The Fatal Jealousie (1673) Part 19

_Flor._ No, Nurse, my Lady sent me, don't be angry, She was afraid that you were running mad.

_Nurse._ I, mad, it may be so; now I am Old I must be mad, forsooth; but time has been, There's ne're a Servant durst have laught at me, Nor I'le not take it now, no that I won't, I'le tear your Eyes out first.

[ _She runs after _Flora_, who still is too quick for her._

_Flor._ Nay, softly, Nurse; so, so; ay, there!

_Nurse._ Where where? I see it now, It's strangely pale!

O, do not fright me so; it's gone again.

And now I shall have time to follow you; Nay, now I'le tear thy Eyes out.

[ _As _Flora_ runs away, she falls, Nurse gets upon her._

_Flor._ Oh, Nurse, Nurse! have mercy on me, Do not scratch me so.

_Nurse._ I'le be thy Death, there's nothing shall preserve you.

Ah ---- are you there again! The Devil, the Devil.

[Exit.

_Flor._ 'Twas well for me her madness work't again, And made her take a whim to run away, She would have kill'd me else, do what I could; I'le stay no longer, lest she come again.

I'd not be in her fingers as I was For all I'm worth.

[Exit.

_Enter Captain, Watch, and Servant._

_Capt._ When I consider every Circ.u.mstance Of what you tell, and what I know my self, I must conclude, I ought not to defer To search _Antonio_'s House: if he's from home, As you pretend he is; It makes me think There is some strange Intrigue design'd by him.

For why should he turn back, as you relate, And then obscure himself in such a House?

Besides, he told me, he was strait for Home, And yet it seems was not, as you say.

_Serv._ It's truth, upon my Life, he was not there At past the hour of Nine.

_Watch._ Who comes there!

[Enter the little Devil, and runs and skulkes.

Captain, the Devil, the Devil!

See where he stands?

_Capt._ O' my Conscience! The Witches little Familiar again!

If you're afraid, let me come, I'm us'd to These sort of Devils! Come, come, uncase,

[It sputters like a Cat, Captain to him.

Uncase, young Gamester, what slippery pranck Are you about now? Don't you remember your Last escape, Sirrah?

_Devil._ Pray Master don't whip me, I'le tell all.

_Capt._ Out with it then; where's the Old Witch, your Mistress?

_Devil._ Alas, Captain, she was kill'd to Night when You brought in the Watch to search our House.

_Capt._ Kill'd, by whom?

_Devil._ I know not that, but we were putting a cheat Upon a Lord there, by contrivance of his Man, And when you knockt, we ran to our lurking holes To hide us, but when the Coast was clear, we came Out, and seeking for my Mistress, found her dead in one Of the holes thrust through her Body with a Dagger in Three places.

_Capt._ What cheat was that you put upon the Lord?

_Dev._ We Acted like Devils, and in a Song made him Believe his Wife did Cuckold him.

_Capt._ This was _Antonio_, whom I met there, Sir.

_Devil._ Ay, that's his Name, a mighty furious Man, He said, he'd kill e'm all before 'twas day.

He made me quake to hear him; I hope now, Captain, you will let me go.

_Capt._ No, no, you Rogue! If he has done more mischief You shall be hang'd, except you find your Fellows That joyn'd i'th' cheat with you to make him Jealous.

_Devil._ I'le bring you presently to them, and shew you all Their holes; they did but send me out to watch when The Coast was clear!

_Capt._ Who, say you, set you on to this design?

_Devil._ An ill-look'd Rogue, his Man, the Witches Nephew; I think they call him _Jasper_.

_Capt._ Well, take the Boy, and call some of your Fellows, And there surprize them all. I'le not defer My searching to prevent the mischief That _Don Antonio_ further may design, For I believe he had a hand in this Was done i'th' Garden, however the mistake Did happen to begin between the Dead.

_Serv._ Come, Sir, make haste, for I begin to fear Some Tragedy is Acted in the House, For _Don Antonio_'s Rage is alwayes quick, And they have toucht the string will stretch it highest.

_Capt._ Come then, let's hasten back.

[Whistling behind the Stage.

_Enter Nurse._

_Nurse._ Ay, that's his whistle, and I must obey't.

Why _Pedro_, _Pedro_! What, are you dead asleep?

_Pedro_, I say.

_Pedro within._ Who calls?

_Nurse._ _Pedro_, rise quickly, my Lady _Caelia_ wants you.

_Ped._ What can she want me for at such a time?

_Nurse._ I know not, but _Flora_ came, and said you must Come quickly, I think, to Ride to my Lord.

_Ped._ I come, but I'le have a care of your tricks, Nurse.

[ _Enter _Pedro_ in a Night-Gown, with his sword in's hand._

_Nurse._ What tricks? What do you Do with your Sword?