University of Virginia Library

2 Scene.

Enter Amanda.
Card.
Pray Heaven
He doe not stab her.

Fid.
Sister are y'in health?

Am.
I know not brother, would you'd aske a Doctor;
A skilfull one that hath prov'd more men mortall,
Then a corrupted Vintage, or French Duells:
If such a learned mans inspection can
Tell the disease which many thinke I have,
But am not sensible thereof my selfe.

Fid.
You slight my question.

Am.
Sure it doth deserve
No better answer. How doe I appeare
To every curious eye that undertakes
The reading of my inside? sure that Lady
Hath made you jealous.

Fid.
There's a staine Amanda
Throwne on you by suspition, on your honour;
Nothing but blood, or a faire satisfaction
Can wash it off.

Am.
I thought some such fine thing
Had mockt your credulous weaknes. Blush to thinke
You owne so low a soule as to suspect
Her whom your love calls sister; though detraction
Spake with a hundred tongues, and mutter'd circumstance
To make it probable,

Fid.
Your confidence
Carries the greater show of guilt.

Am.
Of guilt!
Should you present all tortures tyranny
Did e're invent: I have no feares can make me
Belie mine innocence, though it might free me
From all their suffering.

Fid.
This doth shew more like
The violence of a distemper'd passion,
Than will to satisfie. 'Twas never yet
Read in the story of our Ancestors,
Any least blemish stuck upon our house.
And if you have transgrest, the knowledge of it
Will poynt us out a way to just revenge,
Or to an honourable recompence;
And so preserve our yet unsullyed fames
Cleare to postesterity.

Am.
This circumvention
Is of so strange and intricate a nature,
I know not how to free my selfe, but by
Mine owne just testimony. Brother know
Your best prepar'd devotions are not purer
Then my worst thoughts; their ends being alwayes noble
When I have had desires.

Fid.
Not to have some,
Indeed were more than wonder: such a Lady
As you are sister, pamper'd with the fulnesse
Of Court delights, not to elect some one
Prefer'd in her esteeme, were such a paradox,
Not all your learning can maintaine.

Am.
Suppose
I should confesse to whom mine are directed;
He's one that you dare not suspect, much lesse
Accuse of such a sinne that is so farre from
His vertuous inclination.

Fid.
I am glad
Your love can give him such a Character.
To know him might advance your desires,
Provided they be honourable.

Am.
Brother
You seeme to hedge me in with studdied cunning.
But I can give my selfe a liberty
By naming him you'ld know. I doe affect
Your friend Lord Spurio.

Fid.
He the man hath done it?

Am.
Done what? your jealousie is weake, and grounded
Upon too nice a feare; and onely propt
With her slight information.

Fid.
Stay, stay Sister;
There's something more: Did not you once pretend
You had a powerfull interest in his Sister
That might command me a successe with her?

Am.
And you interpret it.

Fid.
Nothing good Sister,
But one thing for another.

Am.
Hug your errour,
And cherish it untill it sting your bosome:
Your threats shall not enforce another answer
Though the place had no priviledge.

Fid.
Enough
Good Sister; I am satisfi'd.

Am.
Will you sir
(To Bonardo.)
Cherish my duty with a faith?

Bon.
Of what?

Am.
What that bad woman hath accus'd me of,
Is false as any fabulous Deity
Bono. and Fidelio whisper.
Ascrib'd to wicked mortall.

Card.
Nay good Lady,
If any grounded feare hath rais'd suspition,
Truth ought to be discover'd; if it were,
We then would make provision of some Villa,
Some pretty Country house, under pretence
That ayr's most wholsome for you.

Am.
Would thou wert
Without that noysefull instrument of speech;
Or all thy hearers deafe. But that her vertues
Carry their perfect lustre, I should almost
Suspect the Dutchesse, for corferring favour
Upon so vile a woman.

Exit.
Bon.
Practice it.
(To Fidelio.
'Twill be a perfect tryall.