Alb. Nay, thou shalt see’t before thou dost revenge it; In such a case, thy self should be the Witness, She knows not what has past to night between us, Nor should she, if thou couldst contain thy Rage; And that, Antonio, you shall promise me: To morrow place thy self behind the Arras, And from thy Eyes thy own Misfortunes know. —What will not disobliged Passion do? Aside. Ant. I’ll hide my Anger in a seeming calm, And what I have to do consult the while, And mask my Vengeance underneath a Smile. Ex. Ant.

Enter Page.

Pag. My Lord, there is without a Lady Desires to speak with you. Alb. Who is’t?

Pag. I know not, Sir, she’s veiled. Exit Page.

Enter Ismena weeping.

Alb. Conduct her in. Ism. Oh Alberto, Isabella has undone us all! Alb. She weeps, and looks as innocent! —What mean you, false dissembling Clarina? What, have you borrow’d from Deceit new Charms, And think’st to fool me to a new belief? Ism. How, Sir, can you too be unkind? Nay then ’tis time to die; alas, there wanted but your credit To this mistake, to make me truly miserable. Alb. What Credit? What Mistake? oh, undeceive me, For I have done thee Injuries past Forgiveness, If thou be’st truly innocent. Ism. If Isabella, under pretence of courting me For Lorenzo, whom she designs to Make a Husband, Has given him freedoms will undo my Honour, If not prevented soon. Alb. May I credit this, and that it was not by thy Command she did it? Ism. Be witness, Heaven, my Innocence in this, Which if you will believe, I’m safe again. Alb. I do believe thee, but thou art not safe, Here, take this Poyniard, and revenge thy Wrongs, Wrongs which I dare not beg a Pardon for. He gives her a Dagger. Ism. Why, Sir, what have you done? have you Deceiv’d me, and do you not indeed love me? Alb. Oh Clarina! do not ask that Question, Too much of that has made me ruin thee; It made me jealous, drunk with Jealousy, And then I did unravel all my Secrets. Ism. What Secrets, Sir? you have then seen Antonio. Alb. Yes. Ism. Hah—Now, Wit, if e’er thou did’st possess A Woman, assist her at her need. Aside. —Well, Sir, rise and tell me all. Alb. I will not rise till you have pardoned me, Or punished my Misfortune. Ism. Be what it will, I do forgive it thee. Alb. Antonio, Madam, knows my Happiness, For in my Rage I told him that you lov’d me; —What shall I do? Ism. I cannot blame you though it were unkind. Alb. This I could help, but I have promis’d him, That he shall be a witness of this Truth; What say you, Madam, do I not merit Death? Oh speak, and let me know my doom whate’er it be. Ism. Make good your Word. Alb. What mean you? Ism. What you have promised him, perform as you intended. Alb. What then? Ism. Then come as you design’d to visit me. Alb. But let me know what ’tis you mean to do, That I may act accordingly. Ism. No. Answer me to every Question ask’d, And I perhaps may set all strait again; It is now late, and I must not be missing: But if you love me, be no more jealous of me, —Farewel. Alb. Must I be ignorant then of your Design? Ism. Yes, Alberto; And you shall see what Love will make a Woman do. He leads her out. Alb. Now am I caught again, inconstant Nature. —Would she had less of Beauty or of Wit, Or that Antonio did but less deserve her; Or that she were not married, Or I’ad less Virtue, for ’tis that which awes me. That tender sense of nothing, And makes the other Reasons seem as Bugbears. —I love Clarina more than he can do. And yet this Virtue doth oppose that Love, Tells me there lurks a Treason there Against Antonio’s and Clarina’s Virtue. —’Tis but too true indeed, and I’m not safe, Whilst I conceal the Criminal within: I must reveal it, for whilst I hide the Traitor, I seem to love the Treason too; I will resign it then, since ’tis less blame To perish by my Pain, than live with Shame.

Exit.