May seek mischief, which because you are no Witch,
And cannot come through a Key-hole to compass,
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 Hell.
_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.
_Cælia_ in Bed, and _Flora_ all Bloody.
_Cæl._ 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.
_Cæl._ '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.
_Cæl._ Bid him come in.
_Flor._ My Lady bids you enter.
[Enter _Pedro_.
_Cæl._ _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._ Damn'd Letcher, so it is!
What, does your Courage fail you--
There, take that--
[Runs him through.
And boast in Hell 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 Sex, see this, and tell me
What are the effects you do expect from it?
_Cæl._ 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 Hell take it's Quarry; this for _Don Lewis_,
This for _Don Francisco_; and take this last
For thy insatiate Lust with that damn'd Hind.
_Cæl._ 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 Hell 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.
_Cæl._ 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?
_Cæl._ I cannot tell more, then that the Nurse did send him;
And she's run mad with guilt, or shame, or both!
Oh, I can say no more--the Room turns Round;
My Lord, farewell--Heav'n pardon you all Blood,
As I forgive you mine--oh, oh--
[Dyes.
_Anto._ Her Death both staggers, and amazes me!
Are these Dead too?
_Ped._ Not yet, my Lord, I am not.
Your Sword hath left me some small time for Prayers,
And it had need; for I believe few Souls
Can be assur'd to find their way to heav'n
Without more warning to begin their Journey.
But yet I do not find much cause for doubt.
_Anto._ Nay, if thou'st hopes, by that I do conjure thee
Tell me, what brought thee hither?
_Ped._ The Nurses madness;
She call'd me from my Bed, and told me, _Flora_
Was sent to bid me come unto my Lady,
Which though I scarce believ'd, yet I did do't.
_Anto._ Why did you say it was her madness did it?
_Ped._ My Lady said she was so, for she came
Not long before shreeking into this Chamber,
So as you enter'd I was going down
To lock her up till morning in some Room:
This, as I hope for heav'n, my Lord, is true.
_Anto._ Then 'tis as true, that I must never hope for it,
For I have kill'd a Wife of such obedience--
But hold, I'le pump the Nurse--who set her on
To tell me this.
[Enter Nurse frighted.
_Nurse._ O! whether will you drive me!
Be gone, be gone!
_Anto._ Here, here she comes, I'le make her tell me all.
_Jasp._ But I'le prevent the story if I can.--
_Jasper_ Runs Nurse through but is staid by _Antonio_.
_Anto._ What, does the Villain mean to kill her yet?
_Jasp._ Does she not deserve it? To invent such lyes,
And do such mischiefs with them.
_Nurse._ O thou damn'd Rogue! 'Twas thou that made me do't.
_Jasp._ You lying Witch, be damn'd--
[Offers at her again.
_Anto._ Forbear, you Rogue, I'le do as much for you else.
Speak, why you did it?
_Nurse._ My Lord, he threaten'd me, and made me do't;
And taught me to call _Pedro_ when you knockt.
_Ped._ Look to your self, my Lord, he'l kill you else.
[_Jasper_ runs _Anto._ behind.
_Jasp._ This way is only left--hell take your Tongue.
_Anto._ Ah, thou hast kill'd me; yet I have strength enough
To send thy Soul to hell.
[They fight. A noise without. _Jasper_ is mortally wounded.
_Jasp._ 'Tis done, I am catch'd at last in my
Own Trap. Oh, I deserve my Death for want
Of fore-sight, to let him Live a spye upon my Actions.
I should have serv'd you thus, and thus,
And thus--and you too thus.
[Runs _Pedro_ through as he lyes, and Nurse.
_Ped._ Oh, O, O!
[_Pedro_ and Nurse Dye.
_Anto._ Infernal Monster! how his malice lasts.
_Within._ This way's the noise.
_Enter Captain, Watch, and Servant._
_Capt._ What horrid sight is this? We come too late.
_Anto._ Too late indeed, except you'd come to save
The best of Wives that there lyes murder'd
By my accursed hand.
_Capt._ What, _Cælia_ dead too! What made you do't, my Lord?
_Jasp._ Alas! he cannot tell; the Jealous fool
Was but an Instrument in my Revenge;
'Tis only I can tell you why she dy'd.
But yet I would not give that satisfaction,
Did I not fear my Name would be forgotten,
Except this Tale of my Revenge was known;
In which I shall live famous.--
_Serv._ O thou Dogg! Dost glory in the mischiefs thou hast done?
_Jasp._ I, and have reason; name the man that ever
Did in one Day contrive so many Murders,
And make 'em all Successful.
_Capt._ But what should move thee to this Villainy?
_Jasp._ For that you will not wonder.
I am _Jasper De Monsalvo_, Heir to that Estate
This Lord doth now possess.
_Anto._ Ah Heav'ns! some of that desperate Bandity
Did once attempt my life.
_Jasp._ Yes truly--
_Anto._ Poor _Cælia_, 'tis no wonder thy mind did boad
Great mischiefs from this Fellow, being Son of
One did still contrive to kill me, for what the
King after just forfeiture for mighty services
Had given my Father.
_Jasp._ O Revenge!
Thy sweetness takes away the taste of Death.
But you'l lose my story; which in short is this:
That Lady lov'd me not, and therefore I
Made her Lord Jealous, took him to a Witch,
And there I fool'd him finely: Till the Jade,
Who was my Aunt indeed, at your approach
Would have discover'd all; which I prevented,
And stopt her Mouth with this: Then I contriv'd
To kill _Eugenia_, knowing she would meet
_Francisco_ in the Garden; that I did
Because she call'd me Villain, and refus'd
To let me Whore her too, as did her Couzen;
And more, I knew the simple Lord I serv'd
When he had Murder'd her, as I should make him,
Would thank my Care, and well reward it too:
Nay, I'd have him do't for his own safety,
That still the Murder might be thought _Francisco_'s;
You know the rest i'th' Garden. I taught besides
That damn'd Old Hagg, whose fear has made me thus,
To put this trick on _Pedro_: I bid her call him
When she should hear us whistle, then in haste,
And all undrest send him to _Cælia_'s Chamber,
Whilst we, let in, might meet him coming thence,
Thinking the Cuckold's Rage would murder all,
And never hear 'em speak; but there I fail'd,
Their dying words betray'd me, that's the worst,
Or I had liv'd to glory in their Deaths;
But this my Comfort is, he'l not survive me,
I have done his bus'ness too before I dye.
_Serv._ Was er'e so Impudent a Villain seen?
_Capt._ I'le try to stop his wounds, that so
I may keep him for Execution.
_Jasp._ Stand off, by Hell,
He that comes near me finds his Death with this!
Think you I'm grown so tame to dye by Law;
No, no, I'le not endure a formal Tryal,
To be upbraided with those things I think
Deserve a Trophy rather then Contempt,
Which since I know will follow, here's my Bail,
This will deliver any Man from Jayl.
Let Cowards dye by hanging; such as I
As we live bravely, thus dare bravely dye.
[Stabs himself.
_Capt._ He has done well; no Excutioner
Could have been found so bad as his own hand,
And Hell will give him what he wants on Earth:
And yet, my Lord, it troubles me for you,
Since my Place binds me to secure your Person,
To answer Law for all your Rage has done.
_Anto._ Shame almost stops my mouth; yet, Captain, know
My wound won't give me time for that misfortune;
Stay but a little, let me fix my Eyes
On what lies here, for that alone would give me
A sudden Death, had I no other hurt.
I dare not hope for Heav'n, having done
So black a Murder on such Innocence,
And yet I do believe her Charity
As it did dying, still doth beg that Pardon
Might from above be granted to my soul,
Which if I miss, as I have cause to fear,
Then sure I shall be turn'd into a Devil
For ever to Torment his Cursed soul
That led me to these mischiefs.
'Twould be some ease, if Heaven but granted that,
But I begin to faint! Oh, Blessed Soul
Dart forth one Beam of Light, to guide the way,
Or I shall always wander in the dark.
Night seizes me already: yet from hence
In spight of death my soul shall take her flight,
Go where I will, I thus set out a right.
[Dyes.
_Serv._ He's dead--
_Capt._ By dying so, at least he's thus far happy,
That he Escapes the Punishments of Tryal,
And the Exemplar death must have attended
Which to a man so Jealous of his Fame
As he was, would have been a Hell on Earth.
Your Duty to your Lord will keep you safe,
Yet you must to the Vice-Roy go with me
To be a Witness there of what hath happn'd,
The story else will seem Incredible.
_Serv._ I am ready, Sir, for all you shall Command.
_Capt._ Oh Jealousie, thou sickness of great souls,
To what a Rage didst thou transport this Lord?
For had his Wife been false it was not good
By Murd'ring her to drown himself in Blood;
_For Lust may be Excus'd since flesh is frail,
But Murder on the Soul does guilt Entail._
The Curtain Falls.
EPILOGUE
By Mr. _Harris_.
_A Tragedy, and not Heroick Verse,
The Comick part fit only for a Farse;
No Atheism, nor any man we know
Abus'd, no repartee, nor splendid show;
But very little Bawdy, and less wit,
The Devil's in't, crys one, is this Play hit.
Faith--may be not, and may be too it will,
For Chance sometimes exceeds all rules of skill.
As he who Rageing did his Pencil throw,
And Painted that by chance, he could not draw
For we have seen, and lately too, a Play
Cry'd down by those that cannot keep away
And when they come spight of themselves they stay.
And to our sorrow we have others known,
That for their wit have Wit it self out-done,
And yet you wits, that praise 'em seldom come.
So the Goodman, oft-times for cause unknown,
Leaves well-drest Beauteous Wife for Homely Joan.
And you that Misses keep too, I'm afraid
Do sometimes make e'm Jealous of the Maid;
So if this Play not drest by rules of Art
Should with some Trick of Nature catch the heart;
We'd give you leave to rail, and never fear,
Because we're sure you'd come to do it here.
Gallants you see what e're you say or do,
Plays will be writ, and we shall Act 'em too.
Some will for pleasure, some for profit write,
Some for Applause, and some will do't in spight,
Such bit by Critticks, strait run mad and bite.
This does our bu'sness; but we'd have you know,
We wish we'd none but true brisk wit to show,
We silence wish that Men might hear a Play,
And wish that Vizard Mask would keep away:
But we as well might wish we were those Kings
We sometimes Act, as hope to see these things.
Then since to rail o'th' Stage and in the Pit,
Must in this sickly Age be counted Wit;
And that th' Infection cannot be subdu'd,
We Actors for our own sakes do conclude,
The Itch to write and rail will ne're be cur'd,
And therefore faith let 'em be both Endur'd._
_FINIS._
_ERRATA._
[Transcriber's Note:
These corrections were included in the printed book. The uncorrected
line is given in brackets for reference. Additional changes and problems
are listed at the end of this text.]
Page 17. Line 36. For _your_ read _their_.
[so begging / Your Lordships Discharge, I'm gone, and then {your} /
Fears are over.]
p. 23. l. 19. f. _Taylors_ r. _Juglers_.
[Yet I Confederate with Rogues and {Taylors}]
p. 31. l. 18. r. _my fears_.
[_Ger._ Farewell: May all my {} to nothing tend;]
p. 38. l. 7. r. _Villain by_.
[line 6, not 7: And such a {Villaine y}?--]
p. 51. l. 6. f. _first_ r. _worst_.
[Lose their {first} property, which is to fright."]
p. 53. l. 35. f. _his_ r. _in_.
[_Anto._ I, and {his} Soul retorted back the Lye,]
p. 57. l. 11. f. _there_ r. _then_.
[And {there} been Canoniz'd: Was it of me]
p. 58. l. 36. f. _this_ r. _his_
[O Heavenly Angels lead me not {this} way,]
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[Errata:
beyond the mem'ry /
Of man. What drudgery am I forc'd to undergo to
_text reads_ Of ma.
but I /
Must keep count of her _Pater Nosters_:
_text reads_ her her
_Jasp._ Ay, Sir, 'tis to be suppos'd;
_text shows_ _Jasp._ y, Sir (with gap)
The first did sell, and then betray'd my Honour,
_so in original_: She?
would I raise /
Storms when I would, blast Corn, turn Rivers backward
_text shows_ Rive vard (with gap)
_Enter Witch with a block Rod
_so in original_: black?
You would resolve some Questions I should ask;
_text reads_ Qustions
Runs her through often, then throws her into the hole, she
shun'd him, then lyes down and trembles.
_reading_ shun'd _in original_
_Anto._ 'Tis strange and wonderful.
_text shows_ 'Tis range (with gap)
No, 'tis to take my leave,
_text shows_ take my eave (with gap)
But we must needs have seen e'm.
_text reads_ have seem e'm.
_Anto._ Ah Heav'ns! some of that desperate Bandity
Did once attempt my life.
_so in original_: Banditry?
To let me Whore her too, as did her Couzen;
_text reads_ To lent me
The Comick part fit only for a Farse;
_text reads_ fit only for Fase ]
End of Project Gutenberg's The Fatal Jealousie (1673), by Henry Nevil Payne