[Exeunt.
EnterCæliaandEugenia.
Cæl.Blame not my Husband, Sister, ’twas my fault,I strove ’gainst Reason to oppose his Will.Had I forborn my importunity,’Tis ten to one he had not been so wilful;Husband’s prerogatives are absolute,Their wills we must obey, and not dispute.
Eug.I beg his Pardon, if I think amiss,But I believe there’s some design in this;His Eyes shew’d more of Anger then could beA bare concern for’s Friend’s Infirmity.
Cæl.I will no censure on his Actions lay,My Duty is for their success to pray.
EnterDon Gerardo.
Ger.Your Servant, Ladies, where isDon Antonio?
Cæl.Why, atDon Johns, my Lord, do not you know it?
Ger.Then he is not come back, as I had thought.
Cæl.My Lord, why thought you so?
Ger.Madam, I did not know but that he might,Since ’tis not five hours bus’ness to Ride thither,And to return again; but, Madam, prayHow came the LordFranciscoto be here?I think he does not use it.
Eug. Francisco! O my fears!
Cæl.No sure, my Lord, he ne’re came within these doorsSince my good Father dy’d.
Ger.Sure I’m mistaken, Madam, if I did notMeet him just now as he came forth this Room:And more, he shak’d his head in Anger at me.
Cæl.I’m sure, my Lord, you’re mistaken much,For you’re the first that enter’d here but us.
Ger.It may be I’m mistaken.
Cæl.Yes, sure, my Lord, you are.
Ger.Madam, if your Commands
[ToEugenia.
Extend to any thing within my pow’r, pray name it,I shall be proud to serve you; else I’m gone,For I have certain bus’ness does require it.
Eug.The greatest Service you can do to me,Is to be careful of your self, my Lord.
Ger.This kindness doth oblige me, pardon my haste,Good Night, and Rest unto your Ladyships.
[Exit.
Cæl.Good Night, my Lord;Florais so possest her Dream is true,she dare not venture in that Room again.
Eug.She is not such a Fool, sure.
Cæl.Well, Sister, I am not well, and will to Bed;the Nurse will wait on you, I’le send her to you.Come,Flora, go with me.
[Ex.Cæl.andFlora.
Eug.Madam, good Rest unto you.This I can wish to her, whilst I must want it:Gerardosure has some IntelligenceOfDon Francisco’s coming to me;Or else why Nam’d he him, for well he knowsHe never us’d to make a Visit here:Well, if he does, I cannot help it now.The time draws nigh,That I must meetFrancisco! Oh, that wordGives heaviness a new unto my Soul,And makes my thoughts run backwards,The Accidents oth’ day seems OminousTo all the House, but most of all to me,My guilty Breast feels most of misery.This time will quickly over, then I shallSee what they tend to, or not see at all.“There’s comfort yet, that miseries at heightLose theirworstproperty, which is to fright.”
[Exit.
The End of the Third Act.
Cæliaon a Couch,Floraby her.
Cæl.
Flora, I cannot sleep, for all my thoughtsInfected with my griefs, flye up and down,Collecting only things to keep me waking.
Flo.I’le not stir from you, Madam, all this Night.
Cæl. Flora, thy diligence deserves Reward,And I’le not long be backward for to thank thee.But prethee sing that Song I love so well,That harmony, perhaps, will Charm my cares,And give my senses Rest.
Flor. sings.Ah,Choridon, in vain you boast,
You still doClorisLove;
For better ’tis your heart were lost,
Then thus suspitious prove:
You then would kill me by disdain,But dying thus you blot my Name.
For all will say
Cloriswas false, and went astray;Cloriswas false, and did deserve her shame.
For happy shepherd, well you know,
Your Fame does mine excell;
All Gen’rousChoridonsdo know,
But none my Tale can tell:
Cloris, though true, must lose that Name,ButChoridonwill keep his Fame;
For all will say
Cloriswas false, and went astray,Cloriswas false, and did deserve her shame.
But Cruel Shepherd, when you hear
That I am dead indeed,
I do believe you’l shed a tear,
Though new you have decreed,
ThatCloristrue must lose that Name,ForChoridonto keep his Fame;
And then you’l say
Cloriswas true, and ne’re did stray;Cloriswas true, and I deserve her shame.
Flora.She’s faln asleep, may none but happy DreamsPossess her Fancy.
[The Scene shuts.
EnterAntonioandJasperin the Garden.
Anto.Your confidence in this doth much amaze me.
Jasp.Sir, still I’le pawn my Life, that what I said,Appears e’re long a truth Infallible,And your own Eyes will bear me witness of it.
Anto.Well, pitch upon a private stand for us,That you know most convenient.
[Ex.Jasp.
Strange it is,If this should prove a falshood after this;I’ve threaten’d him with Death upon the failer,Yet still he has persisted to affirm it,Besides, I climb’d the Garden Wall before him,And that way gave him time for his escape,If he’d design to make it: These CircumstancesDo half perswade ’tis true. Oh, apprehension!So terrible the consequence appears,It makes my brain turn round, and Night seem darker.The Moon begins to drown her self in Clouds,Leaving a duskish horror every where,My sickly fancy makes the Garden seemLike those benighted Groves inPlato’sKingdoms,Which Poets fancy that the damn’d inhabit.
Jasp.My Lord, my Lord.
[EnterJasper.
Anto.What now?
Jasp.The Garden Door just opens, step this way, lestYou be seen.
[They stand close.
EnterFranciscoandSebastian.
Fran.’Tis hardly late enough, we’l stay a little,For I perceive no light i’ th’ usual Window.
Sebast.But are you confidentAntonio’sabsent?
Fran.I’m told for certain that he went from homeTo seeDon John Valasco, who is sick.
Sebast.Nay, then with safety we may walk a turn,Though I confess, do what I can, my fearsSurmount my Reason and perswades there’s danger.
Fran.A hundred times I’ve past it in as much,Yet then with confidence you slighted all;Prethee forbear to urge them any more;I’m half turn’d Coward with your fears already.
Sebast.Let’s take a turn then further from the House,And by some other talk divert our thoughts.
[Exeunt.
Anto. Jasper, I find thy Informations true,Thus far at least; these are my Wife’s kind Couzens.Hell rid e’m from the World.
Jasp.A hundred times they had been here beforeIn as much danger: Mark you that, my Lord?
Anto.I, andinSoul retorted back the Lye,For they in all their Lives ne’re knew a dangerEqual to that they’re near: Heark! how the OwlSummons their Souls to take a flight with her,Where they shall be Eternally benighted:Now I again believe it was a Witch;For here me-thinks I see a thousand DevilsWaiting in the Air with fire-forks in their hands,Just as our City Serjeants wait with Maces,To toss their Souls to their Eternal Prison;Look there, that flash of Lightning does confirm it.Nay, do but stay a little, you shall have all.All, all; not a Soul of e’m shall escape this Night.No, no, ’twill spoil good Company to part them,But hold, a Light appears, draw back to cover.
[Exeunt.
EnterFranciscoandSebastian.
Sebast.The Light is there, make haste and give the sign.
Franciscostrikes a Key upon his Sword;Eugeniaappears above inCælia’sGown.
Eug.Who’s there,Francisco?
Fran.The same, and would desire your Company below.
Eug.This distance fits us better! Oh,Francisco,Had we but alwayes kept it, I had beenA spotless Off’ring to my Bridal Bed,But now must cloud my Marriage Joys with shame,And fear of what will follow.
Fran.Pray descend, this distance is not safe,The Family may chance o’re hear our words.
Eug.I’ve more cause, should I come down,You would attempt my strength, and ArgumentTo violate my Vows, as first you didMy Virgin-Honour.
Fran.No, upon my Life, do but descend,And may the Heav’ns pour all their Vengeance on meIf I do attempt you with a sillableTo break your Resolution.
Eug.Is any with you?
Fran.Yes, my Friend,Sebastian.
Eug.Let him speak, then.
Sebast.Madam, upon my Life, I will secure you,And glory I have so much cause to do it.
She takes the Light from above.Eug.Your Virtue I rely on for my safety.
EnterAntonioandJasper.
Anto.I cannot hear their words, yet I’m sureIt’sCælia’sthere, her Habit tells me that.Let’s draw a little nearer.
Sebast.Look there,Francisco, are not those two MenAre creeping there?
Fran.’Tis so, let’s slip aside.
[Ex.Fran.andSebastian.
EnterEugeniabelow.
Eug.Where are you, CouzenFrancisco? Are you there?
Anto.I, here, here, perfidious Woman.
[Stabs her, she falls.
Eug.Oh,Francisco, ’tis an inhuman deed,
[Ex.Ant.,Jasp.
To kill me thus, ’cause I would sin no longer,But thou hast kept thy word, and took thy leave.As I must now, of all the World, and thee—oh, oh—
EnterGerardoand Servant.
Ger.Pray Heav’n I be’n’t too late, the Garden doorSo open makes me wonder: Heard you no groans?
Serv.I think I did, my Lord; heark, Sir again.
Eug.Oh, oh; I fain would live a little longer,If but to ask forgiveness ofGerardo,My Soul will scarce reach Heav’n without his Pardon.
Ger.Who’s that wou’d go to Heav’n, and wants my Pardon?Take it, what e’re thou art, and mayst thou beHappy in Death, what e’re thou didst design.
Eug.Is thatGerardo’sVoyce? Sure loss of BloodDoth make my fancy Idle: Is’tGerardo?
Ger.Thou greatest Blessing of my Soul, it is.
Eug.No, no, my Lord, you will abhor my Name,When I shall tell the story made me thus.
Ger.Heav’n knows I sooner should abhor my Life:But tell me the Author of this horrid mischief,That I may flye as quick to my Revenge,As these sad thoughts do seize upon thy Soul.
Eug.When you shall hear my story, your RevengeWill, as I fear, vent against me in Curses.
Ger.Were thy Crimes great as theirs that left thee thusBy all thy Virgin hopes I would not Curse thee.
Eug.My Lord, that’s it you are deceiv’d in.
Ger.Nay, now thou rav’st—help me to bend her bodyHer loss of Blood will keep her story from me;And I shall Live i’th’ dark, and ne’re Revenge her.
Eug.Alas, my Lord, my Couzen, baseFrancisco,Being let in by my accursed Nurse,Came to my bed, and there by force and strength obtain’dHis hated ends.
Ger.Oh, damn’d Villain, he shall not long surviveTo boast of it.
Eug.Had I staid there, and not consented further,I should have needed pity, and not pardon.
Ger.Tell all the rest, for this is so surprizing,I’d fain perswade my self it was a Dream.
Eug.After this Fatal loss, a shame succeeded,Shame that produc’d fear; infus’d by threatsUrg’d both by him and her, wherein they said,If I refus’d to grant that willingly,Which he at first did force, they would declareThe Action to the World, so to disgrace me.
Ger.O that old wrinkl’d Hag! that she should plot this.
Eug.What will not wicked Age effect for Gold?But they at last made fear or’e-come my Vertue,And I by that made all their guilt my own,Meeting him here still when he did appoint.
Ger.Well, this confest, how came you by these Wounds?
Eug.My Lord,Franciscodid entreat my CompanyThis Night; when as I enter’d,Without a word, but here, perfidious Woman,He stab’d me in the Breast, and left me thus.
Ger.Hadst thou been dead, and Angels told the story,I should have thought, in Envy of thy worth,They had invented it, and ne’re believ’d it.
Eug.I have no breath to tell you; oh, my Lord,I do forget, they still are in the Garden—Have a care of—
[Dyes.
Ger.Have a care of what? Oh, speak,Eugenia, speak.She’s gone, she’s gone; and could not tell her mind:What is’t I must have a care on! O some AngelThat waits to shew her Soul the way to Heav’n,Come back and tell me, what it was she meant:Was it her Reputation she took care of?No, no, that cannot be, had it been that,She might have kept the story to her self:Andthenbeen Canoniz’d: Was it of meShe did express her care? If so, ’twas needless;For he that lets me Live to killFrancisco,Though he does so by me, when that is done,Shall have my thanks and Prayers i’th’ other World;But stay, they’re in the Garden, I’le go look e’m,“For if Revenge so just I do delay,I shall deserve Heav’ns Vengeance for the stay.”
[Exeunt.
EnterFranciscoandSebastian.
Fran.Who should they be I wonder talk’d so long?
Sebast.Sure, when she found us not, she would retire.
Fran.No doubt on’t; yet I am not satisfy’d what twoThose were, and why they staid so long.Could your Ear reach to understand their words?
Sebast.No, not a syllable more then a humming noise.
Fran.Nor mine; but now they’re gone, let’s walk that way,’Twill be the best to miss them.
Sebast.Content.
[Exeunt.
EnterDon Gerardoand Servant.
Ger.It is in vain to look e’m if they hide,The Garden’s large; besides perhaps they’re gone;We’l to the Body.
Serv.You’re by it now, my Lord.
Ger.This Accident amazes me so much,I go I know not where.
EnterFranciscoandSebastian.
Serv.See there, my Lord, two Men.
Fran.W’are pretty near the Window, there’s no Light.
Ger.Have at thy heart,Francisco,This Token fromEugenia.
[Ger.and servant draw.
Fran.They Fight, the Servant shootsSebastianjust asFranciscorunsGerardothrough, which pursuing, Servant kills him too.Nay, then, at thine: Be whom thou wilt, that NameTells me thou’rt no Friend.
Sebast.Courage,Sebastian’sby thee.My fears are come about, for I am kill’d;Francisco, fare thee well.
[Dyes.]
Fran.’Tis double Death to see my Friend dye thus.Was’t not enough, you Fates, to take my Life,But I must guilty be of murd’ring him.
Serv.My Lord, how do you?
Ger.Making what haste I can to meetEugenia.
Serv.O me! Unfortunate!
Ger.Bewail me not; Death is a pleasure to me,Since I can seeFranciscolye there by me;But ask him e’re I dye,What made him killEugenia?
Fran.What, isEugeniaDead?
Ger.Why seems it strange to thee, who basely hastFirst Rob’d her of her Honour, then of Life.
Fran. Gerardo, it was cruelty to kill her, being asYet she had not done thee wrong, and dying,I rejoyce I have Reveng’d her.
Ger. Francisco, sure thy Crimes have made thee Devil,Or thou would’st ne’re transfer thy TreacheryBy murd’ring her, and place it thus on me.
Fran.May I reach Heav’n as I’m InnocentOf any Death but yours: Which if a guiltForgive me Heav’n and you as—
[Dyes.
Serv.He’s dead, my Lord.
Ger.With such a Lye in’s mouth;O Heavenly Angels lead me nothisway,For he must alwayes walk i’th’ paths of falshood;Remove me nearer toEugenia’sBody;My Spirits faint apace, and I must follow:One word, and then farewell;I have no time for to Reward thy care:Here, take this Ring, and give it to my Brother,He left it with me when he went to Travel;Tell him I still preserv’d it for his sake,A faithful pledge of our United Friendship.Bid him, that by this Token he believesThree words I left within my CabinetConcerning thee this Evening: He will do it,And use thee as a Friend, as I have done.
Serv.I’le bear the Ring, but not the Message, Sir;I ne’re will seek for Friends when you are gone.
Ger.I do conjure thee do it: Tell our story tooAs true as is thy self: But have a care,Wound notEugenia’s Fame more then must needs.Francisco’s andEugenia’sdying wordsWill make it strangely dark, as ’tis to me,But I must leave it so!Give me thy hand, commend me toAntonio;Alas! I had forgot him, pray Heav’n his storyProduce no further mischief; tellCælianothingBefor’t be day: Bus’ness comes thronging on me,But I faint——make but one Grave, and lay usIn it thus——Farewell.
[Dyes.
Serv.Now dyes the justest Man the Earth contains,And I would do so too, but that I knowSelf-murderers ne’re must keep him Company;I’le set the Bodies up against the Wall,And call the Watch; what if they say I’m guilty,And make my Life to answer all these Deaths:Why, let e’m do’t, for Death would now be wellSince to survive his loss to me’s a Hell.
[Exit.
EnterAntonioandJasper.
Jasp.Come, come, my Lord, the coast is quiet now.
Anto.I hope that Pistol sav’d our swords a labour.
Jasp.I’m sure they could not leave the Garden yet,But we must needs haveseene’m.
Anto.Nay, I’m sure they did not pass the Garden door,For if they had, we should have stopt their Journey.
Jasp.I think I heard a talking up this way,After the Pistol made us leave our Post.
Anto.Though I did leave the Door, yet still my EyeWas bent that way, and I saw none to pass.But stay, where’sCælia’sBody?
Jasp.See, my Lord,There is a Man doth hold her in his Arms.
Anto.It isFranciscosure! Have at his heart.
[Runs atGerardo.
How’s this, not stir! Nay, then he’s deadAlready—the Moon deceives me, or it isGerardo.Oh Heav’n’s! It is my Friend, dead, dead, and stiff,And my accursed hand hath Wounded him.This is notCælianeither, butEugeniain her Gown!What strange mistakes are these?
Jasp.But who are here?
Anto.What, more!By Heav’nsFranciscoand his FriendSebastian!Both dead too! Death has had a Feast to Night.Do not we Dream? As for this Womans Death,Surely her Fathers Soul did guide my handTo strike the blow, since needs she must betrayHer Honour toFrancisco, in these meetings!But oh, my Sword hath pierc’d my FriendGerardo.What Fatal Accident mixt his Blood with theirs.But stay, there’s Light appears, slip into the Grotto.
[Exeunt.
Enter Servant, Captain, and Watch, with two Torches.
Serv.Here is the dismal place I told you of,And here the Bodies.
Capt.A fight most terrible in time of Peace!But didFranciscostill deny her Death?
Serv.To his last moment;He did confess he had abus’d her,But would have plac’d her Death upon my Lord.And seem’d as much to wonder we deny’d itAs we that he did so.
Capt.What saidSebastian?
Serv.He scarce did speak a word after I shot him.
Capt.Had we not best to knock, and callAntonio?
Serv.He’s not at Home.
Capt.Yes, but I’m sure he is.
Serv.He was not late at Night, for I was there.
Capt.That’s strange, for just at shutting in o’th’ EveningI met him at a House that stands i’th’ Suburbs,Saying, he would go Home.I think however we had best to knock.
Serv.My dying Lord made it his last desire,ThatCæliamight not be disturb’d this Night.
Capt.Well, take the Bodies up, and keep e’m safe,You shall to the Vice-Roy’s presently with me,I scarce perform my trust, if I detainThe knowledge of so strange an AccidentA moment from his Ears, whose Wisdom willDirect in this, which far exceeds my skill.
[Exeunt.
EnterAntonioandJasper.
Jasp.You see, my Lord, that I was in the right,I only said, it was my Ladies Gown,But never did affirm it was her Person.
Anto.And I am glad it is not: Now, if NurseFails too in her discovery, I am safe,For if we keep our Councel, all these DeathsLye pat amongst themselves, and there’s not one,ExceptGerardo, that I’d wish alive;He was my friend, and it looks Ominous,That I should Wound him so, though after Death:Jasper, thy diligence shan’t want Reward,But that must follow: Come, let’s away.
[Exit.
Jasp.My Reward follows! I believe it does;’Faith, my good Lord, be sure it be a good one,Or be content to hang for Company;Now hap what will, I’le rid him with this murther;Till I do make him spend’s Estate to Bribe me:"I was his Slave before for fear; but nowI’le make him mine, since I this secret know."
[Exit.
The End of the Fourth Act.
CæliaDiscover’d in Bed,Floraby her.
Cæl.
SUre ’twas a real Pistol-shot that wak’d me,Yet from a Dream so terrible, it did it,That I had rather never sleep again,Then hazzard such another. I thought I sawLye dead by me,My LordAntonio,Don Gerardo,Jasper,The Nurse,Francisco, and the YoungSebastian,WithPedro, and thy self; this dreadful sight,Or else the Pistols noise, I spoke of, wak’d me,And made me cry help, help, which frighted thee.
Flor.Why truly, Madam, it was a dreadful Dream,And I as much was frighted at your call,Yet, for my own part, I did hear no Pistol.
Cæl.It may be then, it only was my fancy,For truly all my Dream seems still to meSo like a truth, that I can scarce distinguishWhether I then did wake, or now am sleeping;And but I see these things, and thee so plain,I should conclude my Dream did still continue.
Flor.Pray Heav’n divert all mischief from the house,For I have heard it said by Learned Men,Nay, and Religious too, that Dreams like these.That stick so fast upon our fancies waking,Are guided by a power that’s more then Chance,And alwayes are portents of something like them:I’m sure, for my own part, do what I can,That Dream I had will not yet leave my head,Which makes me thinkJasperdesigns me mischief.
Cæl. Flora, you go too far, Dreams are but shadowsReflected from some Acts the day preceeding,As ours are now; for from those AccidentsOf my Lords takingJasper, the Dream you told,AndDon Gerardo’snaming ofFrancisco,Mine now is formed: Thus they but succeedThings past, and not prognostick things to come.
Flor.Pray Heav’ns these do not do’t, but I’m afraid.
Enter Nurse, frighted withEugenia’sGhost.
Nurse.Stand off, stand off, what makes you follow me?I’m sure I did not kill you, if you’re dead,Or if you be not, why are you so pale?—So, so—she’s gone—but what made me come hither.
Cæl.What, do you study wayes to fright me, Nurse?It is no proper time to play your tricks.What makes you up at such a time of Night?Look, how she stands amaz’d, and doth not answer;Think you I take a pleasure to be frighted?That you persist in’t still?
Flor.What, is the Woman mad, or would be thought so?What makes you stand and stare thus?
Nurse.Did you see no Body?
Cæl.Who should we see but an Old doting fool,That turn’d a Child again, would Act like one,And can’t find a proper time for’t neither.
Flor.What make you up so late, Nurse?
Nurse.What’s that to you? It may be I sat upTo make my Lady merry with this Jest,But now, forsooth, I’m grown too Old to please her.You are her favourite—what, come again?O, do not stare so at me!
[Shreeks.][Exit.
Cæl.There’s something more in this then barely play!How the Old Woman star’d? sure she’s run mad!For shame, or sorrowJaspergoes away.Prethee follow her.
Flor.Since you will have me, Madam, I will do’t,Though I dare scarcely venture.
[Exit.
Cæl.The greatest Object pity hath, is Age,When it returns to Childishness again,As this Old Woman doth; and though we say,That Age is Honourable, we only mean,When Gravity and Wisdom are its marks,And not gray hairs, and froward peevishness,As ten for one, are known by to be Old,And though we see this true, yet we would allProlong our time to that decrepid state,When nothing but contempt can wait upon us;How strangely sin dastards our very Reason,Making that guide us to desire known illsRather then Joys, that promis’d we deserve not;For the best Men through sense of guilt do fearTo change for unseen Joys their troubles here.
[Exit.
Enter Nurse.
Nurse.If this Ghost follow still, ’twill make me mad;For sure it is a Ghost it looks so pale;Ay, andEugenia’sGhost, I’m sure it is;But who should kill her? May beDon Francisco!Oh, there it is again—It’s not my fault—Oh, do not follow me then: What shall I do?See there again, she points unto her Breasts—It’s gone again, I fear ’twill make me mad—I’le go to Prayers: But I forget my bus’ness,My Lord will come, and I must let him in,And shew him what I promis’d, or he’l kill me.
EnterFlora.
What, come again! Oh, Heav’ns! I’le stop my Eyes,
Flor.Nurse, are you mad?
Nurse.No, you would make me so! But I defie thee—Be gone, thou Spirit, i’th’ name of Heav’n, be gone.
Flor.Who should be gone?
Nurse.Thou! for thou’rt the Devil. Come not near me.
Flor.My Lady sent me to you—
Nurse.No, no, she did not, for she lov’d me always,And would not send the Devil thus to fright me.
Flor.I am no Devil, Nurse, look upon me, I’mFlora.
Nurse.Ay, where’s the Spirit then I saw just now?
Flor.There was no worser Spirit then my self.
Nurse.No; pray Minx, what makes you follow me?I’le set you back again i’th’ Devils Name,Come you to spy my Actions.
Flor.No, Nurse, my Lady sent me, don’t be angry,She was afraid that you were running mad.
Nurse.I, mad, it may be so; now I am OldI must be mad, forsooth; but time has been,There’s ne’re a Servant durst have laught at me,Nor I’le not take it now, no that I won’t,She runs afterFlora, who still is too quick for her.I’le tear your Eyes out first.
Flor.Nay, softly, Nurse; so, so; ay, there!
Nurse.Where where? I see it now, It’s strangely pale!O, do not fright me so; it’s gone again.And now I shall have time to follow you;AsFloraruns away, she falls, Nurse gets upon her.Nay, now I’le tear thy Eyes out.
Flor.Oh, Nurse, Nurse! have mercy on me,Do not scratch me so.
Nurse.I’le be thy Death, there’s nothing shall preserve you.Ah —— are you there again! The Devil, the Devil.
[Exit.
Flor.’Twas well for me her madness work’t again,And made her take a whim to run away,She would have kill’d me else, do what I could;I’le stay no longer, lest she come again.I’d not be in her fingers as I wasFor all I’m worth.
[Exit.
Enter Captain, Watch, and Servant.
Capt.When I consider every CircumstanceOf what you tell, and what I know my self,I must conclude, I ought not to deferTo searchAntonio’s House: if he’s from home,As you pretend he is; It makes me thinkThere is some strange Intrigue design’d by him.For why should he turn back, as you relate,And then obscure himself in such a House?Besides, he told me, he was strait for Home,And yet it seems was not, as you say.
Serv.It’s truth, upon my Life, he was not thereAt past the hour of Nine.
Enter the little Devil, and runs and skulkes.Watch.Who comes there!Captain, the Devil, the Devil!See where he stands?
Capt.O’ my Conscience! The Witches little Familiar again!If you’re afraid, let me come, I’m us’d toIt sputters like a Cat, Captain to him.These sort of Devils! Come, come, uncase,Uncase, young Gamester, what slippery pranckAre you about now? Don’t you remember yourLast escape, Sirrah?
Devil.Pray Master don’t whip me, I’le tell all.
Capt.Out with it then; where’s the Old Witch, your Mistress?
Devil.Alas, Captain, she was kill’d to Night whenyou brought in the Watch to search our House.
Capt.Kill’d, by whom?
Devil.I know not that, but we were putting a cheatupon a Lord there, by contrivance of his Man,and when you knockt, we ran to our lurking holesto hide us, but when the Coast was clear, we cameout, and seeking for my Mistress, found her dead in oneof the holes thrust through her Body with a Dagger inthree places.
Capt.What cheat was that you put upon the Lord?
Dev.We Acted like Devils, and in a Song made himbelieve his Wife did Cuckold him.
Capt.This wasAntonio, whom I met there, Sir.
Devil.Ay, that’s his Name, a mighty furious Man,He said, he’d kill e’m all before ’twas day.He made me quake to hear him; I hope now,Captain, you will let me go.
Capt.No, no, you Rogue! If he has done more mischiefYou shall be hang’d, except you find your FellowsThat joyn’d i’th’ cheat with you to make him Jealous.
Devil.I’le bring you presently to them, and shew you alltheir holes; they did but send me out to watch whenthe Coast was clear!
Capt.Who, say you, set you on to this design?
Devil.An ill-look’d Rogue, his Man, the Witches Nephew;I think they call himJasper.
Capt.Well, take the Boy, and call some of your Fellows,And there surprize them all. I’le not deferMy searching to prevent the mischiefThatDon Antoniofurther may design,For I believe he had a hand in thisWas done i’th’ Garden, however the mistakeDid happen to begin between the Dead.
Serv.Come, Sir, make haste, for I begin to fearSome Tragedy is Acted in the House,ForDon Antonio’s Rage is alwayes quick,And they have toucht the string will stretch it highest.
Capt.Come then, let’s hasten back.