4538048Cutter of Coleman-street — Act 4: Scene 2Abraham Cowley

Scene 2.

Enter Lucia.

Ha! she will not let me see her sure;
If ever, Lucia, a Veil befitted thee,
'Tis now, that thou maist hide thy guilty blushes.

Luc.If all their malice yet
Have not prevail'd on Truman's Constancy,
They'l miss their wicked end, and I shall live still.
I'l go and speak to him.

Trum.Forbear, Lucia, for I have made a second Oath, which I shall keep, I hope, with lesser trouble, never to see thy face more.

Luc.You were wont, Sir,
To say, you could not live without the sight of't.

Trum.I; 'twas a good one then.

Luc.Has one day spoil'd it?

Trum.O yes, more than a hundred years of time, made as much more by sorrow, and by sickness, could e're have done.

Luc.Pray hear me, Truman:
For never innocent Maid was wrong'd as I am;
Believe what I shall say to you, and confirm
By all the holiest Vows that can bind Souls.

Trum.I have believ'd those Female tricks too long;
I know thou canst speak winningly, but thy Words
Are not what Nature meant them, thy Minds Picture;
I'l believe now what represents it better,
Thine own Hand, and the proof of mine own Eyes.

Luc.I know not what you mean; believe my Tears.

Trum.They'r idle empty Bubbles.
Rais'd by the Agitation of thy Passions,
And hollow as thy heart; there is no weight in 'em.
Go thou once, Lucia; Farewel,
Thou that wer't dearer to me once, than all
The outward things of all the World beside,
Or my own Soul within me, farewel for ever;
Go to thine Husband, and love him better than
Thou didst thy Lover.
I ne're will see the more, nor shall, I fear,
Ere see my self again.

[kneels.Luc.Here me but once.

Trum.No, 'tis enough; Heaven hear thee when thou kneel'st to it.
[Exit. 

[rises.Luc.Will he? he's gone; now all the world has left me,
And I am desolately miserable;
'Tis done unkindly, most unkindly, Truman.
Had a blest Angel come to me and said
That thou wert false, I should have sworn it li'd,
And thought that rather faln than thee.
Go, dear, false man, go seek out a new Mistris;
But when you ha' talk'd, and lov'd, and vow'd, and sworn
A little while, take heed of using her
As you do me; no, may your love to her
Be such as mine to you, which all thy injuries
Shall never change, nor death it self abolish.
May she be worthier of your bed than I,
And when the happy course of many years
Shall make you appear old to all but her,
May you in the fair Glass of your fresh Issue
See your own youth again; but I would have 'em
True in their Loves, and kill no innocent Maids;
For me it is no matter; when I'm dead,
My busie soul shall flutter still about him,
'Twill not be else in Heaven; it shall watch
Over his sleeps, and drive away all dreams
That come not with a soft and downy wing;
If any dangers threaten, it shall becken
And call his spirit away, till they be past,
And be more diligent than his Guardian Angel;
And when just Heaven, as I'm assur'd it will,
Shall clear my Honor and my Innocence,
He'l sigh, I know, and pity my misfortunes,
And blame himself, and curse my false Accusers,
And weep upon my Grave
For my wrong'd Virtue, and mistaken Truth,
[Exit.And unjust Death, I ask no more.