SCENE II.

_A Chamber in_ Aurelia's _House_.

_Two Arm-Chairs._ Aurelia _sola_.

_Aur._ I wonder much at my _Bassino_'s Stay: Oh! Love! how swiftly fly thy Hours away When we are blest! How tedious are thy Minutes When cruel Absence parts two longing Lovers!

_Enter_ Florella.

Is my _Bassino_ come? speak----

_Flor._ No, Madam, a young Stranger desires to speak with you: He says, you are not acquainted with his Name, but will soon with his Business, which is something of great Import, that can be told to none but yourself.

_Aur._ A Stranger Business with me! I know of none I have with Strangers--Heaven! what's this? I feel a sudden Throbbing in my Heart, As if 'twas conscious of some fatal News-- [_Aside._ Womanish Fears----Admit him--(_Exit_ Florella) it must be One of _Bassino_'s Friends, whom he intrusts To be a Witness of our Marriage Vows.

_Enter_ Placentia, _in Man's Cloaths_.

_Pla._ Madam, I was inform'd that Count _Bassino_ Was to be here--and having Things t'impart That much concern him, I made bold to come----

_Aur._ Sir, I expect him straight--if you're his Friend I will account you mine--Be pleas'd to sit. [_Both sit._

_Pla._ My Brother, Madam, is extremely happy In being favour'd by so fair a Lady----

_Aur._ Your Brother, Sir! is then my Lord your brother?

_Pla._ Madam, he is.

_Aur._ Then I may call you Brother too; For all the solemn Vows of Love have pass'd 'Twixt him and me--And blissful _Hymen_ waits With lighted Torch to tie the sacred Knot, Which shall be done this Hour----

_Pla._ This Hour! say you? Oh! Madam, have a Care: You tread inchanted Ground, and e'er you know What Path you take, you're hurried to Destruction.

_Aur._ Where lies the Danger?

_Pla._ Oh! 'Tis a fatal Tale, yet you must hear it; Therefore summon your Courage to your Aid, For you will need it all, whilst I relate The fatal Story----

_Aur._ Ah! how I tremble! Say, is he dead? has any murderous Villain Kill'd my _Bassino_?

_Pla._ No--he is well in Health: but his distemper'd Mind Is of a wild and feverish Disposition, Longing to taste, what tasted will undo him.

_Aur._ Your Speech is all a Riddle: Pray speak plainer: But yet, e'er you proceed, if Count _Bassino_ lives, I care not what must follow, since he's mine.

_Pla._ No, he's not yours--Nor ever must.

_Aur._ 'Tis false----There's not a Pow'r on Earth can part us: Perhaps, You think my Blood too base to mix with yours---- But, Sir, your Brother loves me, and in Love All Ranks are equal----

_Pla._ No----I wish that were all: But there's a greater Obstacle----He--is--married-- Oh! Gods! unfortunately married!

_Aur._ Married!

_Pla._ Yes,----Married----to my Sister, To my unfortunate, abandon'd Sister. Oh! do not you conspire t'undo her quite; It is enough, she's false _Bassino_'s Wife.

_Aur._ Gods! Married! And is it possible! Oh! faithless Men! Oh! Truth! Oh! Justice! Whither are you fled? Now all my Fears and Horrors are explain'd.

_Pla._ I'm glad I reach'd this Place in Time, to hinder Those Ills that must have waited on your Marriage, Now it is in your Power, both to be happy, And, in some Measure, make my Sister so. [_Both rise._

_Aur._ A Paradox in Nature----Bid _Aurelia_ Be happy, when you rob her of her Heaven! Her dear _Bassino_! Indeed your Sister may be counted happy, If she's his Wife--Ha--Wife--by Heaven! 'tis false-- No, no--He has no other Wife but me---- He is not married, you bely him basely---- He cannot be so treacherous----

_Pla._ Madam, I swear, whate'er I said is Truth-- Do but defer this Marriage for a Day, And if I don't produce convincing Proofs, May all the Plagues a Woman can invent Fall on my perjur'd Head----

_Aur._ Defer our Marriage--No, by Heaven I will not. I can't suspect him--Neither do I think You durst maintain this Story to his Face.

_Pla._ Madam, I dare; nay, which is more, I'll die, Or vindicate my injur'd Sister's Honour----

_Aur._ Bold Arrogance! Oh! That he were but here to answer the Affront! Perhaps he may have wrong'd your Family: Debauch'd your Sister; for which you would force him To marry her?----But, I must tell thee, Boy, He's mine already: nor would he forsake me To hold Command o'er all the Universe.

_Pla._ Oh! Heaven! must I bear this!

_Aur._ Nay, expect more, if he should find you here, 'Tis not your being Brother to his Mistress, That will secure you from his just Revenge.

_Pla._ Revenge! Nay, then away with all Disguise, Pity be gone----And in its Room fell Rage Take place, that I may dash that haughty Insolence That dares to treat me thus--Know, Madam, I am his Wife--his lawful wedded Wife. With borrow'd Shape I came to try your Virtue, Which I have found so light that the least Puff Of wanton Love will blast it----Else my Visit Had met a better Welcome--Here with Sword in Hand I'll wait his coming, [_Draws._ And as he enters, pierce thy haughty Breast. I know he loves thee, and therefore 'tis brave Revenge to let him see thy dying Pangs: Thy parting Sighs will rack him worse than Hell.

_Aur._ His Wife! Oh! Insolence! In vain you waste your Breath, it moves not me: So much I love him, so much I'm belov'd, That should an Angel from yon Heaven descend, To tell me he's marry'd, I'd not credit him, Kill me if you dare--He will revenge my Death: That pleasing Thought gives Courage to my Soul: To live without him would be Death indeed! No--he'll ne'er leave me for a common Thing, For such I'm sure thou art----

_Pla._ Common! Proud Wretch----by Heaven that Word gives Wings To my Revenge--Vile Creature, die-- [_Stabs her._

_Aur._ Help,--Murder, murder----

_Enter_ Bassino.

_Bass._ Ha--That to thy Heart----[_Kills_ Plac.] Wer't thou a Demi-god And durst attempt this Shrine, thus should'st thou fall--

_Pla._ (_Falling._) Oh! _Bassino_! Oh!

_Aur._ Oh! hold, my Lord, what has your Rashness done? I only should have dy'd----I'll not upbraid Your Treachery--No, 'tis the Hand of Heaven That guides the Stroke that takes my guilty Life, For being faithless to _Alonzo_.

_Bass._ Talk not of Death, my fair, my dear _Aurelia_; That very Sound does harrow up my Soul. But who art thou, whose sacrilegious Hand Durst to profane the Temple of my Love?

_Pla._ I am your Wife--Your loving Wife _Placentia_. Oh! pardon this rash Deed; blame jealous Love-- And grace me with a Sigh, that I may die contented.

_Bass._ My Wife! and kill'd by me! Under what Load of Miseries I stand! Oh! Horror! Horror! Infinity of Guilt! Hurl now your vengeful Bolts, Almighty Powers, On my devoted Head! Oh! I have wrong'd you both: Deceiv'd you basely: Thus prostrate on the Ground, let me beg Pardon: [_Throws himself on the Ground._ I do not ask it with Design to live.

_Aur._ Oh! dear _Bassino_ live: And try to save her, for she's innocent: We only are in Fault---- I urg'd my wretched Fate with impious Language, For which I beg Forgiveness: Generous Lady, Let not my Soul depart with Guilt opprest.

_Pla._ As I forgive you, so may Heaven me.

_Bass._ Oh! _Placentia_! Oh! my Wife!

_Aur._ One thing more, and I'm happy---- Were but _Alonzo_ here, that I might ask Forgiveness for my Falshood! But, alas! My Spirits faint within my frozen Veins, And every Thing seems double to my Sight: Oh! How I dread the uncertain future State!

_Bass._ Unhappy Maid! Oh! my once dear _Aurelia_! Curst, Curst _Bassino_! Oh! my Wife! How dare I stand the View of both these injured Women! Oh! Heaven! Why name I Heaven! Heaven will not hear A Wretch like me----No, even Hell wants Torment Proportion'd to my Guilt--Oh! my _Placentia_! Oh!

_Pla._ Oh! my dear Lord, I cannot see you thus: Live, live, my Lord; be happy when I'm dead. Nay, for your Sake, I with _Aurelia_ too May live to make you happy----

_Bass._ Oh! Hold! Heap not more Curses on me by your Kindness; I wish that she might live, but not for me. Only to clear me from her guilty Blood---- Oh! _Placentia_!

_Pla._ Rise, my Lord, rise: Do not indulge your Woe, Your Sighs atone for all, and make e'en Death a pleasure---- I see him coming, he will soon be here----

_Bass._ No, I will never rise: ne'er see the Day. The Sun would blush to shine on such an impious Wretch. Here let me lie, and tear with these curst Hands [_Tears the Ground in a distracted Manner._ A Passage thro' the Earth, and hide my Face for ever.

_Alon._ (_Within._) Where where's this Villain? Where's _Bassino_?

_Aur._ 'Tis _Alonzo_'s Voice. Oh! fly, my Lord, fly from his just Revenge.

_Enter_ Alonzo _hastily_.

_Bass._ Fly---- Where shall I fly from Justice? No, Heaven is kind In sending him to help my Journey forward.

_Alon._ Where's _Bassino_?

_Bass._ (_Rising._) Here Sir, I stand.

_Alon._ Then there stands a Villain----Ha--what Do I see!----_Aurelia_ murder'd! Oh! treacherous Maid, thy Love has cost thee dear, Think on thy broken Vows, and call to Heaven for Mercy. Thy Death I will revenge, because I lov'd thee once.

_Aur._ Oh! _Alonzo_, pardon me.

_Alon._ to _Bass._ Now Villain, now what Story, what Pretence Canst thou invent to avoid my just Revenge? Oh! that I ne'er had list'ned to thy Tongue! Thy base perfidious Tongue! Then all these Murders Had been prevented, and thou curst in Hell---- Thou monstrous Fiend----

_Bass._ You talk too much--Let's see what you can do: Thus I return your Villain----

_Alon._ Take thy Reward. [_They fight_, Bassino _falls_.

_Enter_ Armando.

_Arm._ Hold! hold: Oh Gods! I'm come too late, What has my fatal Friendship done! Ha----_Placentia_ too--curst Letter!

_Bass._ My Friend _Armando_! Oh! I blush to see thee: But let me have your Pardon----now I need it.

_Arm._ Oh! first pardon me---- For I have been the Cause of all this Mischief. Whilst my officious Friendship strives to save you, I bring you all to this unhappy End. Say, can you pardon me?

_Bass._ I do---- And Oh! my Friend! had Virtue been my Guide, As it was thine, I still were truly happy.

_Aur._ Where am I? Why do I hover thus 'twixt Rest and Misery? Oh! good _Alonzo_, say you pardon me, And let me die in Peace, else full of Horror My guilty Soul must wander in the Shades Of gloomy Night, and never, never rest.

_Alon._ Thou hast my Pardon, and with it this Promise Never to love again----

_Aur._ Oh! you're----too----kind--and I want-- Breath to thank----you----Farewel, [_Dies._

_Bass._ Oh! _Placentia_! [_Embraces her._ Thus in thy Arms my Thread of Life shall break.

_Pla._ My Lord, my Husband, Oh! come nearer yet, That I may take a parting Kiss, to smooth My Passage to the Realms of endless Night. [_Kissing him._ So--Now--I die----much happier than I lived. Farewel---- [_Dies._

_Bass._ Farewel, fair Excellence! Thou best of Wives! But I shall quickly follow--Yet before I go, I beg, _Alonzo_, let my Death atone For all the Injuries my Life has done you. Oh! spare my Memory, when I'm no more.

_Alon._ By Heaven! I see such Virtue struggling in thy Breast, As makes me wish I could prevent the Flight Of thy departing Soul----

_Bass._ No, No----I would not live: Hadst thou not come, my Hand had set me free, But now I fell more nobly, and less guilty. My Friend, my dear _Armando_, Haste to inform my Prince, _Bassino_ rests; But hide, if possible, my Shame: And let One Grave hold both this wretched Corps and mine, Oh! my _Placentia_---- [_Dies._

_Alon._ Unhappy Pair! But far more wretched me! For I must live, and live without _Aurelia_! Tho' I'm convinc'd she lov'd me not, I can't Banish her Image from my Love-sick Mind. Oh! that I ne'er had seen the charming Fair!

_Arm._ The Gods are just in all their Punishments: And by this single Act, we plainly see That Vengeance always treads on Perjury; And tho' sometimes no Bolts be at us hurl'd, Whilst we enjoy the Pleasures of this World; Yet a Day awaits, a Day of general Doom, When guilty Souls must to an Audit come; Then that we may not tremble, blush, or fear, Let our Desires be just; our Lives unsullied here. [_Exeunt omnes._

[Decoration]

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

Contemporary spellings and hyphenation have been retained, even where inconsistent; so the text contains both, e.g. thou'rt and thour't, you'rs and your's.

At the very beginning of Act 5, Scene 1, a speech wrongly given to Ludovic has been assigned to Lucy in keeping with the logic of the dialogue.

Two obvious typographical errors were corrected: "Reputatron" became "Reputation" in Act 2, Scene 2 (Ludovic); "connot" was changed to "cannot" in Act 4, Scene 1 (Placentia).

Two further changes to the text are listed below:

In Act 1, scene 3, the word "I" was added before the first occurrence of the word "cannot" in the following passage spoken by Aurelia:

In vain I strive to check my new-born Love, I cannot, cannot live without _Bassino_

In Act 3, scene 2, one instance of the word "own" was deleted in the following sentence spoken by Lucy:

What would you say now, Madam, if I should contrive a Way to have your Lover in your own Chamber?

End of Project Gutenberg's The Perjur'd Husband, by Susanna Centlivre