The Fatal Jealousie (1673) Part 20

_Ped._ Why, Nurse, you may have malice, and malice May seek mischief, which because you are no Witch, And cannot come through a Key-hole to compa.s.s, For ought I know, you call me out to do it--ha!

What whistle's that?

[Whistle.

_Nurse._ What whistle! Are you mad! Go to my Lady.

_Ped._ Still I suspect you.

[Exeunt.

_Enter Nurse, with _Antonio_ and _Jasper_._

_Anto._ Are they together, Nurse?

_Nurse._ Yes, my Lord, the more's my sorrow!

_Anto._ Nay then, I see the Devils did speak truth; _Francisco_, their kind Couzen, Whor'd them both, By Heav'ns they took their turns, I see it plain!

O that I could invent some horrid Death, And had but time to execute it on them; But since I cannot, plain stabbing will do well, The less they've here, the more they'l find in h.e.l.l.

_Nurse._ I hope you will not kill your Lady, Sir!

_Anto._ Not kill her! But I must.

_Nurse._ What have I done? Oh, oh.

[Cryes out oh, oh.

_Anto._ Hold, stop your mouth, I'le stop it for you else; They'l hear her, and escape!

Come, _Jasper_, are you ready?

_Jasp._ Yes, my Lord, I follow.

[Exeunt.

_Nurse._ What have I done, one Murder on another?

I see 'twas he that kill'd _Eugenia_ now, By's naming _Don Francisco_; oh, that _Jasper_-- Oh, the Ghost again--what shall I do?

[Exit.

_Caelia_ in Bed, and _Flora_ all b.l.o.o.d.y.

_Cael._ I'm sorry that I sent thee, since she's mad, But would 'twas day, that I might get her lookt to.

_Flor._ I'm sure she has scratch't my face sufficiently.

_Cael._ 'Tis well it was no worse.

[_Pedro_ knocks.

_Flor._ Alas! she'l come again!

_Ped._ _Flora_, _Flora_.

[He knocks.

_Flor._ Who's that, _Pedro_! What's the matter with you?

_Ped._ Nurse call'd, and said my Lady would speak with me.

_Cael._ Bid him come in.

_Flor._ My Lady bids you enter.

[Enter _Pedro_.

_Cael._ _Pedro_, the Nurse is mad, I did not call you, You see how she has scratcht poor _Flora_'s Face, She came just now shreeking and staring hither; If you could lock her up into some Room, It would do well.

[A noise, Exiturus, he fights, and Enters with _Antonio_, whom when he sees, he lets fall his point, and is kill'd.

_Jasper_ runs _Flora_ through.

_Ped._ I hear her coming up.

Thieves, Madam, Thieves!

Oh Heav'ns, it is my Lord!

_Anto._ d.a.m.n'd Letcher, so it is!

What, does your Courage fail you-- There, take that-- [Runs him through.

And boast in h.e.l.l that _Don Antonio_'s Sword Did thee the Honour to send thee thither.

_Flor._ O Heav'ns! My fears were true, the Rogue has kill'd me.

[Falls & dyes.

_Anto._ Now Monster of thy s.e.x, see this, and tell me What are the effects you do expect from it?

_Cael._ Death, that's less terrible then is your Anger, Which I perceive by it's effects already, Upon that Innocent Man cannot stay there.

_Anto._ Are your concerns for him, when they should be Employ'd to Heav'n for mercy to your Soul?

Nay, then h.e.l.l take it's Quarry; this for _Don Lewis_, This for _Don Francisco_; and take this last For thy insatiate l.u.s.t with that d.a.m.n'd Hind.

_Cael._ This killing me, my Lord, is very cruel; Since I ne're sinn'd in thought against your Honour.

This, as I do expect Eternal Rest, Is such a Truth, that I can dye in it.

_Anto._ O h.e.l.l and Furies! This Womans impudence exceeds you all.

See there a Dog just wreeking from thy Bed, Hot with the Labour you have put him to: And yet in thought you did not wrong my Honour.

_Cael._ From my Bed, my Lord! You are abus'd; That fellow was not here full half a minute, E're your self enter'd! Oh, I can no more-- Heav'n and the World grant Pardon for my Blood.

For truth it self bears witness; I dare say That more I sorrow for your guilt then Death.

_Anto._ If this be true, tell me as thou art dying, What made him here at such a time o' Night?

_Cael._ I cannot tell more, then that the Nurse did send him; And she's run mad with guilt, or shame, or both!