Chapter 26

Enter _Lorenzo_ drunk, with a _Page_, and Musick, as in the dark.

_Lor._ Here’s the Door, begin and play your best, But let them be soft low Notes, do you hear? [They play.

Enter _Antonio_.

_Ant._ Musick at my Lodgings! it is _Alberto_; Oh, how I love him for’t--if _Clarina_ stand his Courtship, I am made; I languish between Hope and Fear.

_Lor._ Stay, Friend, I hear somebody. [Musick ceases.

_Pag._ ‘Tis nobody, Sir.

Enter _Isabella_.

_Isab._ ‘Tis _Lorenzo_, and my Plot’s ripe; [Aside. [_Lorenzo_ being retir’d the while a little further.

‘Twill not sure be hard to get him, under pretence Of seeing _Clarina_, into my Chamber, And then I’ll order him at my pleasure; _Ismena_ is on my side, for I know all her Secrets, And she must wink at mine therefore. [She retires.

_Lor._ Thou art in the right, Boy, I think indeed ‘twas nothing. [Plays again.

Enter _Alberto_.

_Alb._ She yields, bad Woman! Why so easily won? By me too, who am thy Husband’s Friend: Oh dangerous Boldness! unconsidering Woman! I lov’d thee, whilst I thought thou couldst not yield; But now that Easiness has undone thy Interest in my Heart, I’ll back, and tell thee that it was to try thee.

_Lor._ No, no, ‘twas my Fears, away with the Song, I’ll take it on your word that ‘tis fit for my purpose.

_Fid._ I’ll warrant you, my Lord.

SONG.

_In vain I have labour’d the Victor to prove Of a Heart that can ne’er give attendance to Love; So hard to be done. That nothing so young Could e’er have resisted a Passion so long.

Yet nothing I left unattempted or said, That might soften the Heart of this pitiless Maid; But still she was shy, And would blushing deny, Whilst her willinger Eyes gave her Language the lye.

Since, _Phillis_, my Passion you vow to despise, Withdraw the false Hopes from your flattering Eyes: For whilst they inspire A resistless vain Fire, We shall grow to abhor, what we now do admire._ [Ex. _Musick_.

_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 nobody.

_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 Gods! 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 damn’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 assist you--

Enter _Antonio_.

Sir, as you are a Gentleman, assist 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 Gods, 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.