Classic Poem

ACT V. SCENE I.

An open Space before a Church.

Enter don CARLOS , and don Pedro .

Ped. Your daughter does not use me well, don Carlos.
Car. I know not what to think, some great misfortune
Must be the cause.
Ped. Not yet appear? they might,
An they had crept like tortoises, arrived
Before this time.
Car. There is some strange disaster.
Ped. The coach oe'rthrown, and both their lives endanger'd,
Can but excuse them.

Enter ALSIMIRA hastily .

Als. Oh, my lord don Carlos!
Ped. The tragic voice of women strikes mine ear.
Car. Alsimira!
Ped. Madam. —
Car. Where is our daughter?
Als. My fear almost distracts me; she is gone,
Stolen, ravish'd from me.
Ped. Ha!
Als. An armed troop,
In vizards, forced her from my coach; and heaven knows
Where they have hurried the poor Jacinta.
Car. A troop of armed devils.
Ped. Let them be
A legion, they are all damn'd.
Als. Nay, they were men, and mortal sure.
Ped. I will not leave one soul amongst them all.
Car. Mine is in torment.
I'the hope and height of my ambition
To be thus crossed! How 'scap'd you?
Als. Alas, I was not young enough; I offered
Myself to bear her company, and suffer
As much as she did, but one boisterous fellow,
With a starch'd voice, and a worse vizard, took me
Just here above my sciatica, and quoited me
Into the coach again upon my head,
I had a larum in't for half an hour,
And so I 'scap'd with life.
Ped. Did they use her
With any rigour?
Als. To say truth, they were
Gentle enough to her.
Ped. That mollifies, and they may live.
Car. Hell overtake them! let's return; they had better
Committed incest, than this rape.
Ped. They had better ravish'd Proserpine before
Don Lucifer's own face. I am all fury.

SCENE II.

A Street.

Enter ALBERTO , and ESTEFANIA disguised and veil'd as before .

Alb. Pardon, my dear Jacinta; it was love
That threw me on this act; I had no patience
To see thee forced into a marriage
By a covetous father, whose devotion
Is only wealth and title. I esteem
No danger, if at last the fair Jacinta
Smile and allow this duty; let not silence
Deprive me longer of thy voice, whose every
Accent will please, though it pronounce my sentence:
There's death in this eclipse too; sweet, dismiss
Thy ungentle veil, and let thy eyes make bright
This melancholy air, that droops and dies
For want of thy restoring beams.
Estef. Now, sir,
What think you of your mistress?
Alb. You are the lady Estefania, I take it.
Estef. Yes, you did take me from the coach, Alberto,
But by a consequence I find you thought
Jacinta in your power; I could have told you,
Had you discover'd sooner what you were,
Where to have found your mistress, but she's now
Above your hope, and by the priest, ere this,
Made wife to don Francisco.
Alb. To don Pedro.
Estef. It was not, sir, impossible that I,
Had not your violence prevented me,
(By a plot between Jacinta and myself,
To take her place and person in the coach,)
Had by this time been married to count Pedro,
Whom I have power and justice, sir, to challenge,
If contracts carry weight.
Alb. Have I so long
Lain beating at the bush, and is the bird
Fled to Francisco?
Estef. I should shew I had
A passion, sir, and sense of this captivity,
But that I find 'twas error, and not will,
Led you to this; and your own loss, now made
Irreparable, helps to tie up my anger.
Alb. Madam, I must confess a wrong, and dare
Submit to let your anger punish me,
For I despise myself, now I have lost
My expectation; and if your please
To think I had no malice in this act
To you, you can propose no satisfaction
I shall esteem a penance to repair you,
As far as my poor life, if you'll direct it.
Estef. 'Tis nobly promis'd, sir. You shall redeem
In my thoughts what is past, if you be pleas'd
To make my stay no longer here; I have
No desperate aim to make don Pedro yet
Know how to right [me], or make public what
Should bind his honour to perform.
Alb. Was not Luys, madam, entertain'd your servant?
Este. I shall make known the story, if you walk
But to don Carlos' house.
Alb. You shall command me.

SCENE III.

A Room in don Carlos's House .

Enter CARLOS , ALSIMIRA , and Servant.

Car. No news yet of Jacinta?
Als. None.
Car. He must
Not live in Spain, nor in the world, if my
Revenge can overtake him, that has stolen
My daughter; could you not by voice or habit
Guess at the ravisher? ye are traitors all.
Als. Now I consider better, I suspect
Alberto one of the conspiracy;
Some voice did sound like his. You know he lov'd her.
Car. Ha! Alberto?
Als. And how he might engage some ruffians
To cross don Pedro.
Car. It was he; where's Luys?
I do not like his absence, they're both guilty:
My own blood turn'd a rebel! Send for the alcaides,
They shall both trot like thieves to the corregidor. —
Where is count Pedro?
Als. Gone in search
Of his lost mistress.
Car. When all things were ripe,
The very priest prepar'd to seal our joys,
A work my brain did labour for, and sweat
With hope to see accomplish'd, undermin'd,
And in a minute all blown up!
Als. Have patience,
She may be found again.
Car. But how my lord
May be inclin'd to accept her, foil'd, or wounded

Enter LUYS drunk .

In fame. — —
Als. Luys is here.
Car. Borachio! here's a spectacle! more affliction!
Where is your sister? what's become of Jacinta?
Luys. My sister and Jacinta are gone together;
I know all the business.
Als. Where is she?
Luys. She is very well; I know not where she is.
But don Alberto is an honest gentleman,
And has by this time done the feat.
Car. Confusion!
Luys. You think you had all the wit, it was my plot.
You may thank heaven that you are old and ugly,
You had been no mother of this world. — But, sir,
I have some news would be deliver'd privately. —
Mother of mine, avaunt!
Car. Thou'rt not my son.
Was ever man so miserable? — Away
Thou sponge! — Get him to sleep.
Als. I dare not meddle with him.
Luys. In sobriety
A word
Car. Where is Alberto?
Luys. Where every honest man should be, abed with my sister, Old man, I have consider'd o'the former matter we talked on, and would do things like a dutiful son, but I find that a wife is not altogether so convenient for me as a — —
Car. Will none deliver me?
Luys. They are somewhat slug. — Now I have found out an excellent tumbler, that can do the somerset; please you to be acquainted with her, and give me your opinion; she shall play with all the stews in christendom, for all you are worth, if I live: and yet she is but seventeen; there's a periwinkle! I had a gemini before I went to travel, and I am bound in conscience, if you think fit, to see her well provided for — —
Car. With whips, — I'll have her skin flay'd off.
Luys. Her skin flay'd off! dost thou know, mortal man, what thou hast said? I tell thee, don, nothing can come near her in the shape of an officer; she is a very basilisk, and will kill them with her eyes threescore yards point blank: but you may talk, and do your pleasure with her, for I came o'purpose to bring her to your lodging; if you love me, do but see her, it shall cost you nothing, you shall be my friend; hang money!
Car. Thus will my state consume; vexation!
What shall I do? when you have slept, Luys,
I'll tell you more. — Attend him to his chamber,
And make his door fast.
Luys. You will consider on't?
Upon those terms I will go sleep a twinkling.
Car. And will not all this take away my senses?
My son is lost too; this is all a curse
For my ambition and my avarice.

Re-enter ALSIMIRA , and a Servant with a letter .

Als. News, don Carlos, from our daughter.
Car. Ha! a letter! 'tis Jacinta's hand.
Als. Know'st thou where she is?
Ser. Yes, madam, and her resolution to attend her father, with my master, don Francisco, if don Carlos please to admit them: the matter's done.
Als. What matter?
Ser. They are as fast as any priest can make them.
Car. Wife to Francisco, now his father's heir!
That's some allay, if it be true; she writes
Don Pedro was contracted to Estefania, who supplied her person in the coach — 'twas not Jacinta was ravish'd — Then don Pedro was not noble, after he had made faith, to intangle my Jacinta. — Hum! say they shall be welcome.
Ser. They are present, sir.

Enter FRANCISCO and JACINTA .

Car. I am not yet collected, but if this
Paper be justified, I receive you both. —
Peruse those wonders, Alsimira.
Jac. Sir,
Though, by the tie of nature, you may challenge
All duty, this is done so like a father,
It exceeds all your care.
Fran. Let this confirm;
I bring a fortune not to be despis'd,
But were I master of the world, I should
At price of all my wealth, think this a treasure
Purchas'd too cheap.
Car. My blessing and my prayers; I'm new created,
And bow to that great Providence: all joy
Spread through your souls! this is not much amiss.
Fran. But what's become of madam Estefania,
That took Jacinta's place?
Als. Forced from the coach
By don Alberto, thinking her my daughter.
Jac. That part of our plot fail'd; but my intents
Were fair, and to assist this injur'd lady.

Enter a Servant.

Ser. Don Pedro, sir.
Car. You shall for some few minutes
Withdraw into that chamber, in his passion
He may be violent; leave me to moderate[him].
Fran. I shall obey you, sir.

Enter don Pedro .

Ped. Was ever man of my great birth and fortune
Affronted thus? I am become the talk
Of every picaro and ladron; I challenge
A reparation of my honour; where's
Jacinta? 'tis a plot, a base contrivement
To make my name ridiculous, the subject
Of every scurril language.
Car. My lord, with pardon
Of your altesa, you're not injur'd here,
Unless I have been faulty in too much
Observance, and desires to serve your person
With th' almost sacrifice of my daughter.
Ped. Ha!
Too much to me?
Car. I would you had remember'd
How much your honour was engag'd before,
By contract, to another, when you mock'd
The innocent Jacinta, now not mine.
Ped. Who hath traduc'd my fame, or mention'd me
With that dishonour? I disclaim all contracts;
The unconfin'd air's not more free than I
To all the world, except your beauteous daughter.
Car. Do you know the lady Estefania?
Ped. Dares she make saucy claim? my breath dissolves it.
If every lady whom we grace with our converse
Should challenge men of my nobility —
Car. I wish, my lord, you could evade it, for
The honour of my family; if your conscience
Or art can nullify that lady's interest,
I am resolv'd — my son Luigi shall
Then marry with that widow; [ aside. ] — I have no other
Ambition.
Ped. You are wise, and I
Am fortified to clear myself thought-free
From any promise to that sullen madam. —

Enter ALBERTO , and ESTEFANIA disguised as before, with a paper in her hand .

Ha! 'tis Jacinta, and she wears the jewel
I did present, conspicuously. — I ask
No reason for thy absence, let me chain
My darling in this amorous curl; 'tis happiness
Enough to repossess thee, not the policy
And power of hell shall separate us again.
Estef. It is but justice, sir!
Ped. Ha! Estefania!
Alb. Do you know her, sir?
Estef. Do you know this character?

Ped. Conspiracy!
Estef. When this is read, don Carlos,
You will imagine he has wrong'd your daughter.
Car. Is this your hand, count Pedro?
Ped. Mine! 'tis counterfeit,
Upon my honour; and I thus dissolve
Thy insolent claim.
Estef. Nothing can bind, I see,
A false heart.
Car. This must give you freedom, madam,
If you release his hasty vow.
Estef. Faith cannot
Be compell'd, sir.
Ped. These are all impostures;
I take myself into myself.
Alb. What shall
Become of her, my noble count?
Ped. I pity her,
But cannot cure her wound; and if you be
Her friend, advise her to contain her passions,
And wisely love one that can entertain it.
Alb. You hear this, madam?
Estef. And can smile upon
His violated faith.
Car. Now for Luigi,
To strike in with the widow.
Serv. He's asleep.
Car. I'll wake and quicken him.
Estef. Hadst thou been worth my love, I should have held
Thee worth my anger, shadow of a lord!
Thy greatness I despise, and think thee now
Too poor for my revenge, and freely give
Thee back thy barren promises, and when
I read in story, one that has been perjur'd,
I'll write don Pedro in the place of him
That broke his faith, and thank my fate to have miss'd thee.
Alb. If you please, madam, while he is i' the humour
Of being base, I'll make him gather up
These paper relics, which he shall make himself
Up into rolls, and having swallow'd them
For pills, thank you his physic was so gentle.
Estef. It will be too much time and breath lost on him.
Alb. It will become me, madam, to attend you.
Ped. So, she is taken off, and my path free
To Carlos' daughter.

Re-enter don CARLOS and LUYS .

Luys. Contracted to don Pedro, say [you]?
Car. She was. — Where is Estefania?
Ped. Gone with Alberto, proud to wait upon
The lady I neglected.
Car. Follow them, Luys. —
I do not like he should insinuate,
Now she is free, and his hopes desperate in
Jacinta's love.
Luys. How long have I slept, sir?
Car. Thou dost dream still; pursue the widow now,
Or never look at such a fortune [more].
Luys . Is she gone with Alberto? What if I say
I havelain with her, and that she's with child by me?
Car. That would stain both your fames; away, and welcome
When thou return'st, and she confirm'd.
Luys. I'll confirm her, or confound somebody:
No more, I am awake; this is don Pedro,
I'll talk with him first. — Will you justify
The widow is a widow still, and sweet,
For all your contract? that you have not been
My rival, as they say, after the flesh,
And that you did not know I had a mind,
Or not a mind, to do the deed of matrimony?
Ped. Not I, upon my honour.
Luys. You are witness. —
Now to Alberto.
Car. Manage the business temperately.
Luys . Let me alone to be temperate; if I do not cozen somebody, let me never drink sack again.
Car . What think you of Jacinta now, my lord?
Ped . As of the saint I pay my chief devotions [to]

Enter FERNANDO , with his sword drawn .

Fer . I come to seek one that I late call'd brother,
But he hath forfeited that name, and justice,
Weary of such a prodigy in nature,
Hath arm'd me thus in her revenge. — Don Carlos,
Obscure him not, no darkness can protect him;
My sword shall forage every room like lightning,
No cave but it shall visit, and through ribs
Of steel compel my passage to his heart,
Although I meet him in his mistress' arms,
The lover's sanctuary, I dare force Francisco,
And with mysword cut the embrace that chains him,
Rather than he shall glory in my ruins,
And revel out those honours with her, he
Took from my blood.

Re-enter FRANCISCO with a parchment in his hand .

Fran . It shall not need, Fernando.
Ped . Hum! here is like to be a bloody business;
I'll not disturb them.
Car . As you are brothers, by your father's dust
That should sleep quiet in his urn, by her
Dear name that gave you life, that now prays for you,
Chide this unnatural fury.
Fran . What demands
Fernando?
Fer . My inheritance, wrought from me
By thy sly creeping to supplant my birth,
And cheat our father's easy soul, unworthily
Betraying to his anger, for thy lust
Of wealth, the love and promise of two hearts;
Poor Felisarda and Fernando now
Wither at soul, and, robb'd by thee of that
Should cherish virtue, like to rifled pilgrims
Met on the way, and having told their story,
And dropp'd their even tears for both their loss,
Wander from one another.
Fran . 'Tis not, sure,
Fernando, but his passion, that obeys not
The counsel of his reason, would accuse me;
And if my father now, (since spirits lose not
Intelligence, but more active when they have
Shook off their chains of flesh,) would leave his dwelling,
And visit this coarse orb again, my innocence
Should dare the appeal, and make Fernando see
His empty accusations.
Fer . He that thrives
By wicked art, has confidence to dress
His action with simplicity, and shapes
To cheat our credulous natures; 'tis my wonder
Thou durst do so much injury, Francisco,
As must provoke my justice to revenge,
Yet wear no sword.
Fran . I need no guard; I know
Thou darest not kill me.
Fer . Dare I not?
Fran . And name
Thy cause; 'tis thy suspicion, not Francisco,
Hath wrought thee high and passionate: to assure it,
If you dare violate, I dare possess you
With all my title to your land,
Car . How is that?
Will you resign the interest to such
A fair estate, and wrong my daughter, sir?
Fran . Let him receive it at his peril.
Fer. Ha!
Fran . It was my father's act, not mine; he trembled
To hear his curse alive, what horror will
His conscience feel, when he shall spurn his dust,
And call the reverend shade from his bless'd seat,
To this bad world again, to walk and fright him?
Car . I am abus'd.
Fer . Can this be more than dream?
Fran . Sir, you may cancel it, but think withal
How you can answer him that's dead, when he
Shall charge your timorous soul for this contempt
To nature and religion, to break
His last bequest, and breath, that seal'd your blessings?
Car . These are fine fancies.
Fer . Here, and may it prosper,
Where my good father meant it; I'm o'ercome.
Forgive me; and enjoy it; I may find
Some earth that is not thine, where I may die,
And take up a dark chamber: love Jacinta,
And while I seek out where to be forgotten,
Live happy, and divide the spring between you.

Enter RAMYRES , FELISARDA , and THEODORO , behind .

Fran . So, so; all's well again.
Ram. — Fernando, stay.
Fer . Ha! my father and Felisarda?
Car . Don Ramyres and my niece?
Fer. Are they both dead?
I dare kneel too; they do converse. — Don Carlos,
Do not you know that shape? 'tis wondrous like
Your niece.
Car . And that your father; ha?
Fer . How long hath Felisarda been a sad
Companion to the shades? I did not think
To find thee in this pale society
Of ghosts so soon.
Fel . I am alive, Fernando,
And don Ramyres still thy living father.
Fran . You may believe it, sir; I was o' the counsel.

Fer . It is a joy will tempt me wish to live
Here, without more ambition to change
For blessings of the other world; and is
My father willing that we both should live?
Car . Men thought you dead.
Ram . It lay within
The knowledge of Francisco and some few,
By this device to advance my younger son
To a marriage with Jacinta, sir, and try
Fernando's piety and his mistress' virtue;
Which I have found worth him, and myacceptance. —
With her I give thee what thy birth did challenge:
Receive thy Felisarda.
Fer . 'Tis a joy
So flowing, it drowns all my faculties;
My soul will not contain, I fear, but lose,
And leave me in this ecstacy.
Car . I am cheated.
Ram . Not so; what dower you add above that fortune
Descends upon her by your sister's legacy,
Francisco shall deserve, with a proportion

Re-enter F RANCISCO and J ACINTA .

Out of my state; live, and be happy both,
You shall not want a father in my care.
Our children thus increas'd, don Carlos, 'tis
Our shame if we neglect them. — Theodoro,
You now may call me brother,
Theo . I am honour'd.
Car . Well, take my blessing, too; love her, Francisco.
My bounty is to come, and if my son
But finish with his mistress — he's return'd; —

Re-enter LUYS .

Where is the widow?
Luys . Sure enough.
Car . And don Alberto?
Luys . I have made him sure too, I have pepper'd him.
Car . How?
Luys . In your ear, I have cut his throat; do none pursue me?
Car . I hope thou hast not kill'd him? ha?
Luys . You hope too late, I could not help it;
You said he was my rival.
Car . Not too loud.
Luys . Where, where shall I obscure me? the alcaides
Will be here presently, and search for me.
I left him giving up the ghost, at a cranny
I made into his side, through which a man
Might see into his midriff.
Car . Art thou desperate?
Luys . Beside one window, that did look into his lungs, from whence his wind came strong enough in six hours sail to dispatch a carrack to the straits.
Car . I'm mad.
Luys . I should neglect my life, but 'twould not sound well
With your honour that don Carlos son was hang'd,
Or put into the gallies. Are they not come yet?
Car . I am undone; there is no safety here;
Make fast those doors, and by the postern gate
Thou mayst escape: take the best horse; away!
Luys . I shall want money, sir.
Car . Come, follow me;
This accident, I fear, will quite distract me.
Luys . You must dispatch me, quickly, sir; there is
No staying to tell the money, give't me in lump,
I'll count it afterwards; good sir, make haste.
Ram . Something hath happen'd that doth fresh perplex him.
Fran . Where is don Pedro?
Fer . He's here.

Re-enter don Pedro .

Ped . The storm is over, sure; I hear no noise.
Toledos are asleep. — Jacinta! have
I found my love [here]?
Fran . Here 'twas lost, indeed;
I must allow no such familiarity
With my wife,
Ped . How! married?
Jac . 'Tis most true, my lord.
Ped . You have not us'd me thus?
Fran . It had been impious to divorce your heart
From Estefania; my good lord, we know
Your lordship is religious in your promises.
Ped . I defy all Estefanias; lady, you are civil.
Fer . It will become my care so to preserve her,
My honourable count.
Ped . Honourable?
It appears not by these contempts.
Ram . Your lordship cannot want a female furniture.
Ped . I must have somebody, now I'm prepar'd, my blood
Will take it ill; would I had Estefania! —

Re-enter ALBERTO and ESTEFANIA .

She's here. — Madam, I hope you have a better faith than to believe I was in earnest; don Pedro is only at your service.
Estef . 'Tis too late, sir; this gentleman is witness
Of your surrender, and is now possess'd
Of all that's mine.
Alb . It was your noble bounty,
For which I cannot study a return
More apt than to resign to your good lordship,
My interest in Jacinta: give you joy, count!
Such a rich widow serves my turn.
Ped . So, so;
If I consider well this is but justice.

Re-enter don CARLOS .

Car . Ha!
Are not you don Alberto? — Fetch back Luys.
Alb . The very same, sir, and this lady is my wife;
Please you salute her

Re-enter LUYS .

Luys . Sir, for the credit of your wisdom talk not;
The man, you see, 's alive, and married too,
With my consent: alas, I ow'd him money,
That widow has paid all; I must be honest,
I had no heart to leave you so unsatisfied,
These sums must go for other debts, —
My debts do clog my conscience, and are better
When they are timely paid, sir, than let run
With their long teeth to bite your state hereafter;
And if, when I am free, you dare but trust me —
Car . Was ever father cheated thus? Come hither,
How darst thou be so impudent?
Luys . I cannot help it, sir; unless you die,
Or give me better means, I shall make bold
With these devices; you are my father, sir,
And I am bound —
Car . To cozen me?
Luys . All must be mine, and if
I pay myself a little before the day,
You shall be no loser when you come to reckon;
This shall not make a breach 'twixt you and I,
They are honest men I owe this money to.
When I am clear prescribe me any method,
And rank me like your son, I will deserve
You shall forget my wildness, and acknowledge me
A convert without blemish to your family.
Ram . I must be intercessor.
Jac . And we all.
Car . I'll think upon't.
Ped . Since I cannot have Jacinta, I desire
I may have her brother.
Luys . Not in marriage!
Ped . I like his wit, his spirit, and his humour. —
Do not you love a wench?
Luys . Yes, sir.
Ped . Thou shalt never want.
Luys . Wenches?
Ped . We'll live together,
And, if thy father be not bountiful,
Thou shalt command my fortune.
Luys . You speak nobly.
Ped . Ladies, I ask your pardon;
Unless you hold me desperate, disdain not
That I may this day wait upon your triumph,
And to each bride offer some gift to expiate
My folly and offence.
Ram . You are too bountiful.
Car . You're all my guests to-day.
Ram . I beg your next
Remove may place the scene of joy with me;
My house shall be much honour'd: lead the way,
With verse and wine let poets crown this day.