Antonio’s house
Enter Francisca, in her chamber [above].
FRANCISCA
’Tis now my brother’s time, even much about it;
For though he dissembled a whole forthnight’s absence,
He comes again tonight: ’twas so agreed
Before he went. I must bestir my wits now
To catch this sister of mine, and bring her name
To some disgrace first to preserve mine own:
There’s profit in that cunning. She cast off
My company betimes tonight by tricks and sleights,
And I was well contented: I am resolv’d
There’s no hate lost between us, for I know
She does not love me now but painfully,
Like one that’s forc’d to smile upon a grief
To bring some purpose forward, and I’ll pay her
In her own mettle. They’re now all at rest,
And Gasper there, and all: list, fast asleep.
He cries it [hither]. I must disease you straight, sir.
For the maid-servants and the girls o’ th’ house,
I spic’d them lately with a drowsy posset;
They will not hear in haste.
[Noise within]
My brother’s come!
Oh, where’s this key now for him? Here ’tis, happily.
But I must wake him first. Why, Gasper, Gasper!
GASPERO
[Within] What a pox gasp you for?
FRANCISCA
[Aside] Now I’ll throw ‘t down.
GASPERO
[Within] Who’s that call’d me now? Somebody call’d Gasper?
FRANCISCA
Oh, up, as thou’rt an honest fellow, Gasper!
GASPERO
[Within] I shall not rise tonight then. What’s the matter?
Who’s that? Young mistress?
FRANCISCA
Ay; up, up, sweet Gasper!
Enter Gaspero [in his nightshirt].
My sister hath both knock’d and call’d this hour,
And not a maid will stir.
GASPERO
They’ll stir enough sometimes.
FRANCISCA
Hark, hark again, Gasper! Oh, run, run, prithee!
GASPERO
Give me leave to clothe myself.
FRANCISCA
Stand’st upon clothing
In an extremity? Hark, hark again!
She may be dead ere thou com’st; oh, in quickly!
[Exit Gaspero.]
He’s gone. He cannot choose but be took now
Or met in his return; that will be enough.
Enter Antonio.
Brother? Here, take this light.
ANTONIO
My careful sister!
FRANCISCA
Look first in his own lodging ere you enter.
[Exit Antonio.]
ANTONIO
[Within] Oh, abus’d confidence! Here’s nothing of him
But what betrays him more!
FRANCISCA
Then ’tis too true, brother.
ANTONIO
[Within] I’ll make base lust a terrible example,
No villainy e’er paid dearer!
[FLORIDA]
[Within] Help! Hold, sir!
ANTONIO
[Within] I am deaf to all humanity!
FRANCISCA
List, list!
A strange and sudden silence after all;
I trust h’as spoil’d ‘em both: too dear a happiness!
Oh, how I tremble between doubts and joys!
[Enter Antonio.]
ANTONIO
[Aside] There perish both, down to the house of falsehood
Where perjurous wedlock weeps! Oh, perjurous woman!
Sh’ad took the innocence of sleep upon her
At my approach and would not see me come,
As if sh’ad lain there like a harmless soul
And never dream’d of mischief. What’s all this now?
I feel no ease; the burthen’s not yet off
So long as th’ abuse sticks in my knowledge.
Oh, ’tis a pain of hell to know one’s shame!
Had it been hid and done, it had been done happy,
For he that’s ignorant lives long and merry.
FRANCISCA
[Aside] I shall know all now. — Brother?
ANTONIO
Come down quickly,
For I must kill thee, too.
FRANCISCA
Me?
ANTONIO
Stay not long
If thou desir’st to die with little pain.
Make haste, I’ld wish thee, and come willingly;
If I be forc’d to come, I shall be cruel
Above a man to thee.
FRANCISCA
Why, sir, my brother?
ANTONIO
Talk to thy soul if thou wilt talk at all;
To me thou’rt lost forever.
FRANCISCA
This is fearful in you
Beyond all reason, brother; would you thus
Reward me for my care and truth shown to you?
ANTONIO
A curse upon ‘em both, and thee for company!
’Tis that too diligent, thankless care of thing
Makes me a murderer, and that [ruinous] truth
That lights me to the knowledge of my shame.
Hadst thou been secret, then had I been happy
And had a hope, like man, of joys to come.
Now here I stand, a stain to my creation:
And, which is heavier than all torments to me,
The understanding of this base adultery,
And that thou told’st me first, which thou deserv’st
Death worthily for.
FRANCISCA
If that be the worst, hold, sir;
Hold, brother, I can ease your knowledge straight,
By my soul’s hopes I can: there’s no such thing.
ANTONIO
How?
FRANCISCA
Bless me but with life, I’ll tell you all.
Your bed was never wrong’d.
ANTONIO
What? Never wrong’d?
FRANCISCA
I ask but mercy, as I deal with truth now:
’Twas only my deceit, my plot and cunning
To bring disgrace upon her, by that means
To keep mine own hid, which none knew but she.
To speak troth, I had a child by Abberzanes, sir.
ANTONIO
How? Abberzanes?
FRANCISCA
And my mother’s letter
Was counterfeited to get time and place
For my delivery.
ANTONIO
Oh, my wrath’s redoubled!
FRANCISCA
At my return, she could speak all my folly,
And blam’d me, with good counsel. I, for fear
It should be made known, thus rewarded her,
Wrought you into suspicion without cause,
And at your coming, raised up Gasper suddenly,
Sent him but in before you by a falsehood,
Which to your kindled jealousy I knew
Would add enough. What’s now confess’d is true.
ANTONIO
The more I hear, the worse it fares with me.
I ha’ kill’d ‘em now for nothing: yet the shame
Follows my blood still. Once more, come down.
Look you, my sword goes up. Call Hermio to me;
Let the new man alone: he’ll wake too soon
To find his mistress dead and lose a service.
[Exit Francisca.]
Already the day breaks upon my guilt;
I must be brief and sudden. Hermio!
Enter Hermio.
HERMIO
Sir?
ANTONIO
Run, knock up Abberzanes speedily;
Say I desire his company this morning
To yonder horse race, tell him. That will fetch him.
Oh, hark you, by the way —
HERMIO
Yes, sir?
[Antonio whispers to him.]
ANTONIO
Use speed now,
Or I will ne’er use thee more. And perhaps
I speak in a right hour. My grief o’erflows;
I must in private go and vent my woes.
Exeunt.