What has she, in my absence, undergone? I must not think of that; it drives me back ISABELLA returns. Isa. I have obey'd your pleasure; Bir. I can want nothing here; possessing thee, I know the way, my love, "I shall sleep sound." Bir. By no means; I've been so long a slave to others pride, You'll make haste after [Goes in. Isa. I'll but say my prayers, and follow you- And what's to come, is a long line of wo, I promis'd him to follow-him! Is he without a name? Biron, my husband, To follow him to bed my husband! ha! What then is Villeroy? But yesterday That very bed receiv'd him for its lord, "Yet a warm witness of my broken vows." [Weeping. Two husbands! yet not one! By both enjoy'd, And yet a wife to neither! Hold my brain “This is to live in common ! Very beasts, "That welcome all they meet, make just such wives. "Therefore no morrow:" Ha a lucky thought But keep me warm-no matter what can come. BIRON meets her. Bir. Despair and rest for ever! Isabella! These words are far from thy condition! And be they ever so. I heard thy voice, And could not bear thy absence: come, my love! You have staid long, there's nothing, nothing sure Now to despair of in succeeding fate. Isa. I am contented to be miserable, But not this way: I've been too long abus'd, And can believe no more. Let me sleep on to be deceiv'd no more. Bir. Look up, my love, I never did deceive thee, Nor never can; believe thyself, thy eyes That first inflam'd, and lit me to my love, "Isa. My good friends above, "I thank 'em, have at last found out a way "A trusted friend, who only can betray you; "If marriages F Are made in heav'n, they should be happier : Bir. Has marriage made thee wretched? Isa. Miserable, beyond the reach of comfort. Isa. Why! what did I say? Bir. That I have made thee miserable. Bir. And yet you said, Your marriage made you miserable. Isa. I know not what I said: I've said too much, unless I could speak all. Bir. Thy words are wild; my eyes, my ears, my heart, Were all so full of thee, so much employ'd In wonder of thy charms, I could not find it; Now I perceive it plain- Bir. Thou art not well. [Distractedly. Isa. Indeed I am not; I knew that before; But where's the remedy? Bir. Rest will relieve thy cares: come, come, no more; I'll banish sorrow from thee. Isa. Banish first the cause. Bir. Heav'n knows how willingly.. Isa. You are the only cause. Bir. Am I the cause? the cause of thy misfortunes? Isa. The fatal innocent cause of all my woes. Bir. Is this my welcome home? This the reward Of all my miseries, long labours, pains, And pining wants of wretched slavery, Isa. Enquire no more; 'twill be explain'd too soon, [She's going off. Bir. What! Canst thou leave me too? [He stays her', Isa. Pray let me go: For both our sakes, permit me Bir. Rack me not with imaginations Of things impossible-Thou canst not mean Let us to bed. Isa. To bed! You've rais'd the storm "While I have life, still I must call you mine: "As sometimes you have thought me," on my knees, (The last time I shall care to be believ'd) I beg you, beg to think me innocent, Clear of all crimes, that thus can banish me |