Antonio’s house
Enter [Antonio] and Abberzanes.
[ANTONIO]
You are welcome, sir.
ABBERZANES
I think I am worthy on’t,
For look you, sir, I come untruss’d, in troth.
[ANTONIO]
The more’s the pity — honester men go to’t —
That slaves should ‘scape it. What blade have you got there?
ABBERZANES
Nay, I know not that, sir. I am not acquainted greatly with the blade; I am sure ’tis a good scabbard, and that satisfies me.
ANTONIO
’Tis long enough indeed, if that be good.
ABBERZANES
I love to wear a long weapon: ’tis a thing commendable.
ANTONIO
I pray draw it, sir.
ABBERZANES
It is not to be drawn.
ANTONIO
Not to be drawn?
ABBERZANES
I do not care to see’t. To tell you troth, sir, ’tis only a holiday thing, to wear by a man’s side.
ANTONIO
Draw it, or I’ll rip thee down from neck to navel, though there’s small glory in’t.
ABBERZANES
Are you in earnest, sir?
ANTONIO
I’ll tell thee that anon.
ABBERZANES
Why, what’s the matter, sir?
ANTONIO
What a base misery is this in life now!
This slave had so much daring courage in him
To act a sin would shame whole generations,
But hath not so much honest strength about him
To draw a sword in way of satisfaction.
This shows thy great guilt that thou darest not fight.
ABBERZANES
Yes, I dare fight, sir, in an honest cause.
ANTONIO
Why, come then, slave! Thou’st made my sister a whore.
ABBERZANES
Prove than an honest cause and I’ll be hang’d.
ANTONIO
So many starting-holes? Can I light no way?
Go to, you shall have your wish: all honest play.
Come forth, thou fruitful wickedness, thou seed
Of shame and murder.
[Enter Francisca.]
Take to thee in wedlock
Baseness and cowardice, a fit match for thee.
Come, sir, along with me.
ABBERZANES
‘Las, what to do?
I am too young to take a wife, in troth.
ANTONIO
But old enough to take a strumpet, though.
You’ld fain get all your children beforehand,
And marry when y’have done: that’s a strange course, sir.
This woman I bestow on thee: what dost thou say?
ABBERZANES
I would I had such another to bestow on you, sir.
ANTONIO
Uncharitable slave, dog, coward as thou art,
To wish a plague so great as thine to any!
ABBERZANES
To my friend, sir, where I think I may be bold.
ANTONIO
Down, and do’t [solemnly]: contract yourselves
With truth and zeal, or ne’er rise up again!
I will not have her die i’ th’ state of strumpet,
Though she took pride to live one. Hermio, the wine!
[Enter Hermio with wine.]
HERMIO
’Tis here, sir. [Aside] Troth, I wonder at some things,
But I’ll keep honest.
ANTONIO
So, here’s to you both now,
And to your joys, if’t be your luck to find ‘em. [Drinks.]
I tell you, you must weep hard, if you do.
Divide it ‘twixt you both.
[They drink.]
You shall not need
A strong bill of divorcement after that
If you mislike your bargain. Go, get in now,
Kneel, and pray heartily to get forgiveness
Of those two souls whose bodies thou hast murder’d.
[Exeunt Abberzanes and Francisca.]
Spread, subtle poison! Now my shame in her
Will die when I die; there’s some comfort yet.
I do but think how each man’s punishment
Proves still a kind of justice to himself.
I was the man that told this innocent gentlewoman,
Whom I did falsely wed and falsely kill,
That he that was her husband first by contract
Was slain i’ th’ [field], and he’s known yet to live.
So did I cruelly beguile her heart,
For which I am well rewarded; so is Gasper
Who, to befriend my love, swore fearful oaths;
He saw the last breath fly from him. I see now
’Tis a thing dreadful t’ abuse holy vows
And falls most weighty.
HERMIO
Take comfort, sir;
You’re guilty of no death: they’re only hurt,
And that not mortally.
ANTONIO
Thou breath’st untruths.
Enter Gaspero.
HERMIO
Speak, Gasper, for me then.
GASPERO
Your unjust rage, sir,
Has hurt me without cause.
ANTONIO
’Tis chang’d to grief [for’t].
How fares my wife?
GASPERO
No doubt, sir, she fares well,
For she nev’r felt your fury: the poor sinner
That hath this seven year kept herself sound for you,
’Tis your luck to bring her into th’ surgeon’s hands now.
ANTONIO
Florida!
GASPERO
She. I know no other, sir;
You were nev’r at charge yet, but with one light horse.
ANTONIO
Why, where’s your lady? Where’s my wife tonight then?
GASPERO
Nay, ask me not, sir; your struck [doe] within
Tells a strange tale of her.
ANTONIO
This is unsufferable!
Never had man such means to make him mad!
Oh, that the poison would but spare my life
Till I had found her out!
HERMIO
Your wish is granted, sir.
Upon the faithfulness of a pitying servant,
I gave you none at all; my heart was kinder.
Let not conceit abuse you; you’re as healthful,
For any drug, as life yet ever found you.
Enter L[ord] Governor.
ANTONIO
Why, here’s a happiness wipes off mighty sorrows;
The benefit of ever-pleasing service
Bless thy profession! Oh, my worthy lord,
I have an ill bargain; never man had worse!
The woman that unworthy wears your blood
To countenance sin in her: your niece, she’s false!
GOVERNOR
False?
ANTONIO
Impudent, adulterous!
GOVERNOR
You’re too loud,
And grow too bold, too, with her virtuous meekness.
Who dare accuse her?
Enter Florida.
FLORIDA
Here’s one dare and can:
She lies this night with Celio, her own servant,
The place, Fernando’s house.
GOVERNOR
Thou dost amaze us.
ANTONIO
Why, here’s but lust translated from one baseness
Into another; here I thought to have caught ‘em,
But lighted wrong by false intelligence
And made me hurt the innocent. But now
I’ll make my revenge dreadfuller than a tempest;
An army should not stop me, or a sea
Divide ‘em from my revenge.
Exit.
GOVERNOR
I’ll not speak
To have her spar’d if she be base and guilty.
If otherwise, heaven will not see her wrong’d,
I need not take care for her. Let that woman
Be carefully look’d to, both for health and sureness;
[To Florida] It is not that mistaken wound thou wear’st
Shall be thy privilege.
FLORIDA
You cannot torture me
Worse than the surgeon does: so long I care not.
[Exit Florida and Gaspero.]
[GOVERNOR]
If she be adulterous, I will never trust
Virtues in women; they’re but veils for lust.
Exit.
HERMIO
To what a lasting ruin mischief runs!
I had thought I had well and happily ended all
In keeping back the poison, and new rage now
Spreads a worse venom. My poor lady grieves me;
’Tis strange to me that her sweet-seeming virtues
Should be so meanly overtook with Celio,
A servant: ’tis not possible.
Enter Isabella and Sebastian[, disguised].
ISABELLA
Good morrow, Hermio.
My sister stirring yet?
HERMIO
How? Stirring, forsooth!
Here has been simple stirring. Are you not hurt, madam?
Pray speak, we have a surgeon ready.
ISABELLA
How, a surgeon?
HERMIO
Hath been at work these five hours.
ISABELLA
How he talks!
HERMIO
Did you not meet my master?
ISABELLA
How, your master?
Why, came he home tonight?
HERMIO
Then you know nothing, madam?
Please you but walk in, you shall hear strange business.
ISABELLA
[To Sebastian] I am much beholding to your truth now, am I not?
Y’have serv’d me fair: my credit’s stain’d forever!
Exeunt [Isabella and Hermio].
SEBASTIAN
This is the wicked’st fortune that e’er blew.
We’re both undone for nothing: there’s no way
Flatters recovery now, the thing’s so gross.
Her disgrace grieves me more than a life’s loss.
Exit.