The Fatal Jealousie (1673) Part 10

_'Tis Love, 'tis Love, for nothing can Give real Happiness to Man, But Joys like those that Lovers Souls enjoy, which here on Earth there's nothing can destroy; Ay, ay, 'tis Love only can be The Happy Souls endless felicity._

_Ger._ What a dull, heavy load hangs on my soul!

Weighing me down to Earth, as if 'twould say 'Twas weary of its Burthen, and resolv'd To shake it off, and mix with its first matter; What is the thing, call'd Death, we mortals shun?

Is't some real, or is't a fancy only?

Like that imaginary point in Mathematicks; Not to be found only in definition: It is no more: Death, like your Childrens Bug-bears, Is fear'd by all, yet has no other Being Then what weak fancy gives it; 'tis a Line, But yet imaginary, drawn betwixt Time and that dreadful thing Eternity; I, that's the thing, 'tis fear'd; for now I find it: Eternity which puzzles all the World, To name the inhabitants that People it: Eternity, whose undiscover'd Countrey We Fools divide, before we come to see it; Making one part contain all happiness, The other misery, then unseen fight for't.

Losing our certains for uncertainties; All Sects pretending to a Right of choyce; Yet none go willingly to take their part, For they all doubt what they pretend to know, And fear to mount, lest they should fall below: Be't as it will; my Actions shall be just, And for my future State I Heav'n will trust.

_Enter a Servant._ Return'd already; what can be the cause?

_Serv._ Sir, _Don Antonio_ likewise is return'd.

_Ger._ What reason had he for it, dost thou know?

_Ser._ My Lord, I do not; for we by your appointment Having took Horse, did with our greatest speed Pursue the Road should lead us to _Don John_'s; When near a Thicket stands some two Miles off, I spy'd _Antonio_ lying on the ground, And _Jasper_ walking of the Horses by him, Fearing his seeing us, we took the Thicket, Where shelter'd from their Eyes, I left my Fellows.

But I approach'd as near as possible, Hoping I did you Service, if I could By their Discourse gather their cause of stay.

_Ger._ 'Twas like thy self, both diligent and prudent.

_Serv._ But all my care did signifie but little, The Wind blew fresh, and rustling in the Wood, Wholly destroy'd their Voyces, so that few words Of what they said I heard; and those I did, Came so divided they had no connexion.

_Ger._ What sort of Actions did you then perceive?

_Serv._ My Lord, I saw _Antonio_ much disturb'd; Sometimes he'd rise and walk a turn or two With eager pace, then stop as suddenly, Then stamp and tear his hair; then loudly cry.

She's dead, she's dead! Oh, _Caelia_, Oh, _Antonio_!

Then lye him down again, and rest a s.p.a.ce: Sometimes call _Jasper_ to him, talk a while, And soon again rise in another Pa.s.sion; Seldom I heard a word, except a Curse!

Or now and then a Name; as _Lewis_, _Caelia_, _Pedro_, _Francisco_, _Flora_; nay, my Lord, Sometimes I heard your Name, and then _Eugenia's_; Then suddenly holding his hands to Heav'n, He'd down again, and there a while would role.

_Ger._ These Actions sure did seem a perfect madness.

_Serv._ It seem'd indeed a madness methodiz'd, Like theirs who are Transported far with Pa.s.sion.

_Ger._ But how perceiv'd you _Jasper_ bear himself?

_Serv._ Quite in another manner, but as strange!

For when his Lord look'd down, his looks would be As full of mirth, ready to burst in Laughter; That I perceiv'd he scarce contain'd himself: But if his Lord did look about to speak, Then was his Face demure, with hand on Breast, Turning his Eyes to Heav'n, and groaning sighs.

As you have seen, my Lord, a Canting Preacher Aiming to cheat his Audience, wanting matter, Sigh to seem Holy, till he thought on something.

So at that distance seem'd his Actions to me; But when his back was turn'd, the Rascal would Make Mouths, and point with signs of greatest scorn.

_Ger._ There is some Fatal Villany in this; Some Mystery beyond my Fathoming: But how long staid they thus?

_Serv._ About two hours, when mounting both their Horses, I took mine, and un-espy'd did dogg e'm to the City, And where they Hous'd I know not; for they enter'd Remote from Home, and I i'th' streets soon lost e'm.

_Ger._ Do both your Fellows know this?

_Serv._ No, my Lord, I did not think it would become my Duty To tell them any thing but what they saw.

_Ger._ I never knew thee yet mistake thy trust; Thy secrecy was well: Preserve it still, For I must use it further, therefore go, And Charge your Pistols, we must walk a Round About _Antonio_'s House to watch their motion; For there the Scene must lye of this design; If there be mischief in't, thy courage now (If theirs occasion) must again be try'd.

And well Rewarded too.

_Serv._ 'Tis so, my Lord, Above all 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 a.s.sist us; But stay, I cannot guess from all I've heard, The cause that should disturb _Antonio_; Except 'tis 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 today.

_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 (h.e.l.l 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._ 'Tis 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 by?--

_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.