University of Virginia Library

Scene 2.

Isabella's House.
Isabella and Nurse, Isabella's little Son at Play upon the Floor.
Isa.
Sooner, or later, all things pass away,
And are no more: The Beggar and the King,
With equal steps, tread forward to their end:
Tho' they appear of different Natures now;
Not of the same days work of Providence;
They meet at last: the reconciling Grave
Swallows Distinction first, that made us Foes,
Then all alike lie down in peace together.
When will that hour of Peace arrive for me!
In Heav'n I shall find it—not in Heav'n,
If my old Tyrant Father can dispose
Of things above—but, there, his Interest
May be as poor as mine, and want a Friend
As much as I do here.

[Weeping.
Nurs.
Good Madam, be comforted.

Isa.
Do I deserve to be this out-cast VVretch?
Abandon'd thus, and lost? but 'tis my Lot,
The VVill of Heav'n, and I must not complain:
I wonnot for my self: let me bear all
The violence of your VVrath; but spare my Child:
Let not my Sins be visited on him:
They are; they must; a general Ruine falls
On every thing about me: Thou art lost,
Poor Nurse, by being near me.

Nurs.
I can work, or beg to do you service.

Isa.
Cou'd I forget
What I have been, I might the better bear
What I am destin'd to: I'm not the first
That have been wretched: but to think how much
I have been happier!—VVild hurrying thoughts
Start every way from my distracted Soul,
To find out hope; and only meet Despair.
What answer have I?

[Sampson enters.
Sam.

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 wou'd rather think of
redeeming 'em, than expect any more Mony upon 'em.

Isa.
'Tis very well—
[Exit Sampson.
So: Poverty at home, and Debts abroad!
My present Fortune bad; my hopes yet worse!
What will become of me!—
This Ring is all I have left of value now:
'Twas giv'n me by my Husband: his first Gift
Upon our Marriage: I have always kept it,
With my best care, the Treasure next my Life:
And now but part with it, to support Life,
Which only can be dearer. Take it, Nurse,
'Twill stop the cries of hunger for a time;
Provide us Bread; and bring a short Reprieve,
To put off the bad day of Beggery,
That will come on too soon. Take care of it:

Manage it, as the last remaining Friend, that would relieve
us. [Exit Nurse.]
Heaven can only tell where we shall find
another.—My dear Boy!

The Labour of his Birth was lighter to me
Than of my Fondness now; my fears for him
Are more, than in that hour of hovering Death,
They cou'd be for my self.—He minds me not.
His little sports have taken up his thoughts:
O may they never feel the pangs of mine.
Thinking will make me Mad: Why must I think?
When no thought brings me comfort.

Nurse returns.
Nurse.
O Madam! You are utterly ruin'd, and undone.
Your Creditors of all kinds are come in upon you:
They have muster'd up a Regiment of Rogues,
That are come to plunder your House, and seize
Upon all you have in the World, They are
Below, what will you do, Madam?

Isa.
Do! Nothing, no, for I am born to suffer.

Carlos enters to her.
Car.
O Sister! Can I call you by that name,
And be the Son of this inhumane Man,
Inveterate to your ruine? Do not think
I am a-kin to his Barbarity:
I must abhor my Fathers usage of you.
And from my bleeding honest Heart, must pity,
Pity your lost Condition. Can you think
Of any way, that I may serve you in?
But what enrages most my sense of grief,
My sorrow for your wrongs, is, that my Father,
Fore-knowing well the Storm that was to fall,
Has order'd me, not to appear for you.

Isa.
I thank your pity; my poor Husband fell
For disobeying him: Do not you stay
To venture his displeasure too for me.

Car.
You must resolve on something.—

[Exit.
Isa.
Let my Fate
Determine for me; I shall be prepar'd.
The worst that can befall me, is to dye:
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! O for a sudden Death,
To cheat my Persecutors of their hopes,
The expected pleasure of beholding me
Long in my pains, lingring in misery.
It wonnot be; that is deny'd 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 opens, and shews Carlos and Villeroy with the Officers.
Vil.
No farther Violence—
The Debt in all is but 4 thousand Crowns;
Were it ten times the sum, I think you know
My Fortune very well can answer it.
You have my word for this: I'll see you paid

Offi.
That's as much as we can desire:
So we have the Money, no matter whence it comes.

Vil.
To Morrow you shall have it.

Car.
Thus far all's well.—
[Enter Isabella, Nurse with the Child.
And now my Sister comes to crown the work.

[Aside.
Isa.
Where are these rav'ning Blood-hounds, that pursue
In a full cry, gaping to swallow me?
I meet your Rage, and come to be devour'd:
Say, which way are you to dispose of me?
To Dungeons, Darkness, Death.

Car.
Have Patience.

Isa.
Patience!

Offi.
You'l excuse us; we are but in our Office:
Debts must be paid.

Isa.
My Death will pay you all.

[Distractedly.
Offi.
While there is Law to be had,
People will have their own.

Vil.
'Tis very fit they should; but pray begone.
To morrow certainly—

[Exeunt Officers.
Isa.
What of to morrow?
Am I then the sport,
The Game of Fortune, and her laughing Fools?
The common spectacle, to be expos'd
From day to day, and baited for the mirth
Of the lewd Rabble? must I be reserv'd
For fresh Afflictions?

Vil.
For long happiness of Life, I hope.

Isa.
There is no hope for me.
The Load grows light, when we resolve to bear:
I'm ready for my Tryal.

Car.
Pray be calm, and know your Friends.

Isa.
My Friends! Have I a Friend?

Car.
A faithful Friend; in your extreamest need
Villeroy came in to save you.—

Isa.
Save me! How?

Car.
By satisfying all your Creditors.

Isa.
Which way? for what?

Vil.
Let me be understood,
And then condemn me: You have giv'n me leave
To be your Friend; and in that only name,
I now appear before you. I could wish,
There had been no occasion of a Friend;
Because I know you shy to be oblig'd;
And still more loath to be oblig'd by me.

Isa.
'Twas that I would avoid—

[Aside.
Vil.
I'm most unhappy, that my Services
Can be suspected, to design upon you;
I have no farther ends than to redeem you
From Fortunes wrongs; to shew my self at last,
What I have long profess'd to be, your Friend:
Allow me that; and to convince you more,
That I intend only your interest,
Forgive what I have done, and in amends
(If that can make you any, that can please you)
I'll tear my self for ever from my hopes;
Stiffle this flaming Passion in my Soul,
That has so long broke out to trouble you:
And mention my unlucky love no more.

Isa.
This generosity will ruine me.—

[aside.
Vil.
Nay, if the blessing of my looking on you,
Disturbs your peace, I will do all I can
To keep away; and never see you more.

Car.
You must not go.

Vil.
Could Isabella speak
Those few short words, I should be rooted here;
And never move but upon her Commands.

Car.
Speak to him, Sister, do not throw away
A Fortune that invites you to be happy.
In your Extremity he begs your Love;
And has deserv'd it nobly. Think upon
Your lost condition, helpless, and alone.
Tho' now you have a Friend, the time must come
That you will want one; him you may secure
To be a Friend, a Father, Husband to you.

Isa.
A Husband!

Car.
You have discharg'd your duty to the Dead,
And to the Living: 'Tis a willfulness
Not to give way to your necessities,
That force you to this Marriage

Nurse.
What must become of this poor Innocence?

[to the Child.
Car.
He wants a Father to protect his Youth,
And rear him up to Virtue. You must bear
The future blame, and answer to the World,
When you refuse the easie honest means
Of taking care of him.

Nur.
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.
I have a Soul, that's throughly sensible.
Of your great worth; and busie to contrive,
[to Villeroy.
If possible, to make you a return.

Vil.
O! Easily possible!

Isa.
It cannot be, your way: my Pleasures are
Buried, and cold in my Dead Husbands Grave.
And I should wrong the truth, my self, and you,
To say that I can ever love again.
I owe this declaration to my self:
But as a proof that I owe all to you,
If after what I have said, you can resolve
To think me worth your love—where am I going?
You cannot think it; 'tis impossible.

Vil.
Impossible!

Isa.
You should not ask me now, nor should I grant.
I am so much oblig'd, that to consent
Wou'd want a name to recommend the Gift.
'Twould shew me poor, indebted, and compell'd,
Designing, mercenary, and I know
You wou'd not wish to think I could be bought.

Vil.
Be bought! where is the price that can pretend
To bargain for you? Not in Fortunes power.
The Joys of Heav'n and Love, must be bestow'd:
They are not to be sold, and cannot be deserv'd.

Isa.
Some other time I'll hear you on this subject.

Vil.
Nay, then there is no time so fit for me.
[following Her.
Since you consent to hear me, hear me now;
That you may grant: You are above
The little forms, which circumscribe your Sex.
We differ but in time, let that be mine.

Isa.
You think fit
To get the better of me, and you shall;
Since you will have it so—I will be yours.

Vil.
I take you at your word.

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.
O extasie of Joy!
Leave that to me. If all my Services,
If prosperous Days, and kind indulging Nights,
If all that Man can fondly say, or do,
Can beget Love, Love shall be born again.
O Carlos! now my Friend, and Brother too.
And Nurse, I have Eternal thanks for thee.
Send for the Priest—
[Nurse goes out in haste.
This Night you must be mine.
Let me command in this, and all my Life
Shall be devoted to you.

Isa.
On your word
Never to press me to put off these Weeds,
Which best become my melancholly thoughts
You shall command me.

Vil.
Witness Heav'n and Earth
Against my Soul, when I do any thing
To give you a disquiet

Car.
I long to wish you Joy.

Vil.
You'l be a Witness of my Happiness.

Car.
For once I'll be my Sisters Father,
And give her to you.

Vil.
Next my Isabella,
Be near my Heart: I am for ever yours.

[Exeunt.