The Fatal Jealousie (1673) Part 17

_Ger._ Making what haste I can to meet _Eugenia_.

_Serv._ O me! Unfortunate!

_Ger._ Bewail me not; Death is a pleasure to me, Since I can see _Francisco_ lye there by me; But ask him e're I dye, What made him kill _Eugenia_?

_Fran._ What, is _Eugenia_ Dead?

_Ger._ Why seems it strange to thee, who basely hast First Rob'd her of her Honour, then of Life.

_Fran._ _Gerardo_, it was cruelty to kill her, being as Yet she had not done thee wrong, and dying, I rejoyce I have Reveng'd her.

_Ger._ _Francisco_, sure thy Crimes have made thee Devil, Or thou would'st ne're transfer thy Treachery By murd'ring her, and place it thus on me.

_Fran._ May I reach Heav'n as I'm Innocent Of any Death but yours: Which if a guilt Forgive me Heav'n and you as-- [Dyes.

_Serv._ He's dead, my Lord.

_Ger._ With such a Lye in's mouth; O Heavenly Angels lead me not his way, For he must alwayes walk i'th' paths of falshood; Remove me nearer to _Eugenia's_ Body; My Spirits faint apace, and I must follow: One word, and then farewell; I have no time for to Reward thy care: Here, take this Ring, and give it to my Brother, He left it with me when he went to Travel; Tell him I still preserv'd it for his sake, A faithful pledge of our United Friendship.

Bid him, that by this Token he believes Three words I left within my Cabinet Concerning thee this Evening: He will do it, And use thee as a Friend, as I have done.

_Serv._ I'le bear the Ring, but not the Message, Sir; I ne're will seek for Friends when you are gone.

_Ger._ I do conjure thee do it: Tell our story too As true as is thy self: But have a care, Wound not _Eugenia_'s Fame more then must needs.

_Francisco_'s and _Eugenia's_ dying words Will make it strangely dark, as 'tis to me, But I must leave it so!

Give me thy hand, commend me to _Antonio_; Alas! I had forgot him, pray Heav'n his story Produce no further mischief; tell _Caelia_ nothing Befor't be day: Bus'ness comes thronging on me, But I faint--make but one Grave, and lay us In it thus--Farewell.

[Dyes.

_Serv._ Now dyes the justest Man the Earth contains, And I would do so too, but that I know Self-murderers ne're must keep him Company; I'le set the Bodies up against the Wall, And call the Watch; what if they say I'm guilty, And make my Life to answer all these Deaths: Why, let e'm do't, for Death would now be well Since to survive his loss to me's a h.e.l.l.

[Exit.

_Enter _Antonio_ and _Jasper_._

_Jasp._ Come, come, my Lord, the coast is quiet now.

_Anto._ I hope that Pistol sav'd our swords a labour.

_Jasp._ I'm sure they could not leave the Garden yet, But we must needs have seen e'm.

_Anto._ Nay, I'm sure they did not pa.s.s the Garden door, For if they had, we should have stopt their Journey.

_Jasp._ I think I heard a talking up this way, After the Pistol made us leave our Post.

_Anto._ Though I did leave the Door, yet still my Eye Was bent that way, and I saw none to pa.s.s.

But stay, where's _Caelia's_ Body?

_Jasp._ See, my Lord, There is a Man doth hold her in his Arms.

_Anto._ It is _Francisco_ sure! Have at his heart.

[Runs at _Gerardo_.

How's this, not stir! Nay, then he's dead Already--the Moon deceives me, or it is _Gerardo_.

Oh Heav'n's! It is my Friend, dead, dead, and stiff, And my accursed hand hath Wounded him.

This is not _Caelia_ neither, but _Eugenia_ in her Gown!

What strange mistakes are these?

_Jasp._ But who are here?

_Anto._ What, more!

By Heav'ns _Francisco_ and his Friend _Sebastian_!

Both dead too! Death has had a Feast to Night.

Do not we Dream? As for this Womans Death, Surely her Fathers Soul did guide my hand To strike the blow, since needs she must betray Her Honour to _Francisco_, in these meetings!

But oh, my Sword hath pierc'd my Friend _Gerardo_.

What Fatal Accident mixt his Blood with theirs.

But stay, there's Light appears, slip into the Grotto.

[Exeunt.

_Enter Servant, Captain, and Watch, with two Torches._

_Serv._ Here is the dismal place I told you of, And here the Bodies.

_Capt._ A fight most terrible in time of Peace!

But did _Francisco_ still deny her Death?

_Serv._ To his last moment; He did confess he had abus'd her, But would have plac'd her Death upon my Lord.

And seem'd as much to wonder we deny'd it As we that he did so.

_Capt._ What said _Sebastian_?

_Serv._ He scarce did speak a word after I shot him.

_Capt._ Had we not best to knock, and call _Antonio_?

_Serv._ He's not at Home.

_Capt._ Yes, but I'm sure he is.

_Serv._ He was not late at Night, for I was there.

_Capt._ That's strange, for just at shutting in o'th' Evening I met him at a House that stands i'th' Suburbs, Saying, he would go Home.

I think however we had best to knock.

_Serv._ My dying Lord made it his last desire, That _Caelia_ might not be disturb'd this Night.

_Capt._ Well, take the Bodies up, and keep e'm safe, You shall to the Vice-Roy's presently with me, I scarce perform my trust, if I detain The knowledge of so strange an Accident A moment from his Ears, whose Wisdom will Direct in this, which far exceeds my skill.

[Exeunt.

_Enter _Antonio_ and _Jasper_._