University of Virginia Library

Scena 8.

The Scene, Erminia's Gardenwall, terminated by the prospect of her Pallace.
Cleander, Amynter, with their Swords drawn, taking off their false Beards.
Am.
That sure was the Duke who first went hence,
but who those other were, denyed us passage;
or he who last came out disguis'd, and so
fiercely assaulted us, I do not know.

Cle.
But I had known, or searcht his heart for it,
had they not rescued him.
and is this the so renown'd Ermenia?
for solitude, in my absence! she sate
like solitary Turtle in absence of its mate:
no Anchoress more inclos'd,
no Recluse more retir'd!
to whom there's more resort,
then ever was to Corinth in ancient time,
when Thais and Phrine were in their prime,
those famous prostitutes; prostituting her Fame
and honour, if not her self.—
Thanks to my disguize for this discovery,
in which I thought to have ta'n her by surprize
to our greater joy; but now to my greater grief
I'm more surpriz'd my self.

Am.
Indeed 'tis passing strange.

Cle.
But from the witness of these eyes of mine
I might not have believ'd it. Why this is right
Courtesan like: Bravo's dispos'd at door
to let in Customers, keep their pleasure free
and undisturb'd; the door's open to all,
onely debar'd to me, her Husband.

Am.
Nay now
you go too far with your suspitions.

Cl.
I'le go farther yet, none knows of my arrival
but onely you; you shall conceal me, and
present me to her as a present sent from me
in some disguise, may gain me not onely access
into the house, but into her bosome too.

Am.
Had you not better discover you presently,
I do not like this seeking that we shud
be loath to finde, and hunting with our own
curiosities, but our own disquiets.

Cle.
Our quiets rather,
for so knowing for certain
what now I but suspect, my mind will be at rest,
imagine else how miserable I shud be,
to have the mariage bed poyson'd with jealousie,
and all its sweets imbitter'd with the thought
that she is false? no, I like not this gentle
handling wounds, which till th'are throughly searcht,
can never be throughly cur'd:
I am resolv'd to try. What e're may chance,
“of all evils the worst is ignorance.

Am.
Pray Heavens you find not jealousie a
worser yet,
for ignorance though't be a dull disease,
yet 'tis not painful; 'tis a Lethargy
of minde, benums us so, as though
w'are sick, we know not how sick we are:
but jealousie like the Wolf, or Vipers brood
knaws and tears out their very bowels,
who breed it, and give it food.

Cle.
'Tis not to be jealous, but free from jealousie
I undertake this tryal, and to
take my self off the painful rack of doubt.

Am.
They make themselves more miserable
then they were,
who fall from what they doubt to what they fear

C.
Dispute it no more, I am resolv'd to try her;
and as I finde her faith and Loyalty,
away she goes, or else my Jealousie.