University of Virginia Library

ACT IV.

Enter Ramyres, Francisco & Notarie.
Ra.
'Tis most exactly done, and firm.

Notar.
I could,
Omiting or inserting but a word, or particle,
Trouble the whole conveyance,
And make work for the law till doom's-day: but—

Fran.
Is't possible?

Notar
You do not know the quirks of a Scrivano,
A dash undoes a Family, a point,
An artificiall accent i't'h wrong place,
Shall poyson an Estate, translate your Land
In Spain now into either of both Indies,
In less time than our Gallions of Plate
Are sayling hither; but you are my friend,
And noble benefactor.

Ramy.
Ther's more for your reward.

Notar.
I humbly thank you Signior. Su Criado.

Fran.
Farewell.

Notar.
Su Servidor.

Exit.
Ramy.
This deed makes thee my Heir Francisco, and
Will like a powerfull spell upon Don Carlos,
Whose soul is superstitious upon Wealth,
Win his consent to make Iacinta thine.

Fran.
Sir, I cannot say my duty shall deserve it
Since nature, and religion, without all
This bounty challenges my best obedience.

Enter Fernando.
Ramy.
Away, thy sight
Is my disease.

Fer.
Your blessing sir I kneel for.

Ramy.
What Impudence is this? wilt thou subscribe
To take off mine, thy curse on Felisarda?
For I do hate her heartily; disclaim
All promise, contract, or converse for ever,
I'm else inexorable.

Fer.
Sir.

Ramy.
His eyes shoot poyson at me, ha? he has
Bewitched me sure, what coldness thus invades me?
Ther's somthing creeping to my heart. Franscisco? ha?
Possess this gift of thy Inheritance;
Convey me to my chamber, oh—Fernando,
If thou dost hope I should take off my curse,
Do not approach my sight, unless I send for thee.

Fran.
Forbear good Brother; Diego, Roderigo,
Your hands t'assist my Father, one go for his
Physician.

Enter two Servants.
Fer.
This turn is fatall, and affrights me, but
Heaven has more charity than to let him die
With such a hard heart, 'twere a sin, next his
Want of compassion, to suspect he can
Take his Eternall flight and leave Fernando
This desperate Legacie, he will change
The curse into some little prayer I hope,
And then—

Enter Servant and Physician.
Serv.
Make hast I beseech you Doctor.

Phys.
Noble Fernando.

Fer.
As you would have men think your art is mean
Not to abuse mankind, employ it all
To cure my poorsick Father.

Phis.
Fear it not sir.

Ex. Phys. Serv.
Fer.
But there is more than your thin skill requir'd
To state a health, your Recipes perplex't
With tough names, are but mockeries, and noise,
Without some dew from Heaven, to mix and make 'em
Enter Servant.
Thrive, in the application: what now?

Ser.
Oh sir, I am sent for the Confessor,
The Doctor fears him much, your Brother saies
You must have patience, and not Enter Sir;
Your Father is a going, good old man,
And having made him Heir, is loth your presence
Should interrupt his Journey.

Exit.
Fer.
Francisco may be honest, yet me think;
It would become his love to interpose
For my access, at such a needfull hour,
And mediate for my blessing, not assist
Unkindly thus my banishment. I'l not
Be lost so tamely, shall my Father dye
And not Fernando take his leave—I dare not.
If thou dost hope I should take off this curse,
Do not approach untill I send—'twas so,
And 'tis a law that binds above my blood.
Enter Confessor and Servant.
Make hast good Father, and if heaven deny
Him life, let not his charity dye too.
One curse may sink us both, say how I kneel
And beg he would bequeath me but his blessing;
Then though Francisco be his Heir, I shall
Live happy, and take comfort in my tears,
When I remember him so kind a Father.

Confes.
It is my duty.

Exit.
Fer.
Do your holy office.
Those fond Philosophers that magnifie
Our human nature, and did boast wee had
Such a prerogative in our rationall soul,
Converst but little with the World, confin'd
To cells, and unfrequented woods, they knew not
The fierce vexation of community,
Else they had taught, our reason is our loss,
And but a priviledge that exceedeth sense,
By nearer apprehension, of what wounds,
To know our selves most miserable. My heart
Enter Physician and Francisco.
Is teeming with new fears—Ha, is he dead?

Phy.
Not dead, but in a desperate condition,
And so that little breath remaines wee have
Remitted to his Confessor, whose Office
Is all that's left.

Fran.
Is there no hope of life then?

Phys.
None.

Fer.
Is he not mercifull to Fernando yet? no talk of me?

Phys.
I find he takes no pleasure
To hear you nam'd: Francisco to us all
He did confirm his Heir, with many blessings.

Fer.
And not one left for me? oh take me in
Thou gentle Earth, and let me creep through all
Thy dark and hollow crannies, till I find
Another way to come into the World,
For all the Air I breath-in here is poyson'd.

Fran.
Wee must have patience Brother, it was no
Ambitious thought of mine to supplant you;
He may live yet, and you be reconcil'd.

Fer.
That was some kindness yet Francisco; but
I charge thee by the nearness of our blood,
When I am made this mockery, and wonder,
I know not where to find out charity,
If unawares a chance direct my weary
And wither'd Feet to some fair House of thine,
Where plenty with full blessings crowns thy table,
If my thin face betray my want of food,
Do not despise me, cause 'I was thy Brother.

Enter Confessor.
Fran.
Leave these imagin'd horrors, I must not
Live when my Brother is thus miserable.

Fer.
Ther's somthing in that face looks comfortably.

Confes.
Your Father sir is dead, his will to make
Francisco the sole Master of his Fortunes
Is now irrevocable, a small Pension
He hath given you for life, which with his blessing
Is all the benefit I bring.

Fer.
Ha, blessing; speak it agen good Father.

Confes.
I did apply some lenitives to soften
His anger, and prevail'd; your Father hath
Revers'd that heavy censure of his curse,
And in the place bequeath'd his prayer and blessing.

Fer.
I am new created by his charity.

Confes.
Some, ceremonies are behind, he did
Desire to be interi'd within our Covent,
And left his Sepulture to me, I am confident,
Your pieties will give me leave—

Fran.
His will in all things I obey, and yours
Most reverend Father; order as you please
His Body; wee may after celebrate
With all due obsequies his Funerall.

Fer.
Why you alone obey? I am your Brother:
My Fathers Eldest Son, though not his Heir.

Fran.
It pleas'd my Father sir to think me worthy
Of such a title, you shall find me kind,
If you can look on matters without Envie.

Fer.
If I can look on matters without Envie?

Fran.
You may live here still.

Per.
I may live here Francisco?
Enter a Gentleman with a letter
Conditions? I would not understand
This Dialect.

Fran.
With me, from Madam Estefania?

Gent.
If you be Signior Francisco.

Fer.
Sleighted? I find my Father was not dead till now.
Croud not you Jealous thoughts so thick into
My Brain, lest you do tempt me to an Act
Will forfeit all agen.

Fran.
This is Jacintas character [Reads]
—Fail not to meet
As you timely will prevent the danger of my rape.
My soul! Estefania can instruct you all particulars—
My service to your Lady, say I shall obey her commands.

Exit Gent.
Fer.
Is that an Inventory you peruse?

Fran.
Fernando you must pardon me, ther's somthing
Of Essence to my life, exacts my care,
And person, I must leave you, we may seasonably
Confer of things at my return. Jacinta.

Exit.
Fer.
Tis clear I am neglected, he did name
Jacinta too, in triumph, and is gone,
Big with his glories to divide 'em there,
And laugh at what my constant love hath made-me.
My heart is in a storm, and day growes black,
Ther's not a star in Heaven will lend a beam
To light me to my ruine. Felisarda!
That name is both my haven, and my shipwrack.

Exit.
Enter Alberto and Luys.
Alb.
Excellent.

Luys.
You'l give me now a generall release
For all the sums I ow you?

Alb.
Thou hast blest me.

Luys.
I was born to do you good; about it presently
Now you know where to ambush, away I say
And get comrads: Jacinta and my Mother
Is all the carriage, you may know the coach
By the old womans cough ere it come neer you,
She has a desperate malice to one tooth left
Still in her gums, till she has shook that out;
You wo'not need a warning peece, farewell.

Alb.
Farewel, why whats the matter? you shanot leave me;
Thy Mother wo'not know thee in a Visard.

Luys.
You must excuse me friend, I would Joyn w'ee
I'th' surprise, but that—

Alb.
What I prethee?

Luys.
I have extraordinary business, that concerns me
As neer as life.

Alb.
May not I know't? thou art going
To the Widdow now, thy Mistris.

Lu.
Tis a business of more consequence;
Dost think I would leave thee, and there were not
Such a necessity?

Alb.
For what?

Luys.
And there were no more Sisters in the World,
You must excuse me.

Alb.
Nay, nay, we must not part, unless I know
This mystery, some reason vvhy you leave me.

Luys.
If you will needs knovv, there's a vvench staies for me,
The toy I told thee on; farewell Alberto.

Alb.
But vvill you leave such business and a friend?

Luys.
Business? art thou a Gentleman & vvouldst have
Me leave a Ladie I ha'not seen this three year
For business or a friend?
I must to her; if I had a heart
Ten Tun of Iron,
This Female Adamant vvould dravv it to her,
I feel it going; I do tell thee Don,
There is no business so materiall
In nature as a vvench, and if thou art my friend
Thou vvouldst leave my Sister novv in such a cause
And bear me company, I must be drunk,
And she must pick my pocket too, that is
Another secret vvhen vve meet together
That never failes.

Alb.
Why art thou desperate?
Dost not thou fear thy body?

Luys.
A wench is Physick
My body has been us'd too, leave thy prating,
And let me take my course.

Alb.
And you be so resolute—

Luys.
I must give you one advice before you go;
When my Sister's in thy custody, observe
The time and place, and things convenient,
And stand not fooling about ceremonies
But put her to't.

Alb.
Thou wouldst not have me ravish her?

Luys.
Yes but I would,
Shee's no Sister of mine if she cry out
For such a business, she has more wit.

Alb.
Was ever such a mad-cap.

Luys.
I'l not pray for thee.

Alb.
I sha'not prosper if thou dost.

Luys.
Thy hand, Ile drink thy health, & hang thy self.
Farewell.

Exeunt.
Enter Iacinta and Estefania.
Iac.
You tell me wonders Madam, Don Ramyres
Dead, his Son Fernando disinherited,
And young Francisco made his heir?

Estef.
I took
Franciscos word.

Jac.
Tis strange.

Estef.
Your stars smile on you.

Iac.
Yet I much pitty the poor Gentleman.

Est.
Busie your thought about your own, Francisco—

Ia.
Hath promis'd not to fail?

Est.
He waits where he can easily observe
How soon the coast is clear to visit you.

Ja.
So, so, thus hooded
The day cannot distinguish our two faces,
And for your voice, you know how to disguize it
By imitation of my cold and hoarseness,
And when you come to Church—

Este.
Let me alone, there I'l produce the Contract,
Which will surprise Don Pedro, and your Father,
To see me challenge him, I ha' prepar'd the Priest too,
Whose holy Eloquence may assist, how ever
This will give you opportunity to perfect
Your wishes with your servant, put the rest
To fate Jacinta.

Jac.
I hear some approach, retire into my Closet.—

Enter Carlos and Pedro.
Car.
Jacinta.

Jac.
Sir.

Car.
Not thy voice recover'd?

Ja.
A violent cold—.

Car.
Count Pedro must salute you ere we go.

Pedro.
Impute it to devotion, that I make
Such hast to be within thy armes,
One kiss and I shall carry with me
Another soul, and count with Joy the minutes
I am to expect this happiness.

Car.
Jacinta you follow with your Mother in the Coach;
My Lord I wait you.

Ped.
Ther's Heaven upon her lip.

Iac.
He has kist, and took his leave I hope.
Enter Estefania.
I must owe all my happiness to you sweet Madam,
I had been lost without your art to help me.

Este.
Love wo'not leave his votaries.

Cough within.
Iac.
I hear my Mothers cough, I ha' finish'd
And you must act your part:

Exit.
Enter Alsimira.
Als.
Come are you ready Daughter? the Coach stayes.

Esty.
I attend

Alsi.
Don Pedro will cure your cold before the morning.

Enter Francisco and takes away Iacinta.
Enter Teodoro and Felisarda.
Teo.
What duty Felisarda shall we pay
To Heaven for this last care of us?
Let not thy eyes,
Although thy grief become 'em, be in love
With tears, I Prophesie a joy shall weigh
Down all our sufferings, I see comfort break
Like day, whose forehead chears the world; if Don
Fernando love thee, he is a Gentleman,
Confirm'd in all that's honorable, and cannot
Forget whom his own vertue hath made choice
To shine upon.

Felis.
Unless my Innocence,
Apt to believe a flattering tongue, see not
The Serpent couch, and hide his speckled brest
Among the flowers; but it were sin to think
He can dissemble, Father, and I know not,
Since I was first the object of his charity,
I find a pious gratitude disperse
Within my soul; and every thought of him
Engenders a warm sigh within me, which
Like curles of holy Incense overtake
Each other in my bosom, and enlarge
With their Embrace his sweet remembrance.

Teo.
Cherish
Those thoughts, and where such noble worth invites,
Be bold to call it love.

Felis.
It is too much
Ambition to hope he should be just
To me, or keep his honor, when I look on
The pale complexion of my wants; and yet
Vnless he loves me dearly, I am lost,
And if he have but mock'd me into faith,
He might as well have murdered me, for I
Shall have no heart to live, if his neglect
Deface what my affection printed there.

Teo.
There is no feare of his revolt, lose not
His character. I must attend some business.
If Don Fernando visit thee, preserve
His fair opinion, and thou maist live
Above thy Uncles pitty.

Felis.
Will you leave me?

Teo.
My stay shall not be long; the Garden will
With smiling flowres encourage thee to walk,
And raise thy drooping eyes, with hope to see
A spring like theirs, upon thee.

Exit.
Felis.
Why should I
Give any entertainment to my fears?
Suspicions are but like the shape of clouds,
And idle forms i'th' air, we make to fright us.
I will admit no jealous thought to wound
Fernandos truth, but with that chearfullness,
My own first clear intents to honour him
Can arm me with, expect to meet his faith
As noble as he promis'd—Ha! tis he.
Enter Fernando.
My poor heart trembles like a timerous leaf,
Which the wind shakes upon his sickly stalk,
And frights into a Palsey.

Fer.
Felisarda!

Felis.
Shall I want fortitude to bid him welcome?
Sir, if you think there is a heart alive
That can be gratefull, and with humble thoughts,
And Prayers reward your piety, despise not
The offer of it here; you have not cast
Your bounty on a Rock, while the seeds thrive
Where you did place your Charity; my joy
May seem ill drest to come like sorrow thus,
But you may see through every tear, and find
My eyes meant Innocence, and your hearty welcome.

Fer.
Who did prepare thee Felisarda thus
To entertain me weeping? sure our soules
Meet and converse, and we not know't; there is
Such beauty in that watry circle, I
Am fearfull to come neer, and breath a kiss
Upon thy cheek, lest I pollute that Cristall,
And yet I must salute thee, and I dare
With one warm sigh meet, and dry up this sorrow.

Felis.
I shall forget all misery; for when
I look upon the World, and race of men,
I find 'em proud, and all so unacquainted
With pitty to such miserable things
As poverty hath made us, that I must
Conclude you sent from Heaven.

Fer.
Oh do not Flatter
Thy self poor Felisarda; I'm Mortall,
The life I bear about me is not mine,
But borrow'd to come to thee once again,
And ere I go, to clear how much I love thee—
But first I have a story to deliver,
A tale will make thee sad, but I must tell it,
There is one dead that lov'd thee not.

Felis.
One dead
That lov'd not me? this carries sir in nature
No killing sound; I shall be sad to know
I did deserve an Enemy, or he want
A Charity at death.

Fer.
Thy cruell Enemy,
And my best friend, hath took Eternall leave
And's gone, to heaven I hope, excuse my tears,
It is a tribute I must pay his memory,
For I did love my Father.

Felis.
Ha! your Father?

Fer.
Yes Felisarda, he is gone, that in
The morning promis'd many years, but death
Hath in few hours made him as stiff, as all
The winds, and winter, had thrown cold upon him,
And wisper'd him to marble.

Felis.
Now trust me,
My heart weepes for him, but I understand
Not how I was concern'd in his displeasure;
And in such height as you profess.

Fer.
He did
Command me on his blessing to forsake thee;
Was't not a cruell precept, to inforce
The soul, and curse his Son for honest love?

Felis.
This is a wound indeed.

Fer.
But not so mortall;
For his last breath was Balsom pour'd upon it,
By which he did reverse his malediction;
And I that groan'd beneath the weight of that
Anathema, sunk almost to despair,
Where night and heavy shades hung round about me,
Found my self rising like the morning Star
To view the World.

Felis.
Never I hope to be
Eclips'd agen.

Fer.
This was a welcom blessing.

Fe.
Heaven had a care of both; my joyes are mighty.
Vouchsafe me sir your pardon if I blush
And say I love, but rather than the peace
That should preserve your bosom, suffer for
My sake, 'twere better I were dead.

Fer.
No, live.
And live for ever happy, thou deserved'st it.
It is Fernando doth make hast to sleep
In his forgotten dust.

Felis.
Those accents did
Not sound so cheerfully.

Fer.
dost love me?

Felis.
Sir.

Fer.
Do not, I prethee do not, I am lost,
Alas I am no more Fernando, there
Is nothing but the Empty name of him
That did betray thee, place a guard about
Thy heart betime, I am not worth this sweetness.

Felis.
Did not Fernando speak all this? alas
He knew that I was poor before, and needed not
Despise me now for that.

Fer.
Desert me goodness
When I upbraid thy wants. 'Tis I am poor,
For I ha' not a stock in all the World
Of so much dust, as would contrive one narrow,
Cabin to shroud a worm; my dying Father
Hath given away my Birthright to Francisco,
I'm disinherited, thrown out of all,
But the small Earth I borrow, thus to walk on;
And having nothing left, I come to kiss thee,
And take my everlasting leave of thee too.
Farewell, this will perswade thee to consent
To my Eternall absence.

Felis.
I must beseech you stay a little sir,
And clear my faith. Hath your displeased Father
Depriv'd you then of all, and made Francisco
The Lord of your Inheritance, without hope
To be repair'd in Fortune?

Fer.
'Tis sad truth.

Felis.
This is a happiness I did not look for.

Fer.
A happiness?

Felis.
Yes Sir, a happiness.

Fer.
Can Felisarda take delight to hear
What hath undone her servant?

Felis.
Heaven avert it.
But 'tis not worth my grief to be assur'd
That this will bring me nearer now to him
Whom I most honor of the World; and tis
My pride, if you exceed me not in Fortune,
That I can boast my heart, as high, and rich,
With noble flame, and every way your equall,
And if you be as poor as I Fernando,
I can deserve you now, and love you more
Than when your expectation carried all
The pride and blossoms of the spring upon it.

Fer.
Those shadowes will not feed more than our fancies;
Two poverties will keep but a thin table;
And while wee dream of this high nourishment,
Wee do but starve more gloriously.

Felis.
'Tis ease.
And wealth first taught us art to surfet by;
Nature is wise, not costly, and will spread
A table for us in the Wilderness;
And the kind Earth keep us alive, and healthfull,
With what her bosom doth invite us to;
The brooks, not there suspected as the Wine
That somtime Princes quaff, are all transparent,
And with their pretty murmurs call to tast 'em.
In every tree a Chorister to sing
Health to our loves, our lives shall there be free
As the first knowledge was from sin, and all
Our dreams as Innocent.

Fer.
Oh Felisarda?
If thou didst own less Virtue, I might prove
Unkind and marry thee, but being so rich
In goodness, it becomes me not to bring
One that is poor, in every worth, to wast
So excellent a Dower, be free, and meet
One that hath Wealth to cherish it, I shall
Undo thee quite, but pray for me, as I,
That thou maist change for a more happy Bridgroom;
I dare as soon be guilty of my death,
As make thee miserable by expecting me.
Farwell, and do not wrong my soul, to think
That any storm could separate us two,
But that I have no fortune now to serve thee.

Felis.
This will be no exception sir, I hope,
When wee are both dead, yet our bodies may
Be cold, and strangers in the Winding sheet;
We shall be married when our spirits meets.

Exeunt.