The Perjur'd Husband Part 2

Alonzo _going_. _Enter_ Florella.

_Flor. aside._ Ha----_Alonzo_ here! I must prevent a Discovery.

_Alon._ _Florella_ here! she comes opportunely----she may inform me of what I yet but fear----Good-morrow, _Florella_: How fares my Love, my dear _Aurelia_?

_Flor._ Signior, Good-morrow; you are an early Visitant.

_Alon._ Not for a Man in Love; but answer me, How does _Aurelia_?

_Flor._ Well in Health----Only she's now and then in a little Fit of Melancholy, such as usually proceeds from timorous Doubts about that dreadful State of Matrimony. You know the Time draws nigh that gives her to your Arms.

_Alon._ By Heaven! 'Tis an Age, there's six Days yet to come.

_Flor._ An Age, indeed, if he knew all. [_Aside._

_Alon._ But haste, _Florella_; lead me to my Dear, She only can contract that tedious Age Of lingring Pain, and sooth it with her Smiles.

Say, is she alone?

_Flor._ Yes----No---- Oh! Heaven! What shall I say? [_Aside._ She, she's a----

_Alon._ Ha----What means this faultering Answer?

All's not right, and my Suspicion's true.

_Flor._ Signior, my Lady is not drest, and I shall displease her, in admitting even you, without her Leave.

_Alon._ Ha----not drest----Take heed you mock me not; Nor think to blind me with your feign'd Excuse: For in your guilty Face I read the Truth.

Come, tell me who's with her? is't not _Ba.s.sino_?

_Flor. aside._ Oh! Heaven! What shall I say?

_Alon._ Nay, nay, no Study: Lying will not do: I saw 'em part from hence, just now I saw 'em.

Harkee, sweet Mistress, how long have you practis'd This subtle Trade? I find you're much improv'd.

h.e.l.l and d.a.m.nation----quickly, tell me What did _Ba.s.sino_ give for his Admittance?

I'll double the Reward--but she's not drest for me---- Oh! d.a.m.n'd, d.a.m.n'd s.e.x!

_Flor._ Signior, what do you mean?

_Alon._ To see _Aurelia_----see her instantly---- Nay by Heaven! I will: All Opposition's vain: For by th' avenging Power of Love I swear, Tho' in _Ba.s.sino_'s Arms, I'll drag her thence, Only to cast her from my Sight for ever: Nor shall he live to triumph in my Shame.

What tho' the Marriage Rites be not perform'd, Yet I may call her Wife. Her Father gave her to me: And her own Vows have fix'd my Heart in her's.

Must then _Alonzo_ be deny'd Admittance, Under that poor Pretence that she's not drest?

Whilst base _Ba.s.sino_ lies dissolv'd in Pleasures On her perfidious Breast----Oh! killing Thought!

She makes my Name of Husband infamous, Even before the Priest has join'd our Hands.

I'll in, and if th' Affront I tamely bear, May Heaven deny me at my latest Prayer. [_Exeunt._

SCENE IV. Ludovico's _Lodgings_.

Ludovico _solus_.

_Lud._ Who waits?

_Enter_ Mountaine.

_Mount._ Did you call, Sir?

_Lud._ _Mountaine_, run to Signiora _Ronquilla_, and tell her I have done with her for ever, if she does not send this Evening the hundred Ducats she promised to lend me----And harkee, as you come back, acquaint Signiora _Cornara_ I shall be busy To-morrow, and desire she will put off her Visit till another Day.

[_Knocking at the Door._

_Mount._ Sir, there's somebody at the Door.

_Lud._ See who 'tis.

_Mount._ Sir, a Gentlewoman desires to speak with you.

_Lud._ A Gentlewoman! admit her----Well, 'Tis a great Fatigue to oblige the whole s.e.x.

_Enter_ Lucy.

Oh! what News from your Lady?

_Lucy._ This will inform you, Sir. [_Gives him a Letter._

_Lud. reads._ Hum, hum, a Letter----_Tho' it may seem improper for one of my s.e.x to make the first Step in an Amour, yet you ought to consider, that the rigorous Confinement we are under all the Year round, may, in some Measure, excuse the Liberties we take during the Carnival. If you have the Courage to meet me, I shall be at four in the Afternoon in the_ Piazza d'Espagna, _invisible to all but yourself_.----Well, I believe all Women in _Venice_ are wild for Gallants.

_Lucy._ Sir, what Answer shall I return to my Lady?

_Lud. aside._ Egad----I am in Doubt whether I shall throw my Time away on this Intrigue or no----Harkee Child, step into the next Chamber, and I'll answer your Message instantly---- [_Exit_ Lucy.

Let me see----[_Reads in his Table-Book_] _Monday_, at Two in the Afternoon, I am to meet Signiora _Belleza_ at her Nurse's----She's a pretty Rogue, and so I'll go--At Three of the Clock, Signiora _Dorinda_, the Senator's Wife, at the _Indian_ House----Pshaw, she's an old Acquaintance,----I shan't go----At half an Hour past Three, the Countess _Wrinkle_, who presented me with a Gold-hilted Sword----Silly Fool! does she think I'll bestow one of my Visits on an old shrivelled Piece of Antiquity, for a trifling Present, not worth above three-score Pistoles----At a Quarter past Four, my Semstress _Dorothy Steenkirk_, who supplies me with Linen,--Oh! this Visit may be put off for a new Intrigue--And so I'll acquaint the Messenger. [_Exit_ Ludovico.

_The End of the First Act._

ACT II. SCENE I.

_A Chamber in Signior_ Pizalto's _House_.

_Enter Lady_ Pizalta, Lucy.

Lady _Piz._ Did you deliver my Letter to _Ludovico_, _Lucy_?

_Lucy._ Madam, I did; I found him in his Study, reading the Lover's Watch, which he swears does not at all agree with his Const.i.tution.

He hates Injunctions of Love, like those of Penance: For the one, says he, is no more pleasurable to the Body, than the other beneficial to the Soul.