The Fatal Jealousie (1673) | Page 6

Life.
_Anto._ Has Don Gerardo Service for Antonio, His own Antonio and
yet defers to name it? Speak your Commands, that I as swift may flye
To put 'em into Action as I did At first to meet those pleasures Lovers
long for.
_Ger._ My fears perswade me I shall speak too soon, Yet dress your
self, and come into the Garden, I with impatience there will wait to tell
you.
_Anto._ Go then, you shall not long be silent. [Ex. Gerardo. Who waits
there? [Enter Pedro, and Exit. Pedro, call my Wife-- My Wife, said I!
Gerardo, didst thou know The secret fears contain'd within this
Bosome, Thou'dst sooner pitty me, than wish my Life: How can I think
her story of the Jewels, And other matters 'bout her Fathers Will, Could
have produc'd so scandalous a Meeting? And yet she still avows it! Oh,
Jealousie! Where will these panting fears still hurry me? I hourly seek

to find what I wou'd give, A thousand Worlds my heart would ne're
believe; And yet for what do I thus vex my self? For that, which if 'twas
gone, I cou'd not miss; No, would I could, for then I'de never fear, But
when I found her Honour gone astray, I'd send her Life to fetch mine
back again.
_Enter _Cælia_._
_Cæl._ What's your Command, my Lord?
_Anto._ Prethee, my Dear, do not retire too much, But shew a merry
freedom to our Friends, That they may think us happy, themselves
welcome.
_Cæl._ My Lord, I shall, and reason have to do it; But I desire you
would dispence my absence, Only a little time, I being preparing A
general Confession I shall make to Morrow.
_Anto._ You'l be too long about it.
_Cæl._ No, my Lord, I take the shortest way In writing what my
thoughts can re-collect.
_Ant._ You would not let me read it, when y'have done?
_Cæl._ I do confess I should be loath, my Lord. But yet from any Sin
concerns your self, I am as free as are the purer Angels, Or may I find
no profit by my Prayers.
_Anto._ I will believe thee; go, make haste and do it. [Ex. _Cælia_. Yet,
if't be possible, I'm resolv'd to see it; 'Twill Cure my fears, perhaps, or
change their Natures, And make 'em certainties the lesser evil cause
sooner Cur'd: For Jealousies with fear doth plague the mind, But that is
Cur'd when certainties we find. [Ex. Anto.
_The Scene changes, Discovers Jasper, as from Bed, Buttoning
himself._
_Jasp._ Oh, plague o'this Old Bitch, she has kept me So awake with her

Coughing all Night, that I Have quite out-slept my self. [Looks on's
Watch. By Heav'n near Ten a Clock, and she not gone Yet--plague on
her--she'l be catch'd, and I shall Be turn'd away--why Nurse--make
haste, 'tis Ten a Clock and past, you will be wanting.
_Nurse within._ That cannot be, alas, the times but short That I've been
with thee, my Dear.
_Jasp._ No, perhaps you think so; But let me ever want money to drink,
If I have not thought the time longer Then her Life has been, and that
began beyond the mem'ry Of man. What drudgery am I forc'd to
undergo to Get a little money to support me--that I may Live to Watch
all apted times for my Revenge on this whole Family, who Rise upon
the Ruines of our House. This Nurse of Ninety never stayes with me
but I'de as live have been Rid by a Night-Mare.
_Enter Nurse._
_Nurse._ What's that, Night-Mare? Am I a Night-Mare?
_Jasp._ No, Nurse, I said, I was troubl'd with a Night-Mare, And
should be worse, were it not for thy Company.
_Nurse._ Nay, I am good Friend of thine every way.
_Jasp._ That's true; but Nurse make haste, for I am Damnably afraid
Flora suspects us e're since She took me in your Chamber, and if she
shou'd Take you here, and tell my Lady, I should be turn'd Away, for
you know she loves me not e're since I Gave my Lord notice of her
meeting Don Lewis, To give him the money and Jewels, her Father Left
privately in her hands for him when he dy'd.
_Nurse._ I Chuck, but why didst thou do so?
_Jasp._ In hopes to have got some of the money for my Discovery,
what made her tempt me with the Trust of money, and give me none to
keep Counsel. But prethee Nurse be gone.

_Nurse._ I, give me but one buss, and I will. [Kisses him, and is going.
_Jasp._ What a belch was there to perfume it?
[She comes back.
_Nurse._ Sweet Rogue, I cannot go without the other kiss.
_Jasp._ Oh, Nurse! you will undo me; prethee no more.
_Nurse._ What,