thence; so many times miscarries A Christall glasse, whilst that the workeman varries The shape i’ the furnace, (fix’d too much upon The curiousnesse of the proportion) Yet breakes it ere’t be finisht, and yet then Moulds it anew, and blows it up agen, Exceeds his workmanship, and sends it thence To kisse the hand and lip of some great prince; [. . .] So to eternity he now shall stand, New form’d and gloried by the All-working hand.