Flora. Ped. What i' th' dumps Seignior all a mort for your Mistress faith man take it not so to heart there are others I' th World as Young though few may be as handsome Jasp Ay Sir 't is to be suppos'd you can boast it by Experience There are Young Ladies for spruce ' Pedro's Jasper Must be content with their Nurses Ped. Content say you I Marry if she content you not the Devil can't why she 's a Dish of variety like a huge Olio there 's all Ages of Women in her Thou art The happiest man in a Mistress Jasper faith I envy thee Jasp 'T is very well Ped. Not too well neither Jasp You may laugh you stand on the top of Favour Have a care of falling down I may catch you One day Ped. No never with an Old Woman it 's worse then Committing Incest to Cuckold for ought I know a dozen Generations Jasp Rest you merry I can leave you Ped. But I 'le not quit you so Exeunt Enter Antonio and Gerardo Discoursing Ger. In this dear Friend consists my happiness Therefore deny me not Why pause you Sir My fears are come about Anto. What hath Eugenia given her consent Ger. I say not so my Lord but her denyals VVere spoke so faintly I Interpret well Anto. Dear Friend I am afraid you do mistake The Object of your Joyes let me perswade You to believe there 's not that happiness In Marriage-Beds as single People guess No no so far from that that thousands be Flatter'd by hopes to endless misery And where there 's two obtain their hearts desire Ten thousand miss it and in grief expire Ger. VVere these Positions true there 's no man sure If VViddowed once could other VVives endure And yet we see the first depriv'd of Life There 's few that seek not for a second Wife Anto. 'T is true though strange but yet our minds are such As alwayes find too little or too much Desire 's a Monster whose extended Maw Is never fill'd tho' it doth all things draw For we with envious Eyes do others see Who want our ills and think they happy be Till we possessing what we wish'd before Find our ills doubl'd and so wish for more Ger. Suppose all true which you wou'd have me fear Ills in possession still the greatest are And my desires to such a height do rise T' attain their ends I shou'd all else despise Anto. Since y' are resolv'd I 'le not your ends deny But pray my words prove false when e're you try Though well they speak who say the damned State Chiefly consists in wishing things too late Eugenia's Father left her to my care Which trust to end so well I did despair Then name the day of Marriage Ger. No delay My thoughts admit I wish it were to day Anto. That cannot be to Morrow I approve Ger. Time will flye slow though Impt with wings of Love Enter Caelia and Eugenia Cael. My Lord I beg your pardon for a short interruption Ger. Madam 't is I have cause to beg your pardon Thus to detain your Lord on 's Wedding-day A Day in Justice should be wholly yours Cael. My Lord is happy so to be detain'd And I am alwayes happy when he 's so But good my Lord your Ear Ger. Madam if you repent not what y'have said Whispers Anto. he takes a paper privately out of her pocket In answer to those Vows of my Affection I then dare hope I may in time be happy Eugen. Tho' I ne're thought your words were further means Then to pass time away in Raillery Yet were my Answers such as if you had Told me a real Story of your Love And the same Answers I 'le again renew My Will 's confin'd my Father's last Commands Left me no Choice but anothers will If I were free I then durst speak my thoughts But I in all my Brother must obey Ger. He checks your Actions only thoughts are free Suppose him willing would you favour me Eugen. But to suppose without his Will 's a Crime If I that supposition should declare Ger. I do confess I should be loath to own That Blessing which I rate above my Life If 't were bestow'd by any hands but yours Therefore by all your hopes I do conjure you If you dislike my Love Command my silence Eugen. Interpret well my blushes when I say I cannot find a thought for such Commands Ger. Then I am happy 'bove the reach of Envy For I have his consent already granted He nam'd the day of Marriage as you enter'd Eugen. You see my Lord that I had cause for fear Since I 'm bestow'd and my consent ne're askt Sure my dead Father ne're design'd it so Ger. Madam I beg your pardon for a truth Might well excuse your Brother in this matter I urg'd to him I doubted not your favour On which Condition he did grant me his Eugen. I shall hear further of it from himself Till when I beg your pardon Offers to go out Anto. Sister pray stay for I have bus'ness with you I know my Dear you never Lov'd that Fellow VVhich since you do not though he serves me well Yet I 'm resolv'd for this to part with him Tho' I could think a Pension for your Nurse To keep her at a distance were as well Cael. Though now her dotage makes her want discretion Her Love to us was great Anto. Come trouble not your self about it he shall go Cael. My Lord I 'le trouble you no further Ger. I 'le wait upon you Madam Ex. Gerar. and Cael. Anto. Sister you know your Father was my Friend And was so confident that I was his He trusted all your Fortunes in my hands Though he had Brothers Living when he Dy'd He told you too and left it in his VVill That what you had was mine if you did Marry VVithout my Approbation Is' t not true Eugen. Sir 't is a truth I 'm glad of Anto. These things your Kindred though did call contrivance VVhich made their hatred rise so much against me It makes a few'd betwixt our Families VVhich soon would come to Blood but for Respect They bear my VVife their Cozen. Eugen. Brother I cannot answer for their Actions My own Respects to you were never wanting Anto. I do not deny it Sister and to prove I never did nor will deserve worse from you If you are willing now to change your State And know a man preferr'd in your Election Let him have Blood and worth you and your Fortune I freely will resign into his hands Then truly speak your thoughts Eugen. Surely my Lord You 'd scarcely think I should be worth your care If I should choose before you nam'd one to me Anto. Sister I see your Kindreds Jealousies Partly infects you too but to remove them VVhat think you of Gerardo for a Husband My wishes meet with yours if he 's their Object You know I 'm no Dissembler Eugen. Nor shall you find me so for
THE Fatal Jealousie A TRAGEDY Acted at the Duke's Theatre Licensed Novemb. 22 1672. Roger L'Estrange LONDON Printed for Thomas Dring at the White Lyon next Chancery-Lane end in Fleet-street 1673. The Actors Names Don Antonio A Jealous Lord. Mr. Smith Don Gerardo Friend to Antonio Mr. Medburn Don Francisco A Young Lord. Mr. Young Don Sebastian Friend to Francisco Mr. Crosby Jasper A Villain Servant to Antonio Mr. Sandford Pedro. Servant to Antonio Mr. Burford Servant To Gerardo Mr. Norris Captain of the Watch. Mr. Nath. Leigh Souldiers Women Caelia Wife to Antonio Mrs. Shadwel Eugenia Sister to Caelia Mrs. Betterton Flora. Waiting Woman to Caelia Mrs. Osborn Nurse To Caelia Mr. Nokes Witch Aunt to Jasper Mrs. Norris Spirits Gipsies PROLOGUE By Mr. Smith TO you great Sovereign Wits that have such sway Without Controul to save or damn a Play That with a pish my Anthony or so Can the best Rally'd sence at once or'e throw And by this pow'r that none must question now Have made the most Rebellious Writers bow Our Author here his low Submission brings Begging your pass calls you the Stages Kings He sayes nay on a Play-Book swears it too Your pox uppo'nt damn it what 's here to do Your nods your winks nay your least signs of Wit Are truer Reason than e're Poet writ And he observes do much more sway the Pit For sitting there h' has seen the lesser gang Of Callow Criticks down their heads to bang Lending long Ears to all that you should say So understand yet never hear the Play Then in the Tavern swear their time they 've lost And Curse the Poet put e'm to that cost And if one would their just Exceptions know They heard such such or such a one say so And thus in time by your dislikes they rise To be thought Judges though indeed but spyes This is not fair your Subjects to betray To those that strive to Rival you in sway That will in time by your expence of wit Vsurp or'e us and your successors sit These and some other dangers to remove We beg that though this Play you disapprove Say nothing of it here and when you 're gone We give that leave you 'le take to cry it down Thus you preserve your pow'r and we shall be From Fopps and Demi-Criticks Censure free Subdu'd by force we Tyrants thus obey But Ladys you like lawful Monarches sway You Rule by Love and Pardon faults with ease In Subjects that do all they can to please By faction they condemn you by our Peers And he is guilty sure such Trial fears And though our Author pleads not guilty now And to his Tryal stands he hopes that you Will not too strictly his accusers hear For if this Play can draw from you a Tear He 'l slight the Wits Half-Wits and Criticks too And Judge his strength by his well pleasing you THE Fatal Jealousie Act the First Scene the First The Curtain drawn Discovers Don Antonio and Caelia in Morning-Gowns Chamber and Bed Cael. MY Lord you well may blame my conduct of that bus'ness Since it produc'd such dismal Accidents As my heart trembles but to think upon Yet for Don Lewis's Innocence and mine In the contrivance of that Fatal Meeting I must for ever during Life be Champion And as he with his dying breath protested He ne're meant wrong to you so am I ready To dye a Martyr to my Innocence Anto. Come come these are but wyles to Palliate things Can you believe me stupid or an Ass To think my Wife should meet a Man i' th' Night Nay more a Man that was my seeming Friend Yet taken in at Window privately Nay which was most stay with him two full hours And in a Room made proper by a Bed And yet not Cuckold me the thing 's too plain I do not doubt the deed which Iv'e Reveng'd In part by killing him No I am mad That you should think so meanly still of me As to hope time may alter my belief Which is by such unerring Reasons fixt Or else that you suspect my Truth when I have sworn By all things sacred nay upon my Honour Which I am so Jealous of that if you would Relate the truth of your so close amours I from my memory would blot it all And look on you at worst but as the Widdow Of your dead Couzen Lewis Cael. Good my Lord Forbear to use these killing Arguments Which every moment give me many Deaths Rather be like your self that 's Gen'rous And kill me once for all torment me not By giving no belief either to Vows Or Actions that have spoke my Innocence Reflect my Lord on the unwearied pains Iv'e took to gain your pardon for his Death Think with what patience I 've suffer'd still Your often starts of Passion which sometimes Have ne're produc'd th' effects of Cruelty And without boast my Lord you well do know My Friends were much too strong for yours at Court Then had I but made known your severe Carriage Or suffer'd your surprizal 't is too plain Yoor Life had been a forfeit to the Law And were I but the wanton Wife you think me What wou'd more welcome be then that Revenge Here on my knees I beg again my Lord You would perswade your self that what I told you Was cause of that close meeting was so truly And no invention and as this Day Began our Nuptial Joys so let it end Our Marriage Discords then shall I have cause To keep it Annually a Festival In thanks to Heav'n for two such mighty Blessings Anto. Caelia stand up I will perswade my self By this I will as much as e're I can Kisses her That thou art Innocent for if thou bee'st not What Woman in the World ought to be thought so But prethee be discreet mannage thy Actions With strictest Rules of Prudence for if not Like to a Bow or'e-bent I shall start back And break with passion on thee wilt thou be careful Cael. Oh! I am paid for all my sufferings This kindness does or'e-joy me which my Lord Let me for ever lose when any Act Of mine shall justly make a forfeit of it Enter Flora. Flor. My Lord here 's Don Gerardo come to see you Anto. Admit him in Exit Flora. Cael. I will retire my Lord. Anto. You need not Caelia Enter Gerardo Welcome Gerardo this is like a Friend That name should know no Ceremonious Laws Let them make formal Visits that maintain As formal Friendships ours is try'd and true Gerar. This as I take it was your Wedding-day At which your pardon Madam for a truth I was a Jealous waiter your great worth Made me to fear I then had lost a Friend And in that room should an acquaintance find Cael. But now my Lord you see how you mistook I was a Rival to his Mistresses But to his Friends one to increase their number Ger. I find the truth so great I wish you may Live long and happy to possess that place
other wayes in that you trust it But I 'le be gone and Execute your Orders Exit Ger. A Faithful Servant is the best of Friends Since he is nearest alwayes to assist us But stay I cannot guess from all I 've heard The cause that should disturb Antonio Except 't is Jealousie Yet how can that be If Caelia's vitious there 's no vertuous Women But now I think how much he rail'd at Marriage And more our Arguments concerning doubt These things perswade he 's Jealous But of whom The more I think the more I am confounded How Clouded Man Doubts first and from one doubt doth soon proceed A thousand more in solving of the first Like Nighted Travellers we lose our way Then every Ignis Fatuus makes us stray By the false Lights of Reason led about Till we arrive where we at first set out Nor shall we e're Truths perfect High-way see Till dawns the Day-break of Eternity Exit Enter Eugenia Eug. I am amaz'd the Nurse should stay so long My Anger makes each minute seem an hour That Woman is a thing made up of mischief Some Fatal Devil sure did guide the Choyce My Mother made in choosing her our Nurse She 's Fool to th' height And yet hath wit enough To tread all Labyrinths of Treachery But that 's no wonder For who 's Treacherous That wants not Eyes to see it's ugly Form For now I fear and I believe not vainly That Villain Jasper knows all my concerns Or what could prompt him to that Impudence He did express in his address to day Enter Nurse Thou fatal Hagg thou Mother of all mischief What Devil taught thy perjur'd Tongue the way To tell the shame which thou didst first occasion Nurse Pray what ayls you Madam are you mad Eug. I wish I was as I have cause enough For then I should not know the shame attends me In being Table-talk for every Rascal As thou Hell thank thee for it now hast made me Nurse I made you Table-talk There 's no such thing I 've been too faithful to you that I have Losing my sleep full oft to watch your pleasure And is this all I get It is no matter I Shall be even with you Eug. Threaten on for thou hast Acted all thy threats Imp In letting Jasper know my shame and folly Nurse Jasper knows nothing that he does not from me And I will ask him fore your face I will If I e're said Francisco lay with you Eug. 'T is plain thy guilt transported thee to madness Else thou wouldst never make thy Tongue a Herauld So loud for to proclaim to all the House The Action you 'd perswade me still is secret Nurse If you talk lowd your self why may not I But I 'le bring Jasper to you shall deny all Eug. What mischief upon mischief she designs Dost think like thine my Modesty is gone To have this argu'd out before my face And such a Villaine y Nurse A Villain say you No Villain neither I wou'd have you know No more then is Francisco pick that bone Or if you will I 'le bid Gerardo do it Dee' think to rail at me Is that my thanks Eug. My feares I see will force me to dissemble Nurse I but try'd thy patience I believe Thou would'st not tell that secret for the world No tho' it were to Jasper Nurse Jasper's an honest fellow and no Villain And did he know a secret he could keep it Eug. But have you told it then Nurse No matter what I 've done I will not tell you Because you vext and rated at me so Eug. Well Nurse I did believe you lov'd me better Weeps And wou'd trust me with any thing you did But I perceive your kindness all for Jasper Nurse I love Jasper well and love you too And you shall have no wrong I warrant you Eug. The thing is plain I need nor ask no further But where 's the remedy Nurse prethee tell me What did Francisco say unto my message Nurse I there 's a bus'ness now worth asking for He sayes he 's glad you 'l condescend to meet Nay he 's a glad man I 'le tell you that i'faith He bid me say you were a gallant Girle So to Revenge his quarrel on Gerardo Eug. Gerardo said you O thy mouth 's a Sieve There 's not a secret thou canst keep a moment Did I not charge thee not to name Gerardo Till I should speak of it my self to him Nay 't is the greatest motive makes me meet him For to prevent the mischiefs else may follow Well I am curst for sin and thou art made The cause o' th' sin and curse that does attend it Nur. What are you got to railing again for nothing Pray who has most discretion to tell a bus'ness You or I But you forsooth are grown so proud of late Because you hope to Marry Don Gerardo That there 's no speaking to you Marry gip 'Faith I shall spoil your Market Exit Eug. Do thy worst for I am resolv'd to suffer once for all Death would be better then this Slavery And that 's the worst can happen Should she tell my Brother or Gerardo my whole story That 's dying once but I by fear thus fool'd Do hourly dye since still I Death behold Exit Enter Jasper and Antonio Jasp My Lord I 'm confident this is the House Wherein the Woman Lives I told you of Anto. Knock then and if she comes do you speak to her I 'le stand aloof a while and hear you talk Jasper knocks Enter Witch with a block Rod which she turns over her Head whilst Jasper makes a private sign of his Lord 's being there Jasp Hail Reverend Mother I suppose you are That famous Artist who Commands this House Which if you be with confidence I beg You would resolve some Questions I should ask Which if you please to do my gratitude Shall be proportion'd to the kindness done Witch What prating Fellow's here Your Lord Antonio Need not to doubt my Art or if he did He might have sent some wiser Man to try me Come come my Lord I am no Cheating Chymist that requires A Faith in Fools to make his work successful No no my Power is boundless I can search The secrets of your Soul and when I 've done Solve all the doubts that there possess your mind That Women should be Women is no wonder Anto. But that Women should turn Devils is Witch No no my Lord I am no Devil neither Anto. Mother I meant not you when I said so Witch Son Son excuse it not you have no cause To love us Women much and I 'm not angry At what you said though I know what you meant Ant. Then Mother by these Powers you practice by I do Conjure you shew me all the truth Of what you know concerns my coming hither Witch Come enter in my Lord and nothing fear There 's not a doubt of yours but shall be clear I 've sent a Spirit out