Chapter 28

Discovers _Alberto_ and _Antonio_.

_Alb._ Nay, thou shalt see’t before thou dost revenge it; In such a case, thy self should be the Witness, She knows not what has past to night between us, Nor should she, if thou couldst contain thy Rage; And that, _Antonio_, you shall promise me: To morrow place thy self behind the Arras, And from thy Eyes thy own Misfortunes know. --What will not disobliged Passion do? [Aside.

_Ant._ I’ll hide my Anger in a seeming calm, And what I have to do consult the while, And mask my Vengeance underneath a Smile. [Ex. _Ant._

Enter _Page_.

_Pag._ My Lord, there is without a Lady Desires to speak with you.

_Alb._ Who is’t?

_Pag._ I know not, Sir, she’s veiled. [Exit _Page_.

Enter _Ismena_ weeping.

_Alb._ Conduct her in.

_Ism._ Oh _Alberto_, _Isabella_ has undone us all!

_Alb._ She weeps, and looks as innocent! --What mean you, false dissembling _Clarina_? What, have you borrow’d from Deceit new Charms, And think’st to fool me to a new belief?

_Ism._ How, Sir, can you too be unkind? Nay then ‘tis time to die; alas, there wanted but your credit To this mistake, to make me truly miserable.

_Alb._ What Credit? What Mistake? oh, undeceive me, For I have done thee Injuries past Forgiveness, If thou be’st truly innocent.

_Ism._ If _Isabella_, under pretence of courting me For _Lorenzo_, whom she designs to Make a Husband, Has given him freedoms will undo my Honour, If not prevented soon.

_Alb._ May I credit this, and that it was not by thy Command she did it?

_Ism._ Be witness, Heaven, my Innocence in this, Which if you will believe, I’m safe again.

_Alb._ I do believe thee, but thou art not safe, Here, take this Poyniard, and revenge thy Wrongs, Wrongs which I dare not beg a Pardon for. [He gives her a Dagger.

_Ism._ Why, Sir, what have you done? have you Deceiv’d me, and do you not indeed love me?

_Alb._ Oh _Clarina!_ do not ask that Question, Too much of that has made me ruin thee; It made me jealous, drunk with Jealousy, And then I did unravel all my Secrets.

_Ism._ What Secrets, Sir? you have then seen _Antonio_.

_Alb._ Yes.

_Ism._ Hah--Now, Wit, if e’er thou did’st possess A Woman, assist her at her need. [Aside. --Well, Sir, rise and tell me all.

_Alb._ I will not rise till you have pardoned me, Or punished my Misfortune.

_Ism._ Be what it will, I do forgive it thee.

_Alb._ _Antonio_, Madam, knows my Happiness, For in my Rage I told him that you lov’d me; --What shall I do?

_Ism._ I cannot blame you though it were unkind.

_Alb._ This I could help, but I have promis’d him, That he shall be a witness of this Truth; What say you, Madam, do I not merit Death? Oh speak, and let me know my doom whate’er it be.

_Ism._ Make good your Word.

_Alb._ What mean you?

_Ism._ What you have promised him, perform as you intended.

_Alb._ What then?

_Ism._ Then come as you design’d to visit me.

_Alb._ But let me know what ‘tis you mean to do, That I may act accordingly.

_Ism._ No. Answer me to every Question ask’d, And I perhaps may set all strait again; It is now late, and I must not be missing: But if you love me, be no more jealous of me, --Farewel.

_Alb._ Must I be ignorant then of your Design?

_Ism._ Yes, _Alberto_; And you shall see what Love will make a Woman do. [He leads her out.

_Alb._ Now am I caught again, inconstant Nature. --Would she had less of Beauty or of Wit, Or that _Antonio_ did but less deserve her; Or that she were not married, Or I’ad less Virtue, for ‘tis that which awes me. That tender sense of nothing, And makes the other Reasons seem as Bugbears. --I love _Clarina_ more than he can do. And yet this Virtue doth oppose that Love, Tells me there lurks a Treason there Against _Antonio’s_ and _Clarina’s_ Virtue. --’Tis but too true indeed, and I’m not safe, Whilst I conceal the Criminal within: I must reveal it, for whilst I hide the Traitor, I seem to love the Treason too; I will resign it then, since ‘tis less blame To perish by my Pain, than live with Shame. [Exit.