Act IV Scene, Don Guzman’s House
Enter Don Guzman, and Galindo.
Don Guz. Galindo!
[Musing.
Gal. Sir.
Don Guz. Try if you can see Jacinta, let her privately know I wou’d fain speak with her.
Gal. It shall be done, Sir.
[Exit. Gal.
Don Guzman solus.
Sure Villainy and Impudence were never on the Stretch before! This Traitor has racked them till they crack. To what a Plunge the Villain’s Tour has brought me. Pedro’s Resentment must at last be pointed here: But that’s a Trifle; had he not ruin’d me with Leonora, I easily had pass’d him by the rest.——What’s to be done? Which Way shall I convince her of my Innocence? The Blood of him who has dar’d declare me Guilty, may satisfy my Vengeance, but not aid my Love. No; I’m lost with her for ever——
Enter Jacinta.
Speak: is’t not so, Jacinta? Am I not ruin’d with the virtuous Leonora?
Jacin. One of you, I suppose, is.
Don Guz. Which dost thou think?
Jacin. Why he that came to spoil all; who shou’d it be?
Don Guz. Pr’ythee be serious with me if thou can’st, for one small Moment, and advise me which Way I shall take to convince her of my Innocence, that it was I that came to do her Service.
Jacin. Why, you both came to do her Service, did not you?
Don Guz. Still trifling.
Jacin. No, by my Troth, not I.
Don Guz. Then turn thy Thoughts to ease me in my Torment, and be my faithful Witness to her, that Heaven and Hell and all their Wrath I imprecate, if ever once I knew one fleeting Thought that durst propose to me so impious an Attempt. No, Jacinta, I love her well; but love with that Humility, whatever Misery I feel, my Torture ne’er shall urge me on to seize more than her Bounty gives me leave to take.
Jacin. And the Murrain take such a Lover, and his Humility both, say I. Why, sure, Sir, you are not in earnest in this Story; are you?
Don Guz. Why dost thou question it?
Jacin. Because I really and seriously thought you innocent.
Don Guz. Innocent! What dost thou mean?
Jacin. Mean! Why, what shou’d I mean? I mean that I concluded you lov’d my Lady to that Degree, you cou’d not live without her: And that the Thought of her being given up to another, made your Passion flame out like Mount Etna: That upon this your Love got the Bridle in his Teeth, and ran away with you into her Chamber, where that impertinent Spy upon her and you, Don John, follow’d, and prevented farther Proofs of your Affection.
Don Guz. Why, sure——
Jacin. Why, sure, thus I thought it was, and thus she thinks it is. If you have a Mind in the Depth of your Discretion, to convince her of your Innocence—May your Innocence be your Reward! I’m sure were I in her Place, you shou’d never have any other from me.
Don Guz. Was there then no Merit in flying to her Assistance when I heard her Cries?
Jacin. As much as the Constable and the Watch might have pretended to—something to drink.
Don Guz. This is all Raillery; ’tis, impossible she can be pleas’d with such an Attempt.
Jacin. ’Tis impossible she can be pleas’d with being reduc’d to make the Attempt upon you.
Don Guz. But was this a proper Way to save her Blushes?
Jacin. ’Twas in the dark; that’s one Way.
Don Guz. But it must look like downright Violation.
Jacin. If it did not feel like it, what did that signify? Come, Sir, Waggery apart: You know I’m your Servant; I have given you Proofs on’t. Therefore, don’t distrust me now, if I tell you, this Quarrel may be made up with the Wife, tho’ perhaps not with the Husband. In short, she thinks you were first in her Chamber, and has not the worse Opinion of you for it; she makes Allowance for your Sufferings, and has still Love enough for you, not to be displeas’d with the utmost Proofs you can give, that you have still a warm Remain for her.
Don Guz. If this be true, and that she thought ’twas me, why did me cry out to expose me?
Jacin. Because at this Time she did not think ’twas you. Will that content you? And now she does think ’twas you, your Business is to let her think so on; for, in a Word, I can see she’s concern’d at the Danger she has brought you into, and, I believe, wou’d be heartily glad to see you well out on’t.
Don Guz.——’Tis impossible she can forgive me.
Jacin. Oons—Now Heaven forgive me, for I had a great Oath upon the very Tip of my Tongue; you’d make one mad with your Impossibles, and your Innocence, and your Humilities. ‘Sdeath, Sir, do you think a Woman makes no Distinction between the Assaults of a Man she likes and one she don’t? My Lady hates Don John, and if she thought ’twas he had done this Job, she’d hang him for’t in her own Garters; she likes you, and if you shou’d do such another, you might still die in your Bed like a Bishop, for her.
Don Guz. Well, I’ll dispute no farther. I put myself into thy Hands. What am I to do next?
Jacin. Why, do as she bids you; be in the Way at the old Rendezvous, she’ll take the first Occasion she can to speak to you; and when you meet, do as I bid you, and instead of your Innocent and Humble, be Guilty and Resolute. Your Mistress is now marry’d, Sir; consider that. She has chang’d her Situation, and so must you your Battery. Attack a Maid gently, a Wife warmly, and be as rugged with a Widow as you can. Good bye t’ye, Sir.
[Exeunt several Ways.
Scene, Don Felix’s House
Enter Don Pedro solus.
In what Distraction have I past this Night! Sure I shall never close my Eyes again! No Rack can equal what I feel. Wounded in both my Honour and my Love; they have pierc’d me in two tender Parts. Yet cou’d I take my just Revenge, it wou’d in some Degree assuage my Smart. O! guide me Heaven to that Cordial drop.——Hold! A Glance of Light I think begins to——Yes——Right. When Yesterday I brought Don John hither, was not Don Felix much disturb’d?——He was; and why?——That may be worth enquiring. But something more occurs. At my Arrival in this City, was I not told that two Cavaliers were warm in the Pursuit of Leonora? One I remember well, they nam’d, ’twas Guzman: The other, I am yet a Stranger to. I fear I shall not be so long——’Tis Alvarada! O the Traitor! yet I may wrong him much. I have Guzman’s own Confession that he past the Wall to come to Leonora——O! but ’twas to her Assistance——And so it might, and he a Villain still.—There are Assistances of various Sorts——What were her Wants?—That’s dark—But whatsoe’er they were, he came to her Assistance. Death be his Portion, for his ready Service.
Enter Don Felix.
Don Fel. You avoid me, Don Pedro; ’tis not well. Am I not your Father, have you not Reason to believe I am your Friend?
Don Ped. I have.
Don Fel. Why do you not then treat me like a Father and a Friend? The Mystery you make to me of last Night’s Disturbance, I take unkindly from you.—Come, tell me your Grief, that if I can I may assuage it.
Don Ped. Nothing but Vengeance can give me ease.
Don Fel. If I desire to know your Wrongs, ’tis to assist you in revenging ’em.
Don Ped. Know then, that last Night in this Apartment I found Don Guzman and Don John.
Don Fel. Guzman and Alvarada?
Don Ped. Yes; and Leonora almost naked between them, crying out for Aid.
Don Fel. Were they both guilty?
Don Ped. One was come to force her, t’other to rescue her.
Don Fel. Which was the Criminal?
Don Ped. Of that I am yet ignorant. They accuse each other.
Don Fel. Can’t your Wife determine it?
Don Ped. The Darkness of the Night put it out of her Power.
Don Fel. But I perhaps may bring some Light to aid you. I have Part in the Affront: And tho’ my Arm’s too old and weak to serve you, my Counsel may be useful to your Vengeance. Know then, that Don Guzman has a long Time pursu’d my Daughter; and I as resolutely refus’d his Suit; which, however, has not hindered him from searching all Occasions to see and speak to her. Don John, on his Side——
Don Ped. Don John’s my Friend, and I am confident——
Don Fel. That Confidence destroys you. Hear my Charge, and be yourself his Judge. He too has been a pressing Suitor to my Daughter.
Don Ped. Impossible!
Don Fel. To me myself, he has own’d his Love to her.
Don Ped.. Good Gods! Yet still this leaves the Mystery where it was; this Charge is equal.
Don Fel. ’Tis true; but yonder’s one (if you can make her speak) I have Reason, to believe can tell us more.——Ho, Jacinta!
Enter Jacinta.
Jacin. Do you call me, Sir?
Don Fel. Yes; Don Pedro wou’d speak with you. [To Don Pedro aside.] I’ll leave you with her; press her; press her both by Threats and Promises, and if you find your Wife in Fault, old as I am, her Father too, I’ll raise my Arm to plunge this Dagger in her Breast, and by that Firmness convince the world, my Honour’s dearer to me than my Child.
[Exit Don Fel.
Don Ped. [Aside.] Heaven grant me Power to stifle my Rage, till ’tis Time to let my Vengeance fly. Jacinta, come near: I have some Business with you.
Jacin. [Aside.] His Business with me at this Time can be good for nothing, I doubt.
Jacin. [To Don Ped.] What Commands have you, Sir, for me? I’m not very well.
Don Ped. What’s your Disorder?
Jacin. A little Sort of a something towards an Ague, I think.
Don Ped. You don’t seem so ill, but you may tell me—
Jacin. O, I can tell you nothing, Sir, I assure you.
Don Ped. You answer me before yon hear my Question. That looks as if you knew——
Jacin. I know that what you are going to ask me, is a Secret I’m out at.
Don Ped. [Offering her a Purse.] Then this shall let thee into it.
Jacin. I know nothing of the Matter.
Don Ped. Come, tell me all, and take thy Reward.
Jacin. I know nothing of the Matter, I say.
Don Ped. [Drawing his Sword.] Speak; or by all the Flame and Fire of Hell Eternal—
Jacin. O Lard, O Lard, O Lard!
Don Ped. Speak, or th’art dead.
Jacin. But if I do speak, shan’t I be dead for all that?
Don Ped. Speak, and thou art safe.
Jacin. Well—O Lard—I’m so frighted—But if I must speak then—O dear Heart—give me the Purse.
Don Ped. There.
Jacin. Why truly, between a Purse in one’s Hand—and—a Sword in one’s Guts, I think there’s little room left for Debate.
Don Ped. Come begin, I’m impatient.
Jacin. Begin! let me see, where shall I begin? At Don Guzman, I think.
Don Ped. What of him?
Jacin. Why he has been in love with my Lady these six Years.
Don Ped. I know it; but how has she received him?
Jacin. Receive him! Why—as young Maids use to receive handsome Fellows; at first ill, afterwards better.
Don Ped. [Aside.] Furies! Did they ever meet?
Jacin. A little.
Don Ped. By Day or Night?
Jacin. Both.
Don Ped. Distraction! Where was their Rendezvous?
Jacin. Where they cou’d not do one another much good.
Don Ped. As how?
Jacin. As through a Hole in a Wall.
Don Ped. The Strumpet banters me: Be serious, Insolence, or I shall spoil your Gaiety; I’m not dispos’d to Mirth.
Jacin. Why I am serious, if you like my Story the better for’t.
Don Ped. [Aside.] How miserable a Wretch am I!
Jacin. I tell you there’s a Wall parts their two Houses, and in that Wall there’s a Hole. How the Wall came by the Hole, I can’t tell; mayhap by chance, mayhap by no chance; but there ’tis, and there they use to prattle.
Don Ped. And this is Truth?
Jacin. I can’t bate you a Word on’t, Sir.
Don Ped. When did they meet there last?
Jacin. Yesterday; I suppose ’twas only to bid one another adieu.
Don Ped. Ah, Jacinta, thou hast pierced my Soul!
Jacin. [Aside.] And yet I han’t told you half I cou’d tell you, my Don.
Don Ped. Where is this Place you speak of?
Jacin. There ’tis, if you are curious.
Don Ped. When they wou’d speak with one another; what’s the Call?
Jacin. Tinkle, Tinkle.
Don Ped. A Bell?
Jacin. It is.
Don Ped. Ring.
Jacin. What do you mean, Sir?
Don Ped. [Hastily.] Ring.
Jacin. ’Tis done.
Don Ped. [Aside.] I’ll make use of her to examine him. Does he come?
Jacin. Not yet.
Don Ped. Pull again.
Jacin. You must give him Time, Sir: My Lady always does so.
Don Ped. I hear something.
Jacin. ’Tis he.
Don Guz. [Within.] Who’s there?
Don Ped... [Softly.] Say you are Leonora.
[Dumb Shew of her Unwillingness and his Threatning.
Jacin. [Softly.] ’Tis Leonora.
Don Guz. What are your Commands, Madam? Is it possible so unfortunate a Wretch as I can be capable of serving you?
[Don Ped. whispers Jacinta, who seems backwards to speak.
Jacin. I come to ask you, how cou’d you so far forget that infinite Regard you have professed, as to make an Attempt so dangerous both to yourself and me; and which, with all the Esteem and Love I have ever borne you, you scarce cou’d hope I ever shou’d forgive you.
Don Guz. Alas! my Hopes and Fears were vanish’d too. My Counsel was my Love and my Despair. If they advis’d me wrong, of them complain, for it was you who made ’em my Directors.
Don Ped. [Aside.] The Villain owns the Fact. It seems he thinks he has not so much to fear from her Resentment.——O Torture!
Enter Leonora.
Jacin. [Aside.] So, she’s here; that’s as I expected: now we are blown up.
Leo. [Aside, not seeing them.] If I don’t mistake, I heard Don Guzman’s Call. I can’t refuse to answer it. Forgive me, Gods, and let my Woman’s Weakness plead my Cause.—How! my Husband here! Nay then——
Don Ped. You seem disorder’d, Madam; pray, what may be the Cause?
Leo. [Confus’d.] I don’t know, really; I’m not——I don’t know that——
Don Ped. You did not know that I was here, I guess?
Leo. Yes, I did, and——came to speak with you.
Don Ped. I’m not at present in a talking Humour, but if your Tongue is set to Conversation, there’s one behind the Wall will entertain you.
Don Guz. But is it possible, fair Leonora, that you can pardon my Attempt?
Don Ped. [To Leo.] You hear him, Madam; he dares own it to you.
Leo. [Aside.] Jacinta winks; I guess what Scene they have been acting here. My Part is now to play.
[To Don Ped.] I see, Sir, he dares own it: Nor is he the first lover has pressum’d beyond the Countenance he ever has receiv’d. Pray draw near, and hear what he has more to say: It is my Interest you shou’d know the Depth of all has ever passed between us.
Leo. [To Don Guz.] I fain wou’d know, Don Guzman, whether in the whole Conduct of my Life, you have known one step, that cou’d encourage you to hope I ever cou’d be yours, but on the Terms of Honour which you sought me?
Don Guz. Not one.
Leo. Why then should you believe I cou’d forgive the taking that by Force, which you already were convinc’d I valu’d more the keeping, than my Life?
Don Guz. Had my Love been as temperate as yours, I with your Reason had perhaps debated. But not in Reason, but in Flames, I flew to Leonora.
Leo. If strong Temptation be allow’d a Plea, Vice, in the worst of Shapes, has much to urge:—No, cou’d any Thing have shaken me in Virtue, it must have been the Strength of it in you. Had you shone bright enough to dazzle me, I blindly might have missed the Path I meant to tread: But now you have clear’d my Sight for ever. If, therefore, from this Moment more you dare to let me know one Thought of Love, though in the humblest Stile, expect to be a Sacrifice to him you attempt to wrong.——Farewel!
[She retires from him.
Don Guz. O stay and hear me!—I have wrong’d myself; I’m innocent!——By all that’s sacred, just and good, I’m innocent!
Don Ped. [Aside.] What does he mean?
Don Guz. I have own’d a Fact I am not guilty of! Jacinta can inform you; she knows I never——
Jacin. I know! The Man’s mad: Pray, begone, Sir, my Lady will hear no more; I’ll shut him out, Madam, shan’t I?
[She shuts the Hole.
Leo. I have no farther Business with him.
Enter Isabella hastily.
Isab. O Heavens, Leonora, where are you? Don Pedro, you can assist me better.
Leo. What’s the Matter?
Don Ped. What is it, Madam, I can serve you in?
Isab. In what the Peace of my whole Life consists; the Safety of my Brother! Don John’s Servant has this Moment left me a Letter for him, which I have open’d, knowing there is an Animosity of some Time between ’em.
Don Ped. Well, Madam!
Isab. O dear, it is a Challenge, and what to do I know not; if I shew it my Brother, he’ll immediately fly to the Place appointed; and if I don’t, he’ll be accus’d of Cowardice. One way I risque his Life, t’other I ruin his Honour.
Don Ped. What wou’d you have me do, Madam?
Isab. I’ll tell you, Sir: I only beg you’ll go to the Place where Don John expects him; tell him I have intercepted his Letter, and make him promise you he’ll send no more: By this generous Charity you may hinder two Men (whose, Piques are on a frivolous Occasion) from murdering one another! And by this good Office, you’ll repay the small Debt you owe my Brother, for flying last Night to Leonora’s Succour; and doubly pay the Obligation you have to me, upon the same Occasion.
Don Ped. What Obligation, Madam? I am ignorant; pray inform me.
Isab. ’Twas I, Sir, that first heard Leonora’s Cries, and rais’d my Brother to her Aid. Pray let me receive the same Assistance from your Prudence, which you have had from my Care, and my Brother’s Generosity. But, pray lose no Time. Don John is perhaps already on the Spot, and not meeting my Brother, may send a second Message, which may be fatal.
Don Ped. Madam, be at rest; you shall be satisfy’d, I’ll go this Moment. I’ll only ask you first whether you are sure you heard my Wife call out for Succour, before your Brother past the Wall?
Isab. I did; why do you ask that Question?
Don Ped. I have a Reason, you may be sure. [Aside.] Just Heaven, I adore thee! The Truth at last shines clear, and by that Villain Alvarada I’m betray’d. But enough; I’ll make Use of this Occasion for my Vengeance. [To Isab.] Where, Madam, is it, Don John is waiting?
Isab. But here, in a small Field, behind the Garden.
Don Ped. [Aside.] His Blood shall do me Reason for his Treachery.
Isab. Will you go there directly?
Don Ped. I will. Be satisfy’d.
[Ex. Don Ped.
Leo. You weep, Isabella?
Isab. You see my Trouble for a Brother for whom I wou’d die, and a Lover for whom I wou’d live. They both are Authors of my Grief.
Leo. They both are Instruments of my Misfortune.
[Exeunt.