The Fatal Jealousie (1673) | Page 8

makes a full amends For all my Crosses; come, Nurse,
prethee quickly Tell me all passages.
_Nurse._ I tell no more, my mind misgives me I've said Too much
already.
_Jasp._ Not tell me more, Old Beldame? Speak it quickly, Or what I
know shall soon unto my Lord.
_Nurse._ How now! Is this dissembling too?
_Jasp._ No, 'tis as great a truth as what you told me of, _Don
Francisco_'s Bedding with _Eugenia_; tell me the Rest, and by it save
your Life.
_Nurse._ Dear Jasper, be not angry, and I will.
_Jasp._ Come, Nurse, do it, and then we'l kiss and be Friends. I shall
have use of her. [Aside.
_Nurse._ Now thou shalt have my heart; and thus it is: Don Francisco
doth often meet Eugenia i'th' Garden, who, to avoid suspition, after her
Sisters In Bed, by my means gets her Night-Gown, and Puts it on so to
avoid being known, shou'd any see her.
_Jasp._ Oh, Excellent! when do they meet again?

_Nurse._ I've promis'd him this Night, though she was loath, Till I told
her he would but take his leave, for she's Grown a little backward, now
she's to marry Don Gerardo.
_Jasp._ Is she to marry him, sayst thou?
_Nurse._ I, sure, for he makes Love to her, and she's so hot Upon't, that
she vows after this Night never to meet Francisco any more; but I'le go
Live with her, And so shalt thou.
_Jasp._ Ay, so I will--i'th' Garden, sayst thou, and in her Sisters Gown,
no body with them!
Nurse Yes, the Lord Sebastian, he knows all, and alwayes Waits upon
'em.
_Jasp._ That's well, keep thou the secret close, and ne're fear me; But if
my Lord should ask suspitiously questions About his Wife--name
Pedro to him, say, when he's From Home, that Fellow stayes too long
within her Chamber, and say, that Flora waits; leave me to prove It
true.
_Nurse._ Why, 'tis not so, I dare not tell my Lord so damn'd a Lye.
_Jasp._ Why? Y'are a Fool, there shall no hurt come of it, Only we'l be
Reveng'd of Pedro, and that Slut, for They're our Enemies; besides, if
you won't, I'le swear You told me so, and moreover, let him know all
the Rest y'have told me.
_Nurse._ Nay, don't be angry, and I'le do any thing.
_Enter _Cælia_, Pedro, and Flora._
_Cæl._ Oh, thou Old doting Fool! what, still remain here! What
punishment is proper for thy Age? As for you, Sirrah, I believe my
Lord will find a way quickly to Send you packing.
_Jasp._ It may be so, but 'tis without a cause.

_Cæl._ Impudent Villain! how I do hate thy sight. Follow you me. [To
Nurse.]
[Ex. _Cæl._ Nurse, & Flora.
_Ped._ What, i'th' dumps, Seignior! all a mort for your Mistress, faith
man, take it not so to heart, there are others I'th' World as Young,
though few may be as handsome.
_Jasp._ Ay, Sir, 'tis to be suppos'd; you can boast it by Experience,
There are Young Ladies for spruce _Pedro's_--_Jasper_-- Must be
content with their Nurses.
_Ped._ Content, say you? I, Marry, if she content you not, the Devil
can't; why, she's a Dish of variety, like a huge _Olio_; there's all Ages
of Women in her. Thou art The happiest man in a Mistress,
_Jasper_--faith, I envy thee.
_Jasp._ 'Tis very well.
_Ped._ Not too well neither.
_Jasp._ You may laugh; you stand on the top of Favour, Have a care of
falling down, I may catch you One day.
_Ped._ No, never with an Old Woman; it's worse then Committing
Incest; to Cuckold, for ought I know, a dozen Generations.
_Jasp._ Rest you merry, I can leave you.
_Ped._ But I'le not quit you so.
[Exeunt.
_Enter Antonio and Gerardo Discoursing._
_Ger._ In this dear Friend, consists my happiness; Therefore deny me
not--Why pause you, Sir? My fears are come about--

_Anto._ What, hath Eugenia given her consent?
_Ger._ I say not so, my Lord, but her denyals Were spoke so faintly, I
Interpret well.
_Anto._ Dear Friend, I am afraid you do mistake The Object of your
Joyes, let me perswade You to believe, there's not that happiness In
Marriage-Beds, as single People guess, No, no, so far from that, that
thousands be Flatter'd by hopes to endless misery. And where there's
two obtain their hearts desire, Ten thousand miss it, and in grief expire.
_Ger._ Were these Positions true, there's no man, sure, If Widdowed
once, could other Wives endure. And yet we see the first depriv'd of
Life, There's few that seek not for a second Wife.
_Anto._ 'Tis true, though strange, but yet our minds are such, As
alwayes find too little, or too much; Desire's a Monster, whose
extended Maw Is never