The Perjur'd Husband Part 1

The Perjur'd Husband.

by Susanna Centlivre.

ACT I. SCENE I.

_The Curtains fly up, and discover a Mask in_ Pizalto's _House_.

Pizalto, _Lady_ Pizalta, Lucy; Ludovico _talking to Lady_ Pizalta; Ba.s.sino _and_ Aurelia _talking together_; Florella _and other Maskers_.

_A_ Spanish _Entry_.

_While the Dance is performing_, _enter_ Armando, _and gives_ Ba.s.sino _two Letters, which he opens and reads_.

_Lady_ Pizalta _and_ Lucy _advance to the Front of the Stage_.

L. Piz. Oh! _Lucy_, I'm undone---- That Stranger there has charm'd my Heart: I feel The Pow'r of conquering Love; quick, quickly tell me, What shall I do to ease this racking Pa.s.sion?

_Lucy._ Nay, Madam, I fancy your Pa.s.sion has little Occasion for Lenitives; it blazes so violently at first, 'tis like to be soon extinguish'd.

L. _Piz._ Dear _Lucy_, don't trifle with me; but contrive, imagine, do any thing, to bless thy Love-sick Mistress with the Sight of that dear Man: And as an Earnest of further Rewards, here, take this---- [_Gives her a Ring._

_Lucy._ Madam, I receive your Commands with much Joy, but your Present with more----[_Aside._] I'll try what this projecting Brain can do, and if you step into the next Room, I'll soon give you an Account of my Proceedings. [_Exit L._ Pizalta.

_Ba.s.s._ Ye G.o.ds!

What have I done, that you pursue me thus?

Why did you e'er decree that I should wed A Wife I now must hate? Why did I see The bright _Aurelia_? Why am I thus torn 'Twixt Love and Duty? Oh! what Pangs, what Torments My Soul endures! Oh! my _Aurelia_!

[_Exeunt omnes, but_ Lucy & Ludov.

Lucy _pulling_ Ludovico _by the Sleeve_.

_Lucy._ Sir, Sir, one Word with you.

_Lud._ Your Business----

_Lucy._ May one ask you a civil Question, and be resolv'd?

_Lud._ Hum--A civil Question, sayst thou? What's it, prithee, a Night's Lodging? If so, pull off thy Mask, and I'll resolve thee instantly----But I never strike Bargains in the Dark.

_Lucy._ I don't know, Sir, but it may tend to that, by way of Proxy, at the long-run: But at present my Commission reaches no further than to know your Lodgings; if any Thing comes on't, I fancy 'twill not displease you.

_Lud._ (_Aside._) Hum----This is but a Pettifogger in Intrigues, I find----Egad, I'm like to be pretty well employ'd during the Carnival----Well, considering I am a Stranger here, this. .h.i.t may be a lucky one, and the Lady handsome----Egad, I'll fancy her so at least, wer't but for the Pleasure of Expectation.

_Lucy._ What are you studying, Sir? Are you so long resolving whether you shall accept a Lady's Favour, or no?

_Lud._ No, faith, Child: I am not over-scrupulous in those Matters----Let her be but Woman, and we shan't disagree----And so thou mayst tell her----There's a Direction for thee. [_Tears the Superscription of a Letter and gives it her._ [_Exit_ Ludovico.

_Lucy._ Frank and easy, _a la mode de Paris_----Well, these indifferent Sparks charm more than all your cringing Fops----Now for my Business--Let me see--I'll to my Lady, she'll write; I'll carry the Letter, and the Devil will turn Saint, if I don't bring 'em together, and merit a further Recompence.

_By Coupling many have their Fortunes made;_ _I only want Preferment, not my Trade._ [_Exit_ Lucy.

SCENE II.

_The Scene changes to_ Ba.s.sino's _Lodgings, and discovers the Count in his Night-gown, a Table with Lights, and Letters lying on the Table_.

_Ba.s.s._ All Things lie hush'd in peaceful Silence here: All but _Ba.s.sino_'s Mind----Oh! happy he Who lives secure and free from Love's Alarms.

But happier far, who, Master of himself, Ranges abroad without that Clog, a Wife.

Oh! rigorous Laws impos'd on Free-born Man!

On Man, by bounteous Nature first design'd The Sovereign Lord of all the Universe!

Why must his generous Pa.s.sion thus be starv'd, And be confined to one alone?

The Woman, whom Heaven sent as a Relief, To ease the Burden of a tedious Life, And be enjoy'd when summon'd by Desire, Is now become the Tyrant of our Fates. [_Takes up a Letter._ But hold, _Ba.s.sino_! whither does thy Pa.s.sion Hurry thy wandering Reason: Let this Letter Re-call the Fugitive, and fix thy Senses On duteous Love----A Wife, so young, so fair, So excellent, whose Charms not three Months since Did fire thy Soul; a Wife, who dotes on thee; A Wife to whom thou sworest eternal Love---- By Heaven, I swear again I will be true.

This Thought again restores my Peace of Mind---- No, charming Wife; no dear _Placentia_, no, Thou shalt not beg in vain: I will return [_Kisses the Letter._ But who comes here--My Friend _Armando_?

_Enter_ Armando.

_Arm._ Dear Friend, I heard The Conflict of your Pa.s.sion, and my Joys Are now compleat, since Virtue gains the Day.

_Ba.s.s._ Yes, dear _Armando_, the Conflict is o'er, And I'm resolv'd to fly to my _Placentia_.

_Arm._ Cherish that Thought: By Heaven your Resolution Transports my Soul with Joy!

A kind, a virtuous Wife waits your Embraces; A Wife, who like a Turtle mourns the Absence Of her dear Mate. Haste then, my Friend, to drive That Cloud of Sorrow which o'ercasts her Mind, And, like the Sun, dispel her gloomy Thoughts.

_Ba.s.s._ Thanks for your Counsel---- You like a G.o.d support my feeble Virtue.

This very Morning I'll prepare for _Turin_, Where Time and Absence will deface the Image Of that bewitching Beauty, which now haunts My tortur'd Mind--Yet, first I'll take my Leave Of this fair Charmer----And Heaven grant That I may see her unconcern'd----

_Arm._ My Lord, what d'you mean?

Have you well weigh'd the Danger of this Visit?

_Ba.s.s._ What danger can there be?

_Arm._ Danger! my Lord--Consider well how feeble Our Reason is against the Pow'r of Beauty----

_Ba.s.s._ My Resolution's firm; no Charm can shake it.

_Arm._ If not her Beauty, fear her Syren Tongue; fear her endearing Prayers, her fond Reproaches, Her tender Sighs, her Vows, her trickling Tears.

Nay--if all these prove vain, fear her Despair, A Woman, an abandon'd Woman's Rage.

_Ba.s.s._ Were there more Dangers, yet I'll stand 'em all; My Honour bids me pay this parting Visit: My Heart shall have no Share in what I'll speak.

Trust me this once, and be yourself a Witness, _Ba.s.sino_ can controul unlawful Love.----

_Arm._ My Lord, 'tis with Regret I see you go, May Heaven a.s.sist you in this dangerous Strife.

SCENE III.