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 Bastard;
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 nobler 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,
[Snatches 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.