University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

An Apartment in Francisco's house.
Enter Dorothea and Isaacos.
Dorothea.
Must thou then go? Alas, how swiftly fly
The hours of love! Must I then be condemn'd
To the dull prison of a husband's arms?

Isaacos.
Oh, I could ever gaze upon that form,
But cruel Fortune otherwise ordains;
It cannot, must not be: Oh, cursed Fate,
That gave thy beauty to Francisco's arms!

Enter Francisco behind.
Fran.
Either I dream, or sure I hear some man
Conversing with my wife—What do I see?

Dor.
Cursed indeed! but, ah! what could I do?
Condemn'd to servitude, which suits but ill
With Dorothea's spirit; soon I found
The dotard lov'd; I watch'd his hour of weakness,
And by a well-feign'd coyness fix'd him mine,
Then made him what he is: You from that hour,
Who always had my heart, have shar'd my joys.

Isaacos.
Ay, joys indeed, pleasures unutterable,
If not embitter'd by these anxious fears!

Dor.
By fears embitter'd? what's thy meaning? speak!

Isaacos.
Mistake me not; my fears are all for thee:
Should it be known, thou art, alas, undone;
And much I fear Francisco should awake.

Dor.
Why, that is true. Now then, retire with speed;
For morning dawns. Remember what I told thee;
Haste, and preserve thyself and friends!

Isaacos.
I will. But say, my fair, can you inform me
Whose names, beside my own, are in the warrant?

Dor.
Bernardo, Abrahamides.

Isaacos.
'Tis well.
Ah, generous mistress, doubly am I bound
By love and gratitude for ever to thee!
Farewell! may all good angels ever guard thee!

Dor.
Retire, my love; and, when the danger's past,
You shall not fail to hear from Dorothea.

[Exeunt.
Francisco comes forward.
Fran.
'Tis as I thought! Why did I ever marry?
Fool that I was, who vainly hop'd to find
That want of fortune might be well supplied
By love, and by obedience. Oh, vain hope,
To think that gratitude can ever bind
A servile mind!—But what can now be done?
If I betray suspicion, she'll grow insolent:
What can I do with him? a beggar sued—
The proverb's stale!—A cuckold?—ha! a cuckold?
Cuckolded by a journeyman? damnation!
Couldst thou not, partial Fate, when thou ordain'd
I should be cuckold, by a nobler hand
Inflict the shame? perhaps I then had found
One drop of patience; and a verdict gain'd,
Had amply paid me for my loss and shame:
Instead of that, to be a fixed mark
For all the parish now to point and stare at!
By Heav'n, I'll be reveng'd! but how? how?—Right!
His name is now inserted in the warrant;
And when in gaol, I'll buy up all his debts,
And keep him there; and, to torment him more,
I'll bribe the gaoler. Beware, Isaacos;
Thou soon shalt feel the vengeance that awaits
An injur'd Tailor's honour!

[Exit.