[Whistling behind the Stage.
Enter Nurse.
Nurse.Ay, that’s his whistle, and I must obey’t.WhyPedro,Pedro! What, are you dead asleep?Pedro, I say.
Pedro within.Who calls?
Nurse. Pedro, rise quickly, my LadyCæliawants you.
Ped.What can she want me for at such a time?
Nurse.I know not, butFloracame, and said you mustcome quickly, I think, to Ride to my Lord.
Ped.I come, but I’le have a care of your tricks, Nurse.
EnterPedroin a Night-Gown, with his sword in’s hand.Nurse.What tricks? What do youdo with your Sword?
Ped.Why, Nurse, you may have malice, and malicemay 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, withAntonioandJasper.
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’dEugenianow,By’s namingDon Francisco; oh, thatJasper—Oh, the Ghost again—what shall I do?
[Exit.
Cæliain Bed, andFloraall 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.
[Pedroknocks.
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.
[EnterPedro.
Cæl. Pedro, the Nurse is mad, I did not call you,You see how she has scratcht poorFlora’s Face,She came just now shreeking and staring hither;If you could lock her up into some Room,A noise, Exiturus, he fights, and Enters withAntonio, whom when he sees, he lets fall his point, and is kill’d.JasperrunsFlorathrough.It would do well.
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 thatDon Antonio’s SwordDid 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 meWhat 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 beEmploy’d to Heav’n for mercy to your Soul?Nay, then Hell take it’s Quarry; this forDon Lewis,This forDon Francisco; and take this lastFor 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 sayThat 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 SoulsCan be assur’d to find their way to heav’nWithout 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 theeTell me, what brought thee hither?
Ped.The Nurses madness;She call’d me from my Bed, and told me,FloraWas 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 cameNot long before shreeking into this Chamber,So as you enter’d I was going downTo 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 onTo 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.
JasperRuns Nurse through but is staid byAntonio.Jasp.But I’le prevent the story if I can.—
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 callPedrowhen you knockt.
JasperrunsAnto.behind.Ped.Look to your self, my Lord, he’l kill you else.
Jasp.This way is only left—hell take your Tongue.
Anto.Ah, thou hast kill’d me; yet I have strength enoughThey fight. A noise without.Jasperis mortally wounded.To send thy Soul to hell.
Jasp.’Tis done, I am catch’d at last in myown Trap. Oh, I deserve my Death for wantof fore-sight, to let him Live a spye upon my Actions.RunsPedrothrough as he lyes, and Nurse.I should have serv’d you thus, and thus,and thus—and you too thus.
Ped.Oh, O, O!
[Pedroand 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 saveThe best of Wives that there lyes murder’dBy my accursed hand.
Capt.What,Cæliadead too! What made you do’t, my Lord?
Jasp.Alas! he cannot tell; the Jealous foolWas 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 everDid 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 amJasper De Monsalvo, Heir to that EstateThis Lord doth now possess.
Anto.Ah Heav'ns! some of that desperateBanditryDid once attempt my life.
Jasp.Yes truly—
Anto.PoorCælia, ’tis no wonder thy mind did boadgreat mischiefs from this Fellow, being Son ofone did still contrive to kill me, for what theKing after just forfeiture for mighty serviceshad 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 IMade 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 approachWould have discover’d all; which I prevented,And stopt her Mouth with this: Then I contriv’dTo killEugenia, knowing she would meetFranciscoin the Garden; that I didBecause she call’d me Villain, and refus’dToletme Whore her too, as did her Couzen;And more, I knew the simple Lord I serv’dWhen 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 thoughtFrancisco’s;You know the rest i’th’ Garden. I taught besidesThat damn’d Old Hagg, whose fear has made me thus,To put this trick onPedro: I bid her call himWhen she should hear us whistle, then in haste,And all undrest send him toCælia’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 soI 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 thinkDeserve 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 IAs we live bravely, thus dare bravely dye.
[Stabs himself.
Capt.He has done well; no ExcutionerCould 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, knowMy wound won’t give me time for that misfortune;Stay but a little, let me fix my EyesOn what lies here, for that alone would give meA sudden Death, had I no other hurt.I dare not hope for Heav’n, having doneSo black a Murder on such Innocence,And yet I do believe her CharityAs it did dying, still doth beg that PardonMight 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 DevilFor ever to Torment his Cursed soulThat led me to these mischiefs.’Twould be some ease, if Heaven but granted that,But I begin to faint! Oh, Blessed SoulDart forth one Beam of Light, to guide the way,Or I shall always wander in the dark.Night seizes me already: yet from henceIn 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 attendedWhich to a man so Jealous of his FameAs 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 meTo 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 goodBy 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.
By Mr.Harris.
ATragedy, and not Heroick Verse,The Comick part fit only fora Farse;No Atheism, nor any man we knowAbus’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 drawFor we have seen, and lately too, a PlayCry’d down by those that cannot keep awayAnd 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 afraidDo sometimes make e’m Jealous of the Maid;So if this Play not drest by rules of ArtShould 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 KingsWe 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.
ERRATA.
The listed corrections, included in the original book, have been made andmarkedin the text.
PAge 17. Line 36. Foryourreadtheir. p. 23. l. 19. f.Taylorsr.Juglers. p. 31. l. 18. r.my fears. p. 38. l.6.r.Villain by. p. 51. l. 6. f.firstr.worst. p. 53. l. 35. f.hisr.in. p. 57. l. 11. f.therer.then. p. 58. l. 36. f.thisr.his.
Many of the listed titles are or will be available from Project Gutenberg. Where possible, a link to the e-text is given.
At least twoitems will be printed from each of thethreefollowing groups:
Men, Manners, and Critics
Sir John Falstaff (pseud.),The Theatre(1720).Aaron Hill,Preface toThe Creation; and Thomas Brereton, Preface toEsther.Ned Ward, Selected Tracts.
Drama
Edward Moore,The Gamester(1753).Nevil Payne,Fatal Jealousy(1673).Mrs. Centlivre,The Busie Body(1709).Charles Macklin,Man of the World(1781).
Poetry and Language
John Oldmixon,Reflections on Dr. Swift’s Letter to Harley(1712); and Arthur Mainwaring,The British Academy(1712).Pierre Nicole,De Epigrammate.Andre Dacier, Essay on Lyric Poetry.
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GENERAL EDITORSRichard C. Boys, University of MichiganEdward Niles Hooker, University of California, Los AngelesH. T. Swedenberg, Jr., University of California, Los AngelesADVISORY EDITORSEmmett L. Avery, State College of WashingtonLouis I. Bredvold, University of MichiganBenjamin Boyce, University of NebraskaCleanth Brooks, Louisiana State UniversityJames L. Clifford, Columbia UniversityArthur Friedman, University of ChicagoSamuel H. Monk, University of MinnesotaJames Sutherland, Queen Mary College, London