The Perjur'd Husband Part 7

_Lucy._ But what, Sir!

_Lud._ Nothing--I will follow thy Directions, whatever comes on't. Now lead the way, for nothing suits better with my Humour than a Friend, a Bottle, a new Mistress and a convenient Place. [_Exit_ Lucy, Ludovico.

SCENE IV. Pizalto's _Lodgings_.

_Enter_ Pizalto _with a Bond in his Hand_.

_Piz._ Well--My Wife's a fine Woman! a very fine Woman! But a Pox she's a Wife still, and this young Jade runs in my Head plaguily: Well----here 'tis under my Hand; a Thousand Pistoles----A great Sum for a Maidenhead, as Maidenheads go now-a-days----Ah, had I been young now.

_A Fiddle and a Treat had bore the Prize away,_ _But when we old Fools doat, they make us pay._

_Enter_ Lucy.

Oh! are you come! Here, here, _Lucy_: Here's a Fortune for thee, worth twenty Maidenheads, adod! I have not so much Money by me at present, but there's Security. [_Gives her the Bond._

_Lucy._ Your Lordship's Bond's sufficient----Well, but that I am satisfied my Reputation is safe with your Lordship, or twice the Sum should not have prevail'd--Go to my Chamber, my Lord, I'll but step and see if my Lady wants any thing, and I'll be with you instantly.

_Piz._ You won't stay, _Lucy_? Ah, Girl, buss thy Lady's Chucky; now, do now----

_Lucy._ Oh! Lord! not here, we shall be discovered.

_Piz._ Well, thou art a cunning Sinner: make haste, _Lucy_, dost hear?

[_Exit_ Pizalto.

_Lucy._ You're in mighty Haste, old Gentleman! but I shall deceive you,

_My End is gain'd; I have my Fortune made,_ _Man has not me, but I have Man betray'd._

_The End of the_ THIRD ACT.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Armando's _Lodgings_.

_Enter_ Armando, Placentia.

_Pla._ Oh! _Armando_!

Thou more than Friend to the distress'd _Placentia_!

Say, how shall I regain my lost _Ba.s.sino_, My false, perfidious Husband? [_Weeps._

_Arm._ Dear Madam, moderate your Sorrow: Reserve those Tears to move _Ba.s.sino_'s Heart, Mine is all Pity: You may rest secure Of all the Arguments a Friend can use To bring him back to your endearing Arms.

Virtue's not quite extinguish'd in his Breast, Therefore I hope the sight of bright _Placentia_ Will rouze his slumb'ring Reason----

_Pla._ Oh! _Ba.s.sino! Ba.s.sino!_ Oh! wretched Woman! Oh! that I had dy'd E'er I had known him false: Then I were happy: And tho' contented with his second Choice, He with a pitying Sigh, perhaps, had grac'd My Memory---- Oh! all ye Powers that virtuous Love inspire, a.s.sist me now: Inform my vocal Organs With angel Eloquence, such as can melt His Heart of Flint, and move his former Kindness.

(_Aside._) But if that fail, I will remove the Cause Of both our Woes----Yes, that happy Charmer, That Rival of my Love shall surely die.

_Arm._ Doubt not of the Success; What Heart of Steel Could e'er resist such Beauty dress'd in Tears?

_Enter a Servant._

_Serv._ Sir, Count _Ba.s.sino_ enquires if you are within.

_Pla._ Oh! Heavens! how I tremble!

_Arm._ Lucky Opportunity----shew him up.

Madam, be pleas'd to step into that Closet.

Till I can sound the utmost of his Thoughts, And shew him naked to your secret View, Then when he's in the height of impious Pa.s.sion, You like a Bolt from Heav'n shall rush on him, And strike his Folly dumb.

_Pla._ Almighty Powers, whose providential Care Is ever kind to virtuous Innocence, Oh! help me now in this Extremity. [_Exit_ Placentia.

_Enter_ Ba.s.sino.

_Ba.s.s._ How does my Friend _Armando_?

_Arm._ My Lord, _Armando_'s well, And wishes you were so.

_Ba.s.s._ Dost thou discover aught that gives thee Cause To doubt I am not well? Indeed I think I am in perfect Health----

_Arm._ My Lord, I should be glad To find that Fever of your Mind abated In which I left you last----

_Ba.s.s._ (_Aside._) I must dissemble now, Else I'll ne'er gain my Ends--my dear _Armando_, That Fever thou speak'st of, is now succeeded By a cold Ague-Fit: The bare Remembrance Of my unlawful Pa.s.sion shakes my Soul.

_Arm._ Such sudden Cures have often prov'd pernicious, And we have Reason to suspect a Wound Too quickly heal'd----

_Ba.s.s._ Not when thou know'st what Balsam I applied.

_Arm._ There's scarce a Balm for the deep Wounds of Love, Besides Possession, and I cannot think You have enjoy'd _Aurelia_.

_Ba.s.s._ I swear I have not---- But I enjoy my Reason, my free Reason: And who possesses that, can never cherish A Thought against himself: For such I call Whatsoever keeps me from my lawful Wife, My dear _Placentia_, to whose Arms I'll fly With all the eager Haste of a fond Bridegroom.

There I shall revel in the virtuous Pleasures Of a chaste Bed--Oh! my Friend _Armando_!

My dear _Placentia_'s Friend! can'st thou forgive?

Indeed I'm penitent, and will offend no more.

_Arm._ My Lord, these are the Words you spoke before: What greater Reason have I now to think You'll keep your Promise?

_Ba.s.s._ Pride, Honour, Justice are come to my Aid, And Love too feeble to withstand 'em all, Has left the Field to my victorious Reason.

Pride, with the Prospect of my future Greatness, Allures me to return with Speed to _Turin_, T'obey my Prince's Orders.

Honour and Justice tell me I'm _Placentia_'s, And that _Aurelia_ is _Alonzo_'s Bride.

To him she gave her Virgin Vows: Nay, more, To him her dying Father did bequeath her; He loves her too, and shall not be depriv'd: My Pa.s.sion is subdu'd, and I'm resolv'd Myself to give _Aurelia_ to _Alonzo_.

_Arm._ If this be true, then you are my Friend again: But how came you to learn _Aurelia_'s Engagement to _Alonzo_?

_Ba.s.s._ I have it from himself, who an Hour since, With eager Fury sought to 'venge on me His injur'd Love, and challeng'd me to fight: I chose with Justice to defend my Life, And quit _Aurelia_, rather than to vanquish In such a Cause--_Alonzo_ strait embrac'd me, Call'd me his Friend, and vow'd I should not go, Till I had seen him join'd in solemn Marriage With bright _Aurelia_----This I readily granted.