Chapter 38

Enter _Alberto_ melancholy.

_Alb._ _Antonio_ said he would be here, I’m impatient till he come--

Enter _Antonio_.

_Ant._ _Alberto_, I have such a Project for thee!

_Alb._ Hah-- [Gazes.

_Ant._ What ails thee, art thou well?

_Alb._ No.

_Ant._ Where art thou sick?

_Alb._ At Heart, _Antonio_, poison’d by thy Jealousy; --Oh, thou hast ruin’d me, undone my Quiet, And from a Man of reasonable Virtue, Hast brought me to a wild distracted Lover.

_Ant._ Explain your self.

_Alb._ Thou’st taught me, Friend, to love _Clarina_; Not, as I promis’d thee, to feign, but so, That I, unless I do possess that Object, I think must die; at best be miserable.

_Ant._ How, Sir, have I done this?

_Alb._ Yes, Antonio, thou hast done this.

_Ant._ My dear _Alberto_, said you that you lov’d her?

_Alb._ Yes, _Antonio_, against my will I do; As much against my will, as when I told her so; Urg’d by thy needless Stratagem.

_Ant._ Name it no more, it was an idle Fault, Which I do so repent me, That if you find I should relapse again, Kill me, and let me perish with my Weakness: And were that true you tell me of your Passion, Sure I should wish to die, to make you happy.

_Alb._ That’s kindly said, and I submit to you, And am content to be out-done in Amity.

_Ant._ Yes, I’ll resign my Claims, and leave the World; _Alberto_, ‘tis unkind to think I would be happy By ways must ruin you: But sure you tell me this, but only to afflict me.

_Alb._ ‘Tis truth, _Antonio_, I do love _Clarina;_ And, what is yet far worse for thy repose, Believe my self so bless’d to be belov’d.

_Ant._ How, to be belov’d by her! --Oh dire effects of Jealousy!

_Alb._ All that you saw to day was only feign’d, To let you see, that even your Eyes and Ears Might be impos’d upon.

_Ant._ Can it be possible!

_Alb._ And now she thinks she is enough reveng’d; And lets you know, in her feign’d Scorn to me, That all your Sleights and Cunnings are but vain: She has deceiv’d them all, and by that Art, Gives you a Confidence, and me a Heart.

_Ant._ I must confess, it is but just in her To punish thus the Errors of my Fear; I do forgive her, from my Soul I do. --But, Sir, what satisfaction’s this to you?

_Alb._ _Clarina_ happy, I’ll from Court retire, And by that Absence quench my Hopeless Fire: War I will make my Mistress, who may be, Perhaps, more kind than she has been to me; Where though I cannot conquer, ‘twill allow That I may die; that’s more than this will do.

_Ant._--Why did you, Sir, betray my Weakness to her? Though ‘twas but what I did deserve from you.

_Alb._ By all that’s good, she knew the Plot before, From _Isabella_, who it seems o’erheard us, When you once press’d me to’t: And had we wanted Virtue, thoud’st been lost.

_Ant._ I own the Crime; And first I beg thy Pardon, And after that will get it from _Clarina_; Which done, I’ll wait upon thee to the Camp, And suffer one year’s Penance for this Sin, Unless I could divert this Resolution, By a Proposal _Clarina_ bid me make you.

_Alb._ What was it, Sir?

_Ant._ I have a Sister, Friend, a handsome Virgin, Rich, witty, and I think she’s virtuous too; Return’d last Week from St. _Teresia’s_ Monastery.

_Alb._ Sure any thing that is to thee ally’d, Must find a more than bare Respect from me; But certain ‘tis I ne’er shall love again, And have resolv’d never to marry any, Where Interest, and not Love, must join our hands.

_Ant._ You cannot tell what Power there lies in Beauty; Come, you shall see her, and if after that, You find you cannot love her, We’ll both to _Candia_, where we both will prove Rivals in Honour, as we’re now in Love. --But I’ad forgot to tell thee what I came for; I must this Evening beg your Company, Nay, and perhaps your Sword: come along with me, And by the way I’ll tell you the Adventure.

[Exeunt.