The Fatal Jealousie (1673) | Page 7

Rascal, slight my favours? you shall repent it.
_Jasp._ No, Nurse, think not so, but--
_Flora within._ Why, Nurse, Nurse, my Lady wants you; come away
there, I know where you have been all Night.
_Jasp._ Why, there 'tis--this is what I fear'd, I am undone, A plague of
Cubbard Love--step into the Closet.
_Nurse._ What's that you say, Cubbard Love?
_Jasp._ No, no, prethee no Arguments, but step into the Closet.
_Flora within._ Why, Nurse, I say! why don't you come away? My
Lady wants you.
[Jasper goes to the Door.
_Jasp._ Flora, what's the matter with you? Nurse is not here; Do but
come in and see.
[Enter Flora.
_Flor._ Come, come, she must be here; for she was not in her own Bed
to Night, and where should She be, but with you?
_Jasp._ With me! what the Devil should she do with me? Can't her Old
Chopps mumble her Beads o're, but I Must keep count of her _Pater

Nosters_: No, no, she's Gon on Pilgrimage to some Shrine, to beg
Children For my Lady; 'tis a devout Old Woman.
_Flor._ Devout! I, her Devotion and yours are much alike, The Fit ne're
took you but once in your Lives, and Then, 'tis true you wept at Prayers,
that was, at your Own Christnings.
_Jasp._ Prethee more Charity, sweet dear _Flora_; come, let Me kiss
thee.
_Flor._ Pray forbear, I'de sooner kiss a Horse.
_Jasp._ Why so scornful, dear _Flora_?
_Flor._ That's not my bus'ness; come, tell me, where's the Nurse?
_Jasp._ Prethee, why dost ask me for the Nurse? Dost think I am so hot
to make Love to a Monument? Why, she's Old enough to be Mother of
all Mankind; her skin's Turn'd to parchment, he that should enjoy her,
had as Good lye with a bundle of Old Records. In truth, she's Fit for
nothing now, but to be hang'd up amongst the Monsters in a
'Pothecaries Shop, where, with abuse to The Beast, she would be taken
for a large Apes skin stufft With Hay. Ah, Flora, if she were as Young
as thou art, then't might be likely, I might find her when she was lost.
_Flor._ Well, if she be not here now, I'm sure it was not for Nothing
you once lost your way into her Chamber, And staid all Night.
_Jasp._ Meer Drunkenness, by this Light, Flora! Why, if it had Been a
Vault full of Dead Carkasses, I should have slipt Into it in the pickle I
was in--Nay, for ought I know, With more pleasure too.
[Enter Nurse.
_Nurse._ Now out upon you for a Rogue, There's no enduring this.
_Jasp._ Do but hear me, Nurse.
_Flor._ Ay, hear him, Nurse, he'l be sure to recant and Swear you're as

sweet as--a--fogh--so sweet--
_Nurse._ What, Hussy, dare you abuse me--I that gave suck To my
Lady before thou wast born--you Young Whore.
_Flor._ Young Whore! why not Old Whore, Nurse, as well as Young
Whore?
_Nurse._ You damn'd Young Slut, I'le tear out your Eyes.
_Flor._ My Feet shall save my Eyes, except you can out-run Me to my
Lady.
[Exit Flora.
_Jasp._ Have not you made fine work now? I but dissembled To take
off suspition--and you must shew your self, I'm sure I shall be turn'd
away for your folly.
_Nurse._ But dissembled, said you? Marry, there's dissembling indeed.
_Jasp._ Nay, Nurse, consider, dost think I would have spoke so In thy
hearing, had it been for any other thing? But Prethee kiss me--I protest
thou'rt as sweet as Arsifettito.
_Nurse._ _Arsifettito!_ What's that?
_Jasp._ A Rich perfume the Chymists make, and good against Fits o' th'
Mother. But what shall I do now? I shall Be turn'd away.
_Nurse._ I'le warrant thee, I'le place thee with Eugenia, she Shall take
care of thee for mine and a Friends sake Of hers.
_Jasp._ Ay, ay, that's _Francisco_; but you have promis'd me Often to
tell me a secret concerns them; prethee Do't now, Nurse.
_Nurse._ But will you ne're speak on't? If you do, I shall Get no more
money for thee, _Jasper_; that's the way, I get all, Chuck; no, no, no
matter what's between them, Trust thou to me.

_Jasp._ Well, Nurse, I thought you had Lov'd me, but I see You do not;
you know I can keep secrets.
_Nurse._ Ay, but this is such a one I dare not tell it; besides, It was not
_Eugenia_s fault at first--alas, poor Fool, she was in a sad taking, when
she found Her Couzen Francisco in Bed with her.
_Jasp._ In Bed, sayst thou?
_Nurse._ Lord bless me! what have I done? If you should Tell now.
_Jasp._ Ne're fear it, tell me all: I would not for the World have mist
this Story, it