The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iv Part 45

_Alb._ What's this, and at _Clarina's_ Lodgings too?

Sure 'tis _Antonio_, impatient of delay, Gives her a Serenade for me.

Enter _Isabella_.

_Isab._ 'Tis the Fool himself-- My Lord, where are you?

_Alb._ How! a Woman's Voice! 'tis dark, I'll advance.

_Lor._ Thou Simpleton, I told thee there was somebody.

_Pag._ Lord, Sir, 'tis only _Isabella_ that calls you.

_Lor._ Away, Sirrah, I find by my fears 'tis no Woman.

[Goes out with the _Page_.

_Isab._ Why don't you come? here's n.o.body.

_Alb._ Here I am.

_Isab._ Where?

_Alb._ Here. [Gives her his Hand.

_Isab._ My Lord, you may venture, _Clarina_ will be Alone within this Hour, where you shall entertain Her at your freedom: but you must stay awhile in my Chamber till my Lord's a bed; For none but I must know of the favour she designs you.

_Alb._ Oh G.o.ds! what Language do I hear-- False and Perfidious Woman, I might have thought, Since thou wert gain'd so easily by me, Thou wouldst with equal haste yield to another.

_Isab._ It is not _Lorenzo_, what shall I do? [She steals in.

Enter _Lorenzo_ and _Page_.

_Lor._ A Pox of all d.a.m.n'd cowardly fear!

Now did I think I had drunk Nature up to Resolution: I have heard of those that could have dar'd in their Drink; But I find, drunk or sober, 'tis all one in me.

_Alb._ The Traitor's here, Whom I will kill whoe'er he be.

_Lor._ Boy, go see for _Isabella_.

_Pag._ I see a Man should not be a Coward and a Lover At once--_Isabella_, _Isabella_, she's gone, Sir. [Calls.

_Alb._ Yes, Villain, she's gone, and in her room Is one that will chastise thy Boldness.

_Lor._ That's a proud word though, whoe'er thou be; But how I shall avoid it, is past my Understanding.

_Alb._ Where art thou, Slave?

[_Alberto_ gropes for him, he avoids him.

_Pag._ Take heart, Sir, here's company which I will Get to a.s.sist you--

Enter _Antonio_.

Sir, as you are a Gentleman, a.s.sist a stranger set upon by Thieves.

[They fight, _Antonio_ with _Alberto_, _Alberto_ falls, is wounded. _Lor._ and _Page_ run away the while.

_Alb._ Whoe'er thou be'st that takes the Traitor's part, Commend me to the wrong'd _Antonio_.

_Ant._ _Alberto_! dear _Alberto_, is it thee?

_Alb._ _Antonio!_

_Ant._ I am asham'd to say I am _Antonio_; Oh G.o.ds, why would you suffer this mistake?

_Alb._ I am not wounded much, My greatest pain is my concern for thee; Friend, thou art wrong'd, falsely and basely wrong'd; _Clarina_, whom you lov'd and fear'd, Has now betray'd thy Honour with her own.

_Ant._ Without that sad addition to my Grief, I should not long have born the weight of Life, Having destroy'd thine by a dire mistake.

_Alb._ Thou art deceiv'd.

_Ant._ Alas, why was it not permitted me To lose my Friend, or Wife? had one surviv'd, I might have dy'd in silence for the other; Oh my _Alberto_! oh _Clarina_ too!-- [Weeps.

_Alb._ Come, do not grieve for me, I shall be well, I yet find strength enough to get away; And then I'll let thee know my Fate and thine.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV. _Antonio's_ House.

Enter _Clarina_, _Ismena_, and _Isabella_ weeping.

_Isab._ For Heaven sake, Madam, pardon me.

_Clar._ Be dumb for ever, false and treacherous Woman, Was there no way but this to mask your Cheat?

A Lye which has undone us all.

_Isab._ Alas, 'twas in the dark, how could I know him?

Pray forgive it me, and try my future Service.

_Clar._ I never will forgive thee, naughty Girl; _Alberto_ now incens'd will tell _Antonio_ all.

_Isab._ What need you care, Madam?

You are secure enough.

_Clar._ Thou salv'st an Error with a greater still; Dost thou not know _Antonio's_ Jealousy, Which yet is moderate, rais'd to a higher pitch, May ruin me, _Ismena_, and thy self?

_Ism._ Sister, there cannot be much harm in this; 'Tis an ill chance, 'tis true, for by it we have lost The pleasure of an innocent Revenge Upon _Antonio_; but if understood, We have but miss'd that end.

_Clar._ Oh _Ismena!_ This Jealousy is an unapprehensive madness, A non-sense which does still abandon Reason.

_Isab._ Madam, early in the Morning I'll to _Alberto's_ Lodgings, and tell him the mistake.