may walk a turn Though I confess do what I can my fears Surmount my Reason and perswades there 's danger Fran. A hundred times I 've past it in as much Yet then with confidence you slighted all Prethee forbear to urge them any more I 'm half turn'd Coward with your fears already Sebast Let 's take a turn then further from the House And by some other talk divert our thoughts Exeunt Anto. Jasper I find thy Informations true Thus far at least these are my Wife 's kind Couzens Hell rid e'm from the World Jasp A hundred times they had been here before In as much danger Mark you that my Lord Anto. I and his Soul retorted back the Lye For they in all their Lives ne're knew a danger Equal to that they 're near Heark how the Owl Summons their Souls to take a flight with her Where they shall be Eternally benighted Now I again believe it was a Witch For here me-thinks I see a thousand Devils Waiting in the Air with fire-forks in their hands Just as our City Serjeants wait with Maces To toss their Souls to their Eternal Prison Look there that flash of Lightning does confirm it Nay do but stay a little you shall have all All all not a Soul of e'm shall escape this Night No no 't will spoil good Company to part them But hold a Light appears draw back to cover Exeunt Enter Francisco and Sebastian Sebast The Light is there make haste and give the sign Francisco strikes a Key upon his Sword Eugenia appears above in Caelia's Gown Eug. Who 's there Francisco Fran. The same and would desire your Company below Eug. This distance fits us better Oh Francisco Had we but alwayes kept it I had been A spotless Off'ring to my Bridal Bed But now must cloud my Marriage Joys with shame And fear of what will follow Fran. Pray descend this distance is not safe The Family may chance o're hear our words Eug. I 've more cause should I come down You would attempt my strength and Argument To violate my Vows as first you did My Virgin-Honour Fran. No upon my Life do but descend And may the Heav'ns pour all their Vengeance on me If I do attempt you with a sillable To break your Resolution Eug. Is any with you Fran. Yes my Friend Sebastian Eug. Let him speak then Sebast Madam upon my Life I will secure you And glory I have so much cause to do it Eug. Your Virtue I rely on for my safety She takes the Light from above Enter Antonio and Jasper Anto. I cannot hear their words yet I 'm sure It 's Caelia's there her Habit tells me that Let 's draw a little nearer Sebast Look there Francisco are not those two Men Are creeping there Fran. 'T is so let 's slip aside Ex. Fran. and Sebastian Enter Eugenia below Eug. Where are you Couzen Francisco Are you there Anto. I here here perfidious Woman Stabs her she falls Eug. Oh Francisco 't is an inhuman deed Ex. Ant. Jasp To kill me thus ' cause I would sin no longer But thou hast kept thy word and took thy leave As I must now of all the World and thee oh oh Enter Gerardo hand Servant Ger. Pray Heav'n I be'n't too late the Garden door So open makes me wonder Heard you no groans Serv. I think I did my Lord heark Sir again Eug. Oh oh I fain would live a little longer If but to ask forgiveness of Gerardo My Soul will scarce reach Heav'n without his Pardon Ger. Who 's that wou'd go to Heav'n and wants my Pardon Take it what e're thou art and mayst thou be Happy in Death what e're thou didst design Eug. Is that Gerardo's Voyce Sure loss of Blood Doth make my fancy Idle Is' t Gerardo Ger. Thou greatest Blessing of my Soul it is Eug. No no my Lord you will abhor my Name When I shall tell the story made me thus Ger. Heav'n knows I sooner should abhor my Life But tell me the Author of this horrid mischief That I may flye as quick to my Revenge As these sad thoughts do seize upon thy Soul Eug. When you shall hear my story your Revenge Will as I fear vent against me in Curses Ger. Were thy Crimes great as theirs that left thee thus By all thy Virgin hopes I would not Curse thee Eug. My Lord that 's it you are deceiv'd in Ger. Nay now thou rav'st help me to bend her body Her loss of Blood will keep her story from me And I shall Live i' th' dark and ne're Revenge her Eug. Alas my Lord my Couzen base Francisco Being let in by my accursed Nurse Came to my bed and there by force and strength obtain'd His hated ends Ger. Oh damn'd Villain he shall not long survive To boast of it Eug. Had I staid there and not consented further I should have needed pity and not pardon Ger. Tell all the rest for this is so surprizing I 'd fain perswade my self it was a Dream Eug. After this Fatal loss a shame succeeded Shame that produc'd fear infus'd by threats Urg'd both by him and her wherein they said If I refus'd to grant that willingly Which he at first did force they would declare The Action to the World so to disgrace me Ger. O that old wrinkl'd Hag that she should plot this Eug. What will not wicked Age effect for Gold But they at last made fear or'e-come my Vertue And I by that made all their guilt my own Meeting him here still when he did appoint Ger. Well this confest how came you by these Wounds Eug. My Lord Francisco did entreat my Company This Night when as I enter'd Without a word but here perfidious Woman He stab'd me in the Breast and left me thus Ger. Hadst thou been dead and Angels told the story I should have thought in Envy of thy worth They had invented it and ne're believ'd it Eug. I have no breath to tell you oh my Lord I do forget they still are in the Garden Have a care of Dyes Ger. Have a care of what Oh speak Eugenia speak She 's gone she 's gone and could not tell her mind What is' t I must have a care on O some Angel That waits to shew her Soul the way to Heav'n Come back and tell me what it was she meant Was it her Reputation she took care of No no that cannot be had it been that She might have kept the story to her self And there been Canoniz'd Was it of me She did express her care If so 't was needless For he that lets me Live to kill Francisco Though he does so by me when that is done Shall have my thanks and Prayers i' th' other World But stay they 're in the Garden I 'le go look e'm For if Revenge so just I do delay I shall deserve Heav'ns Vengeance for the stay Exeunt Enter Francisco and Sebastian Fran. Who should they be I wonder talk'd so long Sebast Sure when
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
thus In a suspitious House so late in the Evening Anto. Riding by the River side to take the Air My Horse threw me which made me see For some convenient House to rest a while And met with this wherein I have slept this hour And I believe had done so longer yet Had not your noise awak'd me Capt. My Lord I 've no Commission to enquire Into Persons bus'ness of your eminent Rank It is for other Men that I search now Some half a score the most notorious Rogues About the Town were seen to enter here Saw you none such my Lord Anto. No on my Honour For since I enter'd here no human shape Was seen by me but one Old wither'd Woman And where she 's gone I know not Capt. My Lord that Woman is the greatest Cheat About the Town the simple think her a Witch But I can witness for her she is none My Lord you 'l pardon me if I search for her Anto. With all my heart Pray find her if you can 'T was my misfortune doubled to light here Capt. It might have prov'd so Search the House Exit VVatch. I 'le tell your Lordship what I know of her Walking my Round one Night who should I meet But as I thought two Devils by their shapes An Old one and a Young one so they seem'd At first the sight amaz'd me but at last My Reason telling me if they were Spirits The mischief they intended they might do Though I should run away I bid my Guard Stand whilst my self advanc'd near these shapes Which as I did the little Devil fled th' other seem'd To turn it's Eyes to fire and glare upon me I still advanc'd Arm'd with my former thoughts And as I nearer came the fire grew duller Yet still it stood for truly it could not run Proving when I laid hold on 't this Old Woman Cas'd in a Leopard's skin the fiery Eyes Prov'd but two Lobster-shells So she confessing That for a Living she did use these Cheats Helping poor People to their stolen Goods In Devils shapes to countenance the Trade And that the other was a little Boy Train'd up as her Familiar whom she producing I only threaten'd them and let them go Anto. A subtle Cheat it was and very likely And you deserv'd Reward that did detect it Jasp A Halter it should be were I to give it Aside Enter the Watch with one of the Devils Remarkable Habits and a Viol. 1. Watch. We 've search'd sufficiently but all we find Is a poor Devils skin and a base Viol. Capt. I this is like the other I 'm glad 't was found 'T will prove the story true I told your Lordship Anto. It does to my amazement Capt. I 'm glad it was my hap to meet you here Your Lordship might have got some mischief else Anto. I might indeed and I 'm beholding to you And Captain take my word I 'le speak your worth To the Vice-Roy who is my Kinsman And will take care for to advance your merit Capt. In that you 'l bind my Service Yet my Lord Shall I not wait your Lordship to your House Anto. No 't will be wonder'd at besides I 've Horses here Capt. Then Health and a good Night attend your Lordship Anto. I thank you Captain here Watch there 's some Thing for you 1. Watch. Bless your Noble Lordship Ex. Capt. and VVatch. Anto. Jasper Did you hear this Jasp Ay my good Lord and wonder at it too But I do still believe she is a Witch and only Did pretend such things to the Captain To save a Burning from th' Inquisition Anto. Fetch our Horses Exit Jasper I do observe this Rogue Strangely to be amaz'd what er'es the matter I do believe that this was all some Cheat. Yet how could that be too who could Name Lewis But I am mad to be deluded thus For now I think on 't better in my Passion I hinted Lewis as a proof for all And then this Rogue stood by Ay there it is He 's a Confederate and contriv'd all this To be Reveng'd but I 'le dissemble yet And trace his mischiefs further then I 'le kill him And stop his mouth from publishing my folly Had not this Accident so strangely happen'd What mischief had I done before the Morning I 'le put him to his Tryal in the Garden Which if he fail in there shall end his Life And he 'l deserve it too when mischiefs tend To such a height they must in mischief end He that contriv'd so many to destroy Will scarce be punish'd if he barely dye Therefore his Villany shall further swell When'ts at the height I 'le Lanch his Soul to hell Exit Enter Francisco and Sebastian Sebast Couzen believe me I am loath to go And I could likewise wish that you were so Oft have I fear'd the danger when I went Yet dreaded more the sin then punishment For I consider'd should I then be slain That Death would but begin an endless pain Then pardon me though I could well obey All Friendships Laws I dare not do 't this way Fran. Sure Couzen you are sick or lately have Had melancholy thoughts about a Grave Is this Sebastian he whose ready hand Was quick to Act all Friendship did Command He who no sooner heard Francisco say A Danger 's there but made that strait his way And now he 's turn'd my Ghostly Father sure Sebast I would so I might make a Ghostly Cure Francisco thou art sick and so am I Sick at our Souls and shou'd we chance to dye E're our Disease was Cur'd 't is ten to one We should in an Eternal Feaver groan Fran. Come prethee say no more 't is ominous I wonder much what 't is shou'd make thee thus Come you must go this Night I 'le tell you why 'T will be the last for she 's to Marry To Marry Don Gerardo O 't is rate I am Reveng'd to th' purpose Sebast Sure you are Turn'd Coward or you ne're wou'd glory in Revenge so base this doubles all your sin Gerardo's brave and sure all Honour bleeds When such are Wounded by Ignoble deeds It is the Curse of Man that he must be Subject to shame by Womens Levity But hold I wrong Eugenia if I blame Her and not you alone for all her shame You Rob'd her of her Chastity by force Though fear of shame still kept her from Remorse Fran. Pish Force That was her policy to you She did no more then what all Women do Seem to resist what they do most desire To raise the flame yet seem to cool the fire Believe this Truth Sebastian Women can Resist it and perform it more then Man Sebast Thus like the Devils we at first betray Their Innocence then blame on them we lay As if their guilt cou'd have another cause Then that which it from our Temptation draws Fran. Let it be so I 'le not dispute it now It grows too near the time that I should go And though my
what I fear'd I am undone A plague of Cubbard Love step into the Closet Nurse What 's that you say Cubbard Love Jasp No no prethee no Arguments but step into the Closet Flora within Why Nurse I say why don't you come away My Lady wants you Jasper goes to the Door Jasp Flora what 's the matter with you Nurse is not here Do but come in and see Enter Flora. Flor. Come come she must be here for she was not in her own Bed to Night and where should She be but with you Jasp With me what the Devil should she do with me Can't her Old Chopps mumble her Beads o're but I Must keep count of her her Pater Nosters No no she 's Gon on Pilgrimage to some Shrine to beg Children For my Lady 't is a devout Old Woman Flor. Devout I her Devotion and yours are much alike The Fit ne're took you but once in your Lives and Then 't is true you wept at Prayers that was at your Own Christnings Jasp Prethee more Charity sweet dear Flora come let Me kiss thee Flor. Pray forbear I 'de sooner kiss a Horse Jasp Why so scornful dear Flora Flor. That 's not my bus'ness come tell me where 's the Nurse Jasp Prethee why dost ask me for the Nurse Dost think I am so hot to make Love to a Monument Why she 's Old enough to be Mother of all Mankind her skin 's Turn'd to parchment he that should enjoy her had as Good lye with a bundle of Old Records In truth she 's Fit for nothing now but to be hang'd up amongst the Monsters in a 'Pothecaries Shop where with abuse to The Beast she would be taken for a large Apes skin stufft VVith Hay Ah Flora if she were as Young as thou art then 't might be likely I might find her when she was lost Flor. Well if she be not here now I 'm sure it was not for Nothing you once lost your way into her Chamber And staid all Night Jasp Meer Drunkenness by this Light Flora VVhy if it had Been a Vault full of Dead Carkasses I should have slipt Into it in the pickle I was in Nay for ought I know VVith more pleasure too Enter Nurse Nurse Now out upon you for a Rogue There 's no enduring this Jasp Do but hear me Nurse Flor. Ay hear him Nurse he 'l be sure to recant and Swear you 're as sweet as a fogh so sweet Nurse VVhat Hussy dare you abuse me I that gave suck To my Lady before thou wast born you Young VVhore Flor. Young VVhore why not Old VVhore Nurse as well as Young VVhore Nurse You damn'd Young Slut I 'le tear out your Eyes Flor. My Feet shall save my Eyes except you can out-run Me to my Lady Exit Flora. Jasp Have not you made fine work now I but dissembled To take off suspition and you must shew your self I 'm sure I shall be turn'd away for your folly Nurse But dissembled said you Marry there 's dissembling indeed Jasp Nay Nurse consider dost think I would have spoke so In thy hearing had it been for any other thing But Prethee kiss me I protest thou' rt as sweet as Arsifettito Nurse Arsifettito What 's that Jasp A Rich perfume the Chymists make and good against Fits o' th' Mother But what shall I do now I shall Be turn'd away Nurse I 'le warrant thee I 'le place thee with Eugenia she Shall take care of thee for mine and a Friends sake Of hers Jasp Ay ay that 's Francisco but you have promis'd me Often to tell me a secret concerns them prethee Do 't now Nurse Nurse But will you ne're speak on 't If you do I shall Get no more money for thee Jasper that 's the way I get all Chuck no no no matter what 's between them Trust thou to me Jasp Well Nurse I thought you had Lov'd me but I see You do not you know I can keep secrets Nurse Ay but this is such a one I dare not tell it besides It was not Eugenias-fault at first alas poor Fool she was in a sad taking when she found Her Couzen Francisco in Bed with her Jasp In Bed sayst thou Nurse Lord bless me what have I done If you should Tell now Jasp Ne're fear it tell me all I would not for the World have mist this Story it makes a full amends For all my Crosses come Nurse prethee quickly Tell me all passages Nurse I tell no more my mind misgives me I 've said Too much already Jasp Not tell me more Old Beldame Speak it quickly Or what I know shall soon unto my Lord. Nurse How now Is this dissembling too Jasp No 't is as great a truth as what you told me of Don Francisco's Bedding with Eugenia tell me the Rest and by it save your Life Nurse Dear Jasper be not angry and I will Jasp Come Nurse do it and then we 'l kiss and be Friends I shall have use of her Aside Nurse Now thou shalt have my heart and thus it is Don Francisco doth often meet Eugenia i' th' Garden who to avoid suspition after her Sisters In Bed by my means gets her Night-Gown and Puts it on so to avoid being known shou'd any see her Jasp Oh Excellent when do they meet again Nurse I 've promis'd him this Night though she was loath Till I told her he would but take his leave for she 's Grown a little backward now she 's to marry Don Gerardo Jasp Is she to marry him sayst thou Nurse I sure for he makes Love to her and she 's so hot Upon 't that she vows after this Night never to meet Francisco any more but I 'le go Live with her And so shalt thou Jasp Ay sâ—â— will i' th' Garden sayst thou and in her Sisters Gown no body with them Nurse Yes the Lord Sebastian he knows all and alwayes VVaits upon ' em Jasp That 's well keep thou the secret close and ne're fear me But if my Lord should ask suspitiously questions About his Wife name Pedro to him say when he 's From Home that Fellow stayes too long within her Chamber and say that Flora waits leave me to prove It true Nurse Why 't is not so I dare not tell my Lord so damn'd a Lye Jasp Why Y' are a Fool there shall no hurt come of it Only we 'l be Reveng'd of Pedro and that Slut for They 're our Enemies besides if you won't I 'le swear You told me so and moreover let him know all the Rest y'have told me Nurse Nay don't be angry and I 'le do any thing Enter Caelia Pedro and Flora. Cael. Oh thou Old doting Fool what still remain here What punishment is proper for thy Age As for you Sirrah I believe my Lord will find a way quickly to Send you packing Jasp It may be so but 't is without a cause Cael. Impudent Villain how I do hate thy sight Follow you me To Nurse Ex. Cael. Nurse
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