The Fatal Jealousie (1673) Part 3

_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 makes a full amends For all my Crosses; come, Nurse, prethee quickly Tell me all pa.s.sages.

_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 d.a.m.n'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 s.l.u.t, 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 _Caelia_, _Pedro_, and _Flora_._

_Cael._ 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.

_Cael._ Impudent Villain! how I do hate thy sight.

Follow you me.

[To Nurse.]

[Ex. _Cael._ _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 fill'd, tho' it doth all things draw: For we with envious Eyes do others see, Who want our ills, and think they happy be, Till we possessing what we wish'd before, Find our ills doubl'd, and so wish for more.

_Ger._ Suppose all true which you wou'd have me fear, Ills in possession still the greatest are: And my desires to such a height do rise, T' attain their ends, I shou'd all else despise.

_Anto._ Since y'are resolv'd, I'le not your ends deny, But pray my words prove false when e're you try; Though well they speak, who say the d.a.m.ned State, Chiefly consists in wis.h.i.+ng things too late: _Eugenia's_ Father left her to my care, Which trust to end so well I did despair: Then name the day of Marriage--

_Ger._ No delay My thoughts admit; I wish it were to day.