Isa. Do I deserve to be this outcast wretch; Abandoned thus, and lost? But 'tis my lot, The will of Heaven, and I must not complain: I will not for myself: let me bear all The violence of your wrath; but spare my child! Nurse. I can work, or beg, to do you service. What I have been, I might the better bear That have been wretched: but to think how much Enter SAMPSON. Samp. Why truly, very little to the purpose: like a Jew as he is, he says you have had more already than the jewels are worth: he wishes you would rather think of redeeming them, than expect any more money upon them. [Exit SAMPSON. Isu. 'Tis very well- This ring is all I have left of value now: Where we shall find another- -My dear boy! Than of my fondness now; my fears for him Nurse returns. Nurse. Oh, madam! you are utterly ruined and undone; your creditors of all kinds are come in upon you: they have mustered up a regiment of rogues, that are come to plunder your house, and Car. Oh, sister! can I call you by that name, I must abhor my father's usage of you, Isa. I thank your pity; my poor husband fell [Exit. Isa. Let my fate Determine for me; I shall be prepared. The worst that can befall me, is to die: [Ancise. When once it comes to that, it matters not Which way 'tis brought about: whether I starve, Or hang, or drown, the end is still the same; Plagues, poison, famine, are but several names Of the same thing, and all conclude in death But sudden death; Oh, for a sudden death, To cheat my persecutors of their hopes, The expected pleasure of beholding me Long in my pains, lingering in misery! It will not be, that is denied me too. Hark! they are coming; let the torrent roar ! It can but overwhelm me in its fall; And life and death are now alike to me. [Exeunt, the Nurse leading the Child. SCENE III.-Opens, and shews CARLOS eri VILLEROY with the Officers. Vil. No farther violence The debt in all is but four thousand crowns: Offi. That's as much as we can desire: so we Enter ISABELLA, and Nurse, with the Child. And now my sister comes to crown the work. Isa. Where are the raving blood-hounds, that pursue In a full cry, gaping to swallow me? Car. Have patience. I am ready for my trial. Car. Pray be calm, And know your friends. Isa. My friends! Have I a friend? Though now you have a friend, the time must come That you will want one; him you may secure Car, You have discharged your duty to the dead, And to the living; 'tis a wilfulness Nurse. What must become of this poor inno- Nurse. Of him and me, And every one that must depend upon you: Unless you please now to provide for us, We must all perish. Car. Nor would I press you— Isa. Do not think I need Your reasons, to confirm my gratitude; Car. A faithful friend; in your extremest need, Of your great worth, and busy to contrive, Villeroy came in to save you Isa. Save me! How? Car. By satisfying all your creditors. Vil. Let me be understood, [Aside. And then condemn me: you have given me leave Car, You must not go. [TO VILLEROY. If possible, to make you a return. Vil. Oh! easily possible! Isa. It cannot be your way: my pleasures are Buried, and cold in my dead husband's grave; And I should wrong the truth, myself, and you, To say that I can ever love again. I owe this declaration to myself: But, as a proof that I owe all to you, If, after what I have said, you can resolve You cannot think it; 'tis impossible. Isa. You should not ask me now, nor should I grant; I am so much obliged, that to consent You would not wish to think I could be bought, Vil. Be bought! where is the price that can pretend To bargain for you! Not in fortune's power. The joys of Heaven and love must be bestowed; They are not to be sold, and cannot be descrved. Isa. Some other time I will hear you on this Isa. I give you all My hand; and would I had a heart to give! But if it ever can return again, 'Tis wholly yours. Vil. Oh, ecstacy of joy! Leave that to me. If all my services, If prosperous days, and kind indulging nights, [Nurse goes out in haste. This night you must be mine. ACT III. SCENE I.-Count BALDWIN'S House. Last night the priest performed his holy office, C. Bald. Misfortune join them! Car. Soon he'll hate her, Though warm and violent in his raptures now. When full enjoyment palls his sickened sense, And reason, with satiety, returns, Her cold constrained acceptance of his hand Will gall his pride, which (though of late o'erpowered By stronger passions) will, as they grow weak, Rise in full force, and pour its vengeance on her. C. Bald. Now, Carlos, take example to thy aid! Let Biron's disobedience, and the curse Car, May those rankling wounds, C. Bald. With tears I thank thee, CarlosAnd may'st thou ever feel those inward joys, Thy duty gives thy father-but, my son, We must not let resentment choak our justice; 'Tis fit that Villeroy know he has no claim From me, in right of Isabella, Biron (Whose name brings tears), when wedded to this woman, By me abandoned, sunk the little fortune with them, I will be sure my interest will not suffer Is man! My father here, who boasts his honour, [Erit. SCENE II.-A hall in VILLEROY's house. A band of music, with the friends of VILLEROY. Enter a Servant. 1 F. Where's your master, my good friend? Ser. Within, sir, Preparing for the welcome of his friends. 1 F. Acquaint him we are here: yet stay, The voice of music gently shall surprise him, And breathe our salutations to his ear. Strike up the strain to Villeroy's happiness, To Isabella's-But he's here already. Enter VILLEROY. Vil. My friends, let me embrace you: Welcome all What means this preparation? [Seeing the music. 1 F. A slight token Of our best wishes for your growing happinessYou must permit our friendship— mine! My Isabella! Oh, the joy of my heart, I durst not ask, but it was kind to grant, I would not bring ill luck along with me. With shifting of your dress-Time has done cures Incredible this way, and may again. Isa. I could have wished if you had thought it fit, Our marriage had not been so public. Vil. Do not you grudge me my excess of love; That was a cause it could not be concealed: Besides, 'twould injure the opinion I have of my good fortune. having you, Isa. I have no more to say. Enter CARLOS. Vil. My Carlos too, who came in to the support Of our bad fortune, has an honest right, In better times, to share the good with us. Car. I come to claim that right, to share your joy; To wish you joy; and find it in myself: Vil. He must be a friend, Who is not envious of a happiness So absolute as mine; but if you are (As I have reason to believe you are) Concerned for my well-being, there's the cause; Thank her for what I am, and what must be. [Music flourish. I see you mean a second entertainment. from thee they Thy virtues have diffused themselves around, Enter SAMPSON and Nurse. Samp. Ay, marry, nurse, here's a master indeed! He will double our wages for us! If he comes on as fast with my lady, as he does with his servants, we are all in the way to be well pleased. Nurse. He is in a rare humour; if she be in as good a one Sump. If she be, marry, we may even say, they have begot it upon one another. Nurse. Well; why do not you go back again to your old count? You thought your throat cut, I warrant you, to be turned out of a nobleman's service. Samp. For the future, I will never serve in a house where the master or mistress of it lie single: they are out of humour with every body when they are not pleased themselves. Now, this matrimony makes every thing go well. There's mirth and money stirring about, when these matters go as they should do. Nurse. Indeed, this matrimony, SampsonSamp. Ah, nurse! this matrimony is a very good thing-but, what, now my lady is married, I hope we shall have company come to the house: there's something always coming from one gentleman or other upon those occasions, if my lady loves company. This feasting looks well, nurse. Nurse. Odso, my master! we must not be [Exeunt. seen. My heart would dance, spite of the sad occa sion, And be a gay companion in my journey; Enter CARLOS from supper. My good Carlos, why have you left my friends? Mere ceremony had been constraint; and this Vil. Was the more obliging. There, Carlos, is the cause. Car. Unlucky accident! [Gives the letter. The Archbishop of Malins, your worthy bro ther With him to-night! Sister, will you permit it? Isa. You hear it must be so. Car. To leave your bride so soon! Vil. But having the possession of my love, The longer that my Isabella sighs: Enter Servant, and bows. My horses wait: farewell, my love! You, Will act a brother's part, 'till I return, Car. And I receive her as a friend and bro |