had been yours Isa. I then believ'd The measure of my sorrow then was full But every moment of my growing days Makes room for woes and adds 'em to the Sum. I lost with Biron all the joys of Life But now its last supporting Means are gone All the kind helps that Heav'n in pity rais'd In charitable pity to our wants At last have left us Now bereft of all But this last tryal of a cruel Father To save us both from sinking O my Child Kneel with me knock at Nature in his Heart Let the resemblance of a once-lov'd Son Speak in this little One who never wrong'd you And plead the Fatherless and Widow's Cause O if you ever hope to be forgiven As you will need to be forgiven too Forget our saults that Heaven may pardon yours C. Bald. How dare you mention Heaven call to mind Your perjur'd Vows your plighted broken Faith To Heav'n and all things holy Were you not Devoted wedded to a Life recluse The Sacred Habit on profest and sworn A Votary for ever Can you think The Sacrilegious Wretch that robs the Shrine Is Thunder-proof Isa. There there began my woes Let Women all take warning of my Fate Never resolve or think they can be safe Within the reach and Tongues of tempting Men. O! had I never seen my Biron's face Had he not tempted me I had not fall'n But still continu'd innocent and free Of a bad World which only he had pow'r To reconcile and make me try agen C. Bald. Your own Inconstancy your graceless Thoughts Debauch'd and reconcil'd you to the World He had no hand to bring you back agen But what you gave him Circe you prevail'd Upon his honest mind transforming him From Virtue and himself into what shapes You had occasion for and what he did Was first inspir'd by you A Cloyster was Too narrow for the work you had in hand Your business was more general the whole World To be the Scene Therefore you spread your Charms To catch his Soul to be the Instrument The wicked Instrument of your curs'd flight Not that you valu'd him for any one Who cou'd have serv'd that turn had been as welcome Isa. O! I have Sins to Heav'n but none to him C. Bald. Had my wretched Son Marry'd a Beggar 's Bastard taken her Out of her Rags and made her of my Blood The mischief might have ceas'd and ended there But bringing you into a Family Entails a Curse upon the Name and House That takes you in The only part of me That did receive you perish'd for his Crime 'T is a defiance to offended Heaven Barely to pity you Your Sins pursue you The heaviest Judgments that can fall upon you Are your just Lot and but prepare your Doom Expect 'em and despair Sirrah Rogue How durst thou disobey me To the Porter Isa. Not for my self for I am past the hopes Of being heard but for this Innocent And then I never will disturb you more C. Bald. I almost pity the unhappy Child But being yours Isa. Look on him as your Son 's And let his part in him answer for mine O save defend him save him from the wrongs That fall upon the Poor C. Bald. It touches me and I will save him But to keep him safe never come near him more Isa. What! take him from me No we must never part 't is the last hold Of comfort I have left and when he fails All goes along with him O! cou'd you be The Tyrant to divorce Life from my Life I live but in my Child No let me pray in vain and beg my bread From door to door to feed his dayly wants Rather than always lose him C. Bald. Then have your Child and feed him with your Prayer You Rascal Slave what do I keep you for How came this Woman in Sam. Why indeed my Lord I did as good as tell her before my thoughts upon the matter C. Bald. Did you so Sir now then tell her mine Tell her I sent you to her Thrusts him towards her There 's one more to provide her Sam. Good my Lord what I did was in perfect Obedience to the old Nurse there I told her what it wou'd come to C. Bald. What! this was a Plot upon me Mumper you were you in the Conspiracy be gone Go all together I have provided you an Equipage Now set up when you please She 's old enough to do you service I have none for her The wide World lies before you be gone take any Road But this to beg or starve in I shall be glad To hear of you but never see me more He drives 'em off before him ACT II. SCENE I. Enter Villeroy and Carlos Carl. THE Part I act in your Interest goes against The grain of my good Nature and Conscience But since 't is necessary to your Service And will be my Sister's advantage in the end I 'm better reconcil'd to 't Vil. My Interest O never think I can intend to raise An Interest from Isabella's wrongs Your Father may have interested ends In her undoing but my heart has none Her Happiness must be my Interest And that I wou'd restore Carl. Why so I mean These hardships that my Father lays upon her I 'm sorry for and wish I cou'd prevent But he will have his way Since there was nothing to be hop'd from her prosperity the change of her Fortune may alter the condition of her thoughts and make at last for you Vil. She is above her Fortune Carl. Try her agen Women commonly love according to the circumstances they are in Vil. Common VVomen may Carl. Since you are not accessary to the Injustice you may be perswaded to take the advantage of other Peoples Crimes Vil. I must despise all those advantages That indirectly can advance my love No tho' I live but in the hopes of her And languish for th' enjoyment of those hopes I 'de rather pine in a consuming want Of what I wish than have the Blessing mine From any reason but consenting Love O! let me never have it to remember I cou'd betray her coldly to comply When a clear generous choice bestows her on me I know to value the unequal'd Gift I wou'd not have it but to value it Carl. Take your own way remember What I offer'd came from a Friend Vil. I understand it so I 'le serve her for her self Without the thought of a Reward Exit Car. Agree that point between you If you marry her any way you do my business Enter Frederick and Jaqueline to him Fred. Well all goes well I hope Carl. As I cou'd wish I can't stay with you I must be near if occasion be to lend a helping hand When this Marriage is over I design to come in for a snack of Fernando's Family Exit Fred. The more the merrier his VVife says I hope to dispose of the Daughter my self Jaq. You Men of Intrigue are commonly lookt upon to be the idle part of Mankind
remember Vict Indeed Sir I had more Grace than to dispose of my self without your consent and more respect for your Family than to Marry any Man without a Portion Fred. If you please to give a Blessing to our Endeavours We have agreed upon the point to make you a Grandfather Fer. Why that 's well said You have my consent Marry her and I 'll give her a Portion but be sure you are as good as your word Fred. In what Sir Fern. In making me a Grandfather I am so over-joy'd that I am alive again I care not how many Children I have to provide for Vict. You see the fruits of Jealousie Fred. I 'll keep out of Purgatory I warrant you Fer. O don't name it good Son-in-Law I shall never get it out of my mind that 's certain Come my dear Wife and Children I owe my deliverance to your Intercession and Piety since you have brought me to Life again You shall have no cause for the future to wish me Dead Some fifty Years hence I may be contented to go to Heaven without calling by the way In the mean time Husbands who doubt my Story May find in Jealousie their Purgatory Exeunt SCENE II. The Street Biron and Bellford just arrived Bir. The longest Day will have an end We are got home at last Bell. We have got our Legs at Liberty And Liberty is Home where'er we go Thô mine lies most in England Bir. Pray let me call this yours For what I can command in Bruxelles you Shall find your own I have a Father here Who perhaps after Seven Years absence And costing him nothing in my Travels may be glad to see me You know my Story Knocks at the Door How does my Beard become me Bell. Just as you would have it 'T is Natural and not your own Bir. To Morrow you shall be sure to find me here As Early as you please This is the House You have observ'd the Street Bell. I warrant you I han't many Visits To make before I come to you Bir. To Night I have some affairs That will oblige me to be private Bell. A good Bed is the privatest Affair That I desire to be engaged in to Night Your directions will carry me to my Lodgings Exit Biron knocks again Sampson enters to him Samp. Who 's there What would you have Bir. Is your Lady at home Friend Samp. Why truly Friend it is my employment to answer impertinent Questions But for my Ladies being at home or no that 's just as my Lady pleases Bir. But how shall I know whether it pleases her or no Samp. Why if you 'll take my word for it you may carry your Errand back again She never pleases to see any body at this time of Night that she does not know and by the length of your Beard you may be grown out of her remembrance Bir. But I have business and you don't know how that may please her Samp. Nay if you have business she is the best Judge Whether your business will please her or no Therefore I will proceed in my Office And know of my Lady whether or no She is pleas'd to be at home or no Going Nurse enters to them Nurse Who 's that you are so busie withal methinks You might have found out an answer in fewer words But Sampson you love to hear your self prate sometimes As well as your betters that I must say for you Let me come to him who wou'd you speak with Bir. With you Mistress if you can help me to speak to your Lady Nurse Yes Sir I can help you in a civil way But can no body do your business but my Lady Bir. Not so well But if you 'll carry her this Ring She 'll know my business better Nurse There 's no Love-Letter in it I hope You look like a civil Gentleman In an honest way I may bring you an answer Exit Nurse Bir. My old Nurse only a little older They say the Tongue grows always Mercy on me Then hers is seven years longer since I left her Yet there 's something in these Servants folly Pleases me The cautious conduct of the Family Appears and speaks in their impertinence Well Mistress Nurse returns Nurse I have deliver'd your Ring Sir pray Heav'n You bring no bad News along with you Bir. Quite contrary I hope Nurse Nay I hope so too but my Lady was very much surpriz'd when I gave it her Sir I am but a Servant as a body may say but if you 'll walk in that I may shut the Doors for we keep very orderly hours I can show you into the Parlour and help you to an answer perhaps as soon as those that are wiser Exeunt SCENE III. A Bed-Chamber A Woman Servant spreading a Table Isabella Enters Isa. I 've heard of Witches Magick Spells and Charms that have made Nature start from her old course The Sun has been Eclips'd the Moon drawn down from her career still paler and subdu'd to the abuses of this under World Now I believe all possible This Ring this little Ring with Necromantick force has rais'd the Ghost of Pleasure to my fears Conjur'd the sense of Honour and of Love into such Shapes they fright me from my self I dare not think of them Servant goes out I 'll call you when I want you Nurse Enters Nurse Madam the Gentleman 's below Isa. I had forgot pray let me speak with him Exit Nurse This Ring was the first Present of my Love to Biron my first Husband I must blush to think I have a second Biron Dy'd still to my loss at Candy there 's my hope O! Do I live to hope that he Dy'd there It must be so He 's Dead and this Ring left by his last breath to some known faithful Friend to bring me back again Biron introduc'd Nurse retires That 's all I have to trust to My fears were Womans I have view'd him all And let me let me say it to my self I live again and rise but from his Tomb. Bir. Have you forgot me quite Isa. Forgot you Bir. Then farewel my Disguise and my Misfortunes My Isabella He goes to her she shrieks and falls into a swoon Isa. Ha! Bir. O! come again Thy Biron summons thee to Life and Love once I had Charms to wake thee Thy once lov'd ever loving Husband calls Thy Biron speaks to thee Isa. My Husband Biron Bir. Excess of Love and Joy for my return Has over-power'd her I was to blame To take thy Sexes softness unprepar'd But sinking thus thus Dying in my Arms This extasie has made my welcom more Than words cou'd say Words may be Counterfeit False Coyn'd and Current only from the Tongue Without the Mind but Passion 's in the Soul And always speaks the Heart Isa. Where have I been Why do you keep him from me I know his Voice My Life upon the Wing Hears the soft lure that brings me back again 'T is he himself my Biron the dear
sav'd me from the hands of Murderers Wou'd you had not for Life 's my greatest plague And then of all the World you are the Man I wou'd not be oblig'd to Isabella I came to fall before thee I had dy'd Happy not to have found your Villeroy here A long farewel and a last parting Kiss Kisses her Vil. A Kiss Confusion It must be your last Draws Bir. I know it must here I give up that Death You but delay'd Since what is past has been The work of Fate thus we must finish it Thrust home be sure Falls down Vil. Alas he faints Some help there Bir. This Letter is my last last Dying care Give it my Father Dyes Vil. He 's gone Let what will be the consequence I 'll give it him I have involv'd my self And wou'd be clear'd that must be thought on now My care of her is lost in wild amaze Going to Isa. Are you all Dead within there Where where are you Exit Isabella comes to her self Isa. Where have I been methinks I stand upon The brink of Life ready to shoot the Gulph That lies between me and the Realms of Rest But still detain'd I cannot pass the Streight Deny'd to live and yet I must not Dye Doom'd to come back like a complaining Ghost To my Unburied Body Here it lies Throws her self by Birons body My Body Soul and Life A little Dust To cover our cold Limbs in the dark Grave Then then we shall sleep safe and sound together Enter Villeroy with Servants Vil. Poor wretch Upon the Ground She 's not her self Remove her from the Body Servants going to raise her Isa. Never never You have Divorc'd us once but shall no more Help help me Biron Ha! Bloody and Dead O Murder Murder You have done this Deed Vengeance and Murder Bury us together Do any thing but part us Vil. Gently gently raise her She must be forc'd away She drags the Body after her they get her into their Arms and carry her off Isa. O they tear me Cut off my Hands Let me leave something with him They 'll clasp him fast O cruel cruel Men This you must answer one Day Vil. Good Nurse take care of her Nurse follows her Send for all helps All all that I am worth Shall cheaply buy her Peace of Mind again Besure you do To a Servant Just as I order'd you The Storm grows loud Knocking at the Door I am prepar'd for it now let them in Enter Count Baldwin Carlos Bellford Frederick with Servants C. Bald. O do I live to this Unhappy day Where is my wretched Son Car. Where is my Brother They see and gather about the Body Vil. I hope in Heaven Car. Can'st thou pity him Wish him in Heaven When thou hast done a Deed That must for ever cut thee from the hopes Of ever coming there Vil. I do not blame you You have a Brothers Right to be concern'd For his untimely Death Car. Untimely Death indeed Vil. But yet you must not say I was the cause Car. Not you the cause why who shou'd Murder him We do not ask you to accuse your self But I must say that you have Murder'd him And will say nothing else till Justice draws Upon our side at the loud call of Blood To execute so foul a Murderer Bell. Poor Biron Is this thy welcom home Fred. Rise Sir there is a comfort in Revenge Which yet is left you To C. Baldwin Car. Take the Body hence Biron carry'd off C. Bald. What cou'd provoke you Vil. Nothing could provoke me To a base Murder which I find you think Me guilty of I know my Innocence My Servants too can Witness that I dâ—ew My Sword in his Defence to Rescue him Bell. Let the Servants be call'd Fred. Let 's hear what they can say Car. What they can say Why what shou'd Servants say They 're his Accomplices his Instruments And won not charge themselves If they cou'd do A Murder for his Service they can lye Lye nimbly and swear hard to bring him off You say you drew your Sword in his Defence Who were his Enemies Did he need Defence Had he wrong'd any one Cou'd he have a cause To apprehend a danger but from you And yet you Rescu'd him No no he came Unseasonably that was all his Crime Unluckily to interrupt your sport You were new Marry'd Marry'd to his Wife And therefore you and she and all of you For all of you I must believe concern'd Combin'd to Murder him out of the way Bell. If it be so Car. It can be only so Fred. Indeed it has a Face Car. As black as Hell C. Bald. The Law will do me Justice Send for the Magistrate Car. I 'll go my self for him Exit Vil. These strong Presumptions I must own indeed Are violent against me but I have A Witness and on this side Heav'n too Fred. What cries are those The Scene opens shows Pedro on a Rack Vil. Open that Door Here 's one can tell you all Ped. All all Take me but from the Rack I 'll confess all I can hold out no longer Vil. You and your Accomplices design'd To Murder Biron Speak Ped. We did Vil. Did you engage upon your private wrongs Or were employ'd Ped. He never did us wrong Vil. You were set on then Ped. O! we were set on Vil. What do you know of me Ped. Nothing nothing You sav'd his Life and have discovered me Vil. Take him down C. Bald. Hold. Vil. He has acquitted me If you wou'd be resolv'd of any thing He stands upon his answer C. Bald. Who set you on to act this horrid Deed Ped. Kill me outright let all the guilt be mine C. Bald. I 'll know the Villain give me quick his Name Or I will tear it from thy bleeding Heart Pull hard Rack Torture him Ped. O! I confess C. Bald. Do then Ped. It was my Master Carlos your own Son C. Bald. O Monstrous Monstrous most Unnatural Fred. Did he employ you to Murder his own Brother Ped. He did and he was with us when 't was done C. Bald. If this be true which is impossible It is but Just upon me Birons wrongs Must be reveng'd and I the cause of all Fred. VVhat will you do with him C. Bald. Now take him down Pedro taken from the Rack I know too much Vil. I had forgot Your wretched dying Son Gave me this Letter for you Gives it to Baldwin I dare deliver it If it speaks of me I pray to have it read C. Bald. You know the hand Bell. I know 't is Biron's hand C. Bald. Pray Read it Bellford reads the Letter SIR I find I am come home only to lay my Death at your Door I am now going out of the World but cannot forgive you nor my Brother Carlos for not hindring my poor Wife Isabella from Marrying with Villeroy when you both knew from so many Letters that I was alive BIRON Vil. How Did you know it then C. Bald. Amazement