 | The Fatal Marriage : or, the Innocent Adultery |  |
Scene I.
The Monastery Burying-place, Fernando's Tomb; Jaqueline, with others, Dress'd for Procession.Enter Fabian, with Carlos, Julia, Frederick, and Victoria.
Fab.
Be satisfied, and expect the consequence.
If I don't answer your expectations,
Never rely upon me for a Miracle again.
Jul.
O, but this is carrying the jest too far; he has beaten
him like a Dog.
VVhere have you buried him?
Fab.
This is his Tomb.
Carl.
Then here lies an honest Fellow, who (if his VVife
VVould have heard reason) might have been
A Cuckold, and consequently gone to Heaven.
Jul.
But now he's buried, 'tis too late, you know,
To think of sending him that way.
Carl.
O Virtue! Virtue! what an Enemy art thou to a
Womans good Inclinations!
Jul.
A troublesome Companion indeed, if one knew how
to be honestly rid on't: Can you advise me?
Carl.
Nay, take your own way; you are past advising, it
seems ; for a Woman to play the Hypocrite, and counterfeit
Virtue, when she has it not, is a very common thing—
Jul.
But to play the Hypocrite, the wrong way!
Car.
To pretend to be a Woman of pleasure, and not have
the benefit of the Character—
Jul.
Is what, it seems, you are not acquainted with. But
for the future, Sir, you may helieve there are Women, who
won't be provoked to injure their Husbands.
Serv.
Sir, there's a Letter for you at home.
[Enter a Servant.
The Messenger will deliver it to no body, but your self.
Car.
How, I must look about me then, I'le go with you.
[Excit with the Servant.
Jaq.
Sir, Sir, I think I hear him stir in the Tomb.
[A noise in the Tomb.
Fab.
We'll be within call, Jaquelin, begin as soon as you please.
[Jaqueline with others singing in procession.
[Fernando pushes off the Tomb Stone, and stares about.
Fer.
Heigh ho! where am I now! who are you? what
wou'd you have with me? ha!
Jaq.
Bless us! what do I see! appropinquote in nomine—
Fer.
O good Sir! have a care of your hard words; you
may raise the Devil before you'r aware of it; I have had too
much of his company already.
Jaq.
Avaunt, speak I conjure thee, if thou art the Devil—
Fer.
O, no, Sir, I am none of the Devil; though I have
seem him very lately.
What art thou?
Fer.
Truly that's a very hard question at present; when I
was in the land of the living, my name was Fernando, an old
Jealous, Covetous Fellow; but what I am in this Country,
whether I am Fernando, or no—
Jaq.
Fernando! save thee Fernando! what coming out of thy
grave!
Fer.
From whence I am coming, or whither I am going, I
can't tell you; but I have been in very bad Company I remember;
I have seen the Devil.
Jaq.
Our prayers are heard; we have been fasting, and
praying thee out of Purgatory, ever since thou wert buried.
Fer.
Buried! have I been buried too?
Jaq.
And now coming by thy grave in procession, what a
Miracle is wrought for thee, to bring thee to life again!
Fer.
Nay, if I am alive again, 'tis a Miracle, that's certain;
but are you sure I am alive?
Jaq.
Why, don't you find you are alive?
Fer.
Alas! Sir, I have been so often mistaken of late, I
don't know what to say to't; I thought I was alive in Purgatory;
and stood in't a good while; but there's no contending
with the Devil in his own Dominions you know; I was forc't
to confess my self, at last, as dead as a Herring.
Jaq.
O Fernando! be thankful for a good Wife and Son;
They have shewn themselves so, in their sorrow
For you, ever since you were buried.
Fer.
Ay, ay, I heard of 'em;
How have they done since I left 'em?
Jaq.
They have made a hard shift; their sorrow is pretty well
Over now; but 'twas a great while before they
Were to be comforted; a great while indeed
Before they could be persuaded to forget you;
But we must live by the living, you know.
Fer.
That's very true.
Jaq.
Your Son Fabian, upon your death, was releas'd
Out of the Monastery; It had been a pity, you know,
That a good Estate should have wanted an Heir.
Fer.
Ay, so it had indeed.
Yours was a very good one, I hear.
Fer.
So so, conpetent, and enough for me; as it is,
I shall be glad to enjoy it a little longer
I believe; I thank you, Sir, for bringing me to it again.
But my Wife, is my dear Wife well? You know her too?
Jaq.
She has had a great many good offers; since your death:
And truly 'twas very much for a young Widow
To refuse 'em but she resolves never to Marry again.
Fer.
A lack a day! I am beholden to her—
Jaq.
They say you were jealous of her—
Fer.
Indeed I am, very much beholden to her.
Jaq.
That you were extreamly jealous.
Fer.
Alas! alas! I do confess it; I was an old Fool;
And she was too good for me:
But if I ever see her again—
Jaq.
Here they come, your Virtuous Wife,
And Son; pray learn to value 'em.
Enter Fabian, Julia, Frederick, and Victoria.
Fab.
I'st possible!
Jul.
VVhat! risen from the dead!
Fab.
May I believe my Eyes?
Fer.
Ay, ay, you may believe your Eyes.
Jul.
The very Shrowd my Husband was buried in!
Fer.
The very same, the very same; pray help me
Out on't, as soon as you can, for I look but odly, I believe.
Fab.
VVell enough truly Sir, for a Man, that has been buried.
You look well enough, but you smell a little of the place,
you come from, that I must own to you.
[Fernando smells himself.
Fer.
Nay like enough, though I don't perceive it my self.
But have I been buried long enough to stink then?
Fab.
Fie, Sir, stink! You don't positively stink;
You have only an earthly favour, or so, with lying
In the Grave without eating; that's all, I believe.
Fer.
Nay, when I was alive, my Breath was none
Of the best, especially from an empty Stomach.
Fab.
A day or two more had made it intollerable.
Fer.
Ah, VVise! I have suffered a great deal upon your account—
Alas! upon my account!
Fer.
Upon the account of my Jealousie; but I deserv'd it:
Jealousie is a damnable Sin there,
I shall never be Jealous more.
Jul.
'Tis well it has wrought that cure upon you.
Fer.
Nay, You shall henceforward, go when, and where
You please; come when, and how you please;
Say what, and to whom, you please; and in fine,
If you have a mind to be reveng'd of me,
You shall make me what you please:
And that, I'm sure, will please you.
Jul.
Leave that to me Husband.
Fern.
Fabian you look Melancholly; Don't be sorry that I
am alive again: You have some Friends in the other World,
that put me in mind of you: I'll settle half my Estate upon
you in present; and when I die—Who's that Frederick?
You Marry'd my Daughter I remember.—
Vict.
Indeed, Sir, I had more Grace, than to dispose of
my self without your consent; and more respect for your Family,
than to Marry any Man without a Portion.
Fred.
If you please to give a Blessing to our Endeavours,
We have agreed upon the point to make you a Grandfather.
Fer.
Why that's well said: You have my consent; Marry
her, and I'll give her a Portion; but be sure you are as good
as your word.
Fred.
In what, Sir?
Fern.
In making me a Grandfather: I am so over-joy'd
that I am alive again, I care not how many Children I have
to provide for.
Vict.
You see the fruits of Jealousie.
Fred.
I'll keep out of Purgatory I warrant you.
Fer.
O don't name it good Son-in-Law:
I shall never get it out of my mind; that's certain.
Come my dear Wife, and Children, I owe my deliverance
to your Intercession, and Piety: since you have brought me
to Life again: You shall have no cause, for the future, to
wish me Dead: Some Fifty Years hence, I may be contented
to go to Heaven; without calling by the way.
May find in Jealousie their Purgatory.
[Exeunt.
| The Fatal Marriage : or, the Innocent Adultery | |