The Fatal Jealousie (1673) Part 16

_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, d.a.m.n'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 then been Canoniz'd: Was it of me She did express her care? If so, 'twas 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 she found us not, she would retire.

_Fran._ No doubt on't; yet I am not satisfy'd what two Those were, and why they staid so long.

Could your Ear reach to understand their words?

_Sebast._ No, not a syllable more then a humming noise.

_Fran._ Nor mine; but now they're gone, let's walk that way, 'Twill be the best to miss them.

_Sebast._ Content.

[Exeunt.

_Enter _Don Gerardo_ and Servant._

_Ger._ It is in vain to look e'm if they hide, The Garden's large; besides perhaps they're gone; We'l to the Body.

_Serv._ You're by it now, my Lord.

_Ger._ This Accident amazes me so much, I go I know not where.

_Enter _Francisco_ and _ Sebastian_._

_Serv._ See there, my Lord, two Men.

_Fran._ W'are pretty near the Window, there's no Light.

_Ger._ Have at thy heart, _Francisco_, This Token from _Eugenia_.

[_Ger._ and servant draw.

_Fran._ Nay, then, at thine: Be whom thou wilt, that Name Tells me thou'rt no Friend.

_Sebast._ Courage, _Sebastian's_ by thee.

_They Fight, the Servant shoots _Sebastian_ just as _Francisco_ runs _Gerardo_ through, which pursuing, Servant kills him too._

My fears are come about, for I am kill'd; _Francisco_, fare thee well.

[Dyes.]

_Fran._ 'Tis double Death to see my Friend dye thus.

Was't not enough, you Fates, to take my Life, But I must guilty be of murd'ring him.

_Serv._ My Lord, how do you?