The Fatal Jealousie (1673) Part 11

_Eug._ But have you told it then?

_Nurse._ No matter what I've done, I will not tell you, Because you vext and rated at me so.

_Eug._ Well, Nurse, I did believe you lov'd me better.

[Weeps.

And wou'd trust me with any thing you did, But I perceive your kindness all for _Jasper_.

_Nurse._ I love _Jasper_ well, and love you too, And you shall have no wrong I warrant you.

_Eug._ The thing is plain, I need not ask no further.

But where's the remedy? Nurse, prethee tell me, What did _Francisco_ say unto my message?

_Nurse._ I, there's a bus'ness now worth asking for.

He sayes, he's glad you'l condescend to meet; Nay, he's a glad man, I'le tell you that, i' faith, He bid me say, you were a gallant Girle, So to Revenge his quarrel on _Gerardo_.

_Eug._ _Gerardo_, said you! O thy mouth's a Sieve!

There's not a secret thou canst keep a moment; Did I not charge thee not to name _Gerardo_, Till I should speak of it myself to him?

Nay, 'tis the greatest motive makes me meet him, For to prevent the mischiefs else may follow; Well, I am curst for sin, and thou art made The cause o' th' sin, and curse that does attend it.

_Nur._ What, are you got to railing again for nothing?

Pray who has most discretion to tell a bus'ness, You, or I? But you, forsooth, are grown so proud of late Because you hope to Marry _Don Gerardo_; That there's no speaking to you: Marry gip.

'Faith I shall spoil your Market.

[Exit.

_Eug._ Do thy worst (for I am resolv'd to suffer once for all) Death would be better then this Slavery, And that's the worst can happen Should she tell my Brother, or _Gerardo_, my whole story; That's dying once, but I by fear thus fool'd, Do hourly dye, since still I Death behold.

[Exit.

_Enter _Jasper_ and _Antonio_._

_Jasp._ My Lord, I'm confident this is the House, Wherein the Woman Lives I told you of.

_Anto._ Knock then; and if she comes, do you speak to her, I'le stand aloof a while, and hear you talk.

[Jasper _knocks_.

_Enter Witch with a block Rod, which she turns over her Head, whilst _Jasper_ makes a private sign of his Lord's being there._

_Jasp._ Hail, Reverend Mother; I suppose you are That famous Artist who Commands this House, Which if you be, with confidence I beg, You would resolve some Questions I should ask; Which if you please to do, my grat.i.tude Shall be proportion'd to the kindness done.

_Witch._ What prating Fellow's here? Your Lord _Antonio_ Need not to doubt my Art, or if he did, He might have sent some wiser Man to try me.

Come, come, my Lord, I am no Cheating Chymist, that requires A Faith in Fools to make his work successful.

No, no, my Power is boundless, I can search The secrets of your Soul, and when I've done Solve all the doubts that there possess your mind; That Women should be Women, is no wonder.

_Anto._ But that Women should turn Devils, is.

_Witch._ No, no, my Lord, I am no Devil neither.

_Anto._ Mother! I meant not you, when I said so.

_Witch._ Son, Son, excuse it not, you have no cause To love us Women much, and I'm not angry At what you said, though I know what you meant.

_Ant._ Then, Mother, by these Powers you practice by, I do Conjure you, shew me all the truth Of what you know concerns my coming hither.

_Witch._ Come, enter in, my Lord, and nothing fear; There's not a doubt of yours but shall be clear.

I've sent a Spirit out, who will e're long, Bring all the Names of those have done you wrong.

[Ex. and return.

_Enter _Antonio_, _Jasper_, and Witch, as in the House; in the Scenes a Chair, by which _Jasper_ stands, and Witch goes round._

_Witch._ Sit in this Chair, my Lord, whilst I do draw A Sacred Line, which shall the Spirits aw.

About, about, I tread a Round, Where I tread is Sacred Ground.

Thus and thus the Air I charm, To keep my Circle free from harm; Thus I sprinkle Water pure, And by it all the Charm secure; The Spirits that fiery are dare not come near us, Earth, Air, and Water do make e'm to fear us.

Then boldly sit, boldly see, boldly despise What Spirits soever do happen to rise.

_Witch sings._ _Rise, arise, arise, rise and come away, My little pretty Spirit _Puncula_: What, not appear at thy Mistresses call, I'le surely torment thee; thou shalt not suck at all.

Arise then, I say--_

[Spirit within sings.

Spir. _I come, I come away, The Wind it blows hard, and forces me astray._

_Witch._ Let's wait a little, he'l appear, my Lord.

_Anto._ Fear seizes me so fast, that all my Spirits Retire, and leave an Ague in my Joynts.

_Enter a Spirit._

_Witch._ Come, have you done What I gave you in charge, If you have, I command you to tell it at large.

Spirit sings.

_As you bid, I did go to the Caverns below Where the Spirits Inhabit that Govern the Wind.

And though in their motions they be, And see Far, far quicker than we, Yet no Intelligence there I could find.

From thence, like Lightning, I shot to the Pole, Where at a hole I glided to the Region of the Air: But the Spirits above Do Mankind so love, That they drove me from them with despair.

From thence, in a moment, to _aetna_ I came, Where the Spirits of fire that Inhabit that flame: Told me, all that I sought for they knew; Though to Spirits of Earth, As I am by Birth; They'd not tell it; yet hither they flew.

And hereabouts they stay, till you pray, And attone them with Offerings to tell your desire; For these from of Old Have been Lovers of Gold, The Mettles being Govern'd by Spirits of fire_.

[Exit.

_Witch._ It's necessary, Son, you throw them something, For o're these Spirits I have no Command.

_Anto._ Oh, any thing; take this and throw it them; But do release me of the fear I'm in, And quickly solve my doubts, take all I have.

_Witch._ There is Gold, there is Gold to you Spirits of fire; He does willingly offer what you do desire.

_Enter first Spirit, second Spirit Ascends. After some flashes of fire they sing._

1. Spir. _What Spirit did _Lewis_ attend?_

2. Spir. _It was I._