Volume Ii Part 10 (2/2)
_Qu_. Heavens! dost thou mock my Rage? can any Sin I could commit, undo my Honour more Than his late Insolence?
Oh, name me something may revenge that Shame: I wou'd encounter killing Plagues, or Fire, To meet it--Come, oh quickly give me ease.
_Abd_. I dare no more reveal the guilty Secret, Than you dare execute it when 'tis told.
_Qu_. How little I am understood by thee-- Come, tell me instantly, for I grow impatient; You shall obey me--nay, I do command you.
_Abd_. Durst you proclaim--_Philip_ a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, Madam?
_Qu_. Hah! proclaim my self--what he wou'd have me thought!
What mean'st thou?--
_Abd_. Instruct you in the way to your Revenge.
_Qu_. Upon my self thou meanest--
_Abd_. No-- He's now fled to th' Camp, where he'll be fortify'd Beyond our Power to hurt, but by this means; Which takes away his Hopes of being a King, (For he'd no other Aim in taking Arms) And leaves him open to the People's Scorn; Whom own'd as King, Numbers wou'd a.s.sist him, And then our Lives he may dispose, As he has done our Honours.
_Qu_. There's Reason in thy Words: but oh my Fame!
_Abd_. Which I, by Heaven, am much more tender of, Than my own Life or Honour; and I've a way To save that too, which I'll at leisure tell you.
In the mean time send for your Confessor, And with a borrow'd Penitence confess, Their Idol _Philip_ is a b.a.s.t.a.r.d; And zealously pretend you're urg'd by Conscience, A cheap Pretence to cozen Fools withal.
_Qu_. Revenge, although I court you with my fatal Ruin, I must enjoy thee: there's no other way, And I'm resolv'd upon the mighty Pleasure; He has profan'd my purer Flame for thee, And merits to partake the Infamy.
[_He leads her out_.
_Abd_. Now have at my young King-- I know he means to cuckold me to Night, Whilst he believes I'll tamely step aside-- No, let _Philip_ and the Cardinal gain the Camp, I will not hinder 'em-- I have a n.o.bler Sacrifice to make To my declining Honour, shall redeem it, And pay it back with Interest--well, then in order to't, I'll watch about the Lodgings of _Florella_, And if I see this hot young Lover enter, I'll save my Wife the trouble of allaying The amorous Heat--this--will more nimbly do't, [_s.n.a.t.c.hes out his Dagger_.
And do it once for all--
_Enter_ Florella _in her Night-Clothes_.
_Flor_. My _Abdelazer_--why in that fierce posture, As if thy Thoughts were always bent on Death?
Why is that Dagger out?--against whom drawn?
_Abd_. Or stay,--suppose I let him see _Florella_, And when he's high with the expected Bliss, Then take him thus--Oh, 'twere a fine surprize!
_Flor_. My Lord--dear _Abdelazer_.
_Abd_. Or say--I made her kill him--that were yet An Action much more worthy of my Vengeance.
_Flor_. Will you not speak to me? what have I done?
_Abd_. By Heaven, it shall be so.
_Flor_. What shall be so?
_Abd_. Hah--
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