ACT IV. SCENE I.

Armando's _Lodgings_.

_Enter_ Armando, Placentia.

_Pla._ Oh! _Armando_! Thou more than Friend to the distress'd _Placentia_! Say, how shall I regain my lost _Bassino_, My false, perfidious Husband? [_Weeps._

_Arm._ Dear Madam, moderate your Sorrow: Reserve those Tears to move _Bassino_'s Heart, Mine is all Pity: You may rest secure Of all the Arguments a Friend can use To bring him back to your endearing Arms. Virtue's not quite extinguish'd in his Breast, Therefore I hope the sight of bright _Placentia_ Will rouze his slumb'ring Reason----

_Pla._ Oh! _Bassino! Bassino!_ Oh! wretched Woman! Oh! that I had dy'd E'er I had known him false: Then I were happy: And tho' contented with his second Choice, He with a pitying Sigh, perhaps, had grac'd My Memory---- Oh! all ye Powers that virtuous Love inspire, Assist me now: Inform my vocal Organs With angel Eloquence, such as can melt His Heart of Flint, and move his former Kindness. (_Aside._) But if that fail, I will remove the Cause Of both our Woes----Yes, that happy Charmer, That Rival of my Love shall surely die.

_Arm._ Doubt not of the Success; What Heart of Steel Could e'er resist such Beauty dress'd in Tears?

_Enter a Servant._

_Serv._ Sir, Count _Bassino_ enquires if you are within.

_Pla._ Oh! Heavens! how I tremble!

_Arm._ Lucky Opportunity----shew him up. Madam, be pleas'd to step into that Closet. Till I can sound the utmost of his Thoughts, And shew him naked to your secret View, Then when he's in the height of impious Passion, You like a Bolt from Heav'n shall rush on him, And strike his Folly dumb.

_Pla._ Almighty Powers, whose providential Care Is ever kind to virtuous Innocence, Oh! help me now in this Extremity. [_Exit_ Placentia.

_Enter_ Bassino.

_Bass._ How does my Friend _Armando_?

_Arm._ My Lord, _Armando_'s well, And wishes you were so.

_Bass._ Dost thou discover aught that gives thee Cause To doubt I am not well? Indeed I think I am in perfect Health----

_Arm._ My Lord, I should be glad To find that Fever of your Mind abated In which I left you last----

_Bass._ (_Aside._) I must dissemble now, Else I'll ne'er gain my Ends--my dear _Armando_, That Fever thou speak'st of, is now succeeded By a cold Ague-Fit: The bare Remembrance Of my unlawful Passion shakes my Soul.

_Arm._ Such sudden Cures have often prov'd pernicious, And we have Reason to suspect a Wound Too quickly heal'd----

_Bass._ Not when thou know'st what Balsam I applied.

_Arm._ There's scarce a Balm for the deep Wounds of Love, Besides Possession, and I cannot think You have enjoy'd _Aurelia_.

_Bass._ I swear I have not---- But I enjoy my Reason, my free Reason: And who possesses that, can never cherish A Thought against himself: For such I call Whatsoever keeps me from my lawful Wife, My dear _Placentia_, to whose Arms I'll fly With all the eager Haste of a fond Bridegroom. There I shall revel in the virtuous Pleasures Of a chaste Bed--Oh! my Friend _Armando_! My dear _Placentia_'s Friend! can'st thou forgive? Indeed I'm penitent, and will offend no more.

_Arm._ My Lord, these are the Words you spoke before: What greater Reason have I now to think You'll keep your Promise?

_Bass._ Pride, Honour, Justice are come to my Aid, And Love too feeble to withstand 'em all, Has left the Field to my victorious Reason. Pride, with the Prospect of my future Greatness, Allures me to return with Speed to _Turin_, T'obey my Prince's Orders. Honour and Justice tell me I'm _Placentia_'s, And that _Aurelia_ is _Alonzo_'s Bride. To him she gave her Virgin Vows: Nay, more, To him her dying Father did bequeath her; He loves her too, and shall not be depriv'd: My Passion is subdu'd, and I'm resolv'd Myself to give _Aurelia_ to _Alonzo_.

_Arm._ If this be true, then you are my Friend again: But how came you to learn _Aurelia_'s Engagement to _Alonzo_?

_Bass._ I have it from himself, who an Hour since, With eager Fury sought to 'venge on me His injur'd Love, and challeng'd me to fight: I chose with Justice to defend my Life, And quit _Aurelia_, rather than to vanquish In such a Cause--_Alonzo_ strait embrac'd me, Call'd me his Friend, and vow'd I should not go, Till I had seen him join'd in solemn Marriage With bright _Aurelia_----This I readily granted. Canst thou believe me true?

_Arm._ My Lord, I do believe you---- And am o'erjoy'd to hear your Resolution: By Heaven! there's more Glory in subduing Our wild Desires, than an embattl'd Foe. Now do I wish his Wife had never come. [_Aside._

_Bass._ _Armando_, thou'rt my Friend, and on that Score I must desire you to repair to _Turin_, With all the Speed you can, to bear these Letters To our great Prince, and beg he will excuse My stay for three Days more----And here this Letter Bear to _Placentia_----speak to her the kindest The softest Things thy Fancy can suggest. I shall make good thy Promise---- My dear _Placentia_! Oh! that she were here, Panting and warm within these longing Arms! 'Tis a long Age since I did see her last! But come, my Friend, you must this Hour set forward.

_Arm._ With all my Heart: But 'twill not be amiss, Before I go, to fix the Victory, Which conquering Virtue in your Breast has gain'd; And if what you pretend be real Truth, I have a welcome Present for _Bassino_. Madam, come forth----

_Enter_ Placentia.

_Bass._ What do I see! my Wife! This was a lucky Plot: [_Aside._ Hypocrisy did ne'er befriend me more. This was not like a Friend--why should _Armando_ Disturb her soft Tranquility of Mind, And give her ocular Proofs of my Disloyalty? Oh! my _Placentia_! my beloved Wife! [_Embraces her._ Oh! that I should e'er think to wrong my Dear!

_Pla._ My Lord, waste not a Sigh on my Account: My Joys are infinite, since you are mine, And what is past I easily forget. Nay, let me beg for Pardon: For I know I have offended you in coming hither. I should have waited this Return of Virtue: Or, if abandon'd, silently have mourn'd My Loss, without upbraiding my lov'd Lord, All this I should have done, but mighty Love, Too powerful for Duty to withstand, Guided my Steps to _Venice_---- In hopes my Presence would retrieve your Heart.

_Bass._ Gods! that this Woman were _Aurelia_! [_Aside._ Thou Wonder of thy Sex! thou best of Women! I blush to think that thou hast heard my Folly: Yet since your Love cancels your just Complaints, You make me doubly blest: And I'll reward This excellent Goodness with eternal Fondness. Oh! that thou hadst been here! Not all the Beauties That _Venice_ holds could have diverted me; No, not one Moment from my dear _Placentia_. Long Absence is the Bane of new-born Love, But Fate shall ne'er have Power to part us more.

_Pla._ Oh! my dear Lord, your Goodness is too great: And I'm o'er paid for all my Sorrows past. _Armando_, say, is not he wondrous kind?

_Arm._ Madam, I told you Virtue Was struggling in his Breast; and that it might O'ercome his vicious Love, I thought your Presence Was requisite----And now, my Lord, I hope You will forgive me, since all the Endeavours I us'd before had been in vain. I once Design'd to let _Aurelia_ know your Marriage; But then perhaps she would not have believ'd me: Let this plead my Excuse in sending for _Placentia_ Without your Knowledge.

_Bass._ I must not let him see I am concern'd. [_Aside._ I know 'twas Friendship all, well-meaning Friendship: I only am to blame: But I'll retrieve My Credit in your Heart, and still deserve The Name of Friend--And thou, the best of Wives, Shalt ne'er have Cause to doubt my constant Love.

_Pla._ Oh! my _Bassino_! this Excess of Kindness Exalts me o'er all Mortals, if you're true, There's not a Blast within the Power of Fortune Can shock my Happiness.

_Bass._ Thou shalt ne'er find me false, I swear thou shalt not. Oh! that I could engage She would return to _Turin_ with _Armando_; [_Aside._ For if she stays, I never can enjoy My bright _Aurelia_, and by Heaven I will, Altho' ten thousand Lives should pay the Purchase.

_Pla._ My Lord, you seem disturb'd.

_Bass._ It troubles me You can't appear in _Venice_ with a Train That may bespeak the Rank you hold in _Savoy_.

_Pla._ to _Arm._ Oh! _Armando_! He is so kind, I with I ne'er had come! What if I offer to return with you?

_Arm._ Madam, you will do well; For I myself cannot suspect him now.

_Pla._ My Lord, let not my Presence here disturb you, I doubt your Love no more, and to convince you, I will go back before 'tis known I'm here. Besides, 'tis fit I should prepare all things To welcome you at home.

_Bass._ (_aside._) Blest Opportunity! Fortune I thank thee: Would my Dear then leave me So very soon? Alas! 'twill be an Age E'er I return to _Turin_: Three long Days! No, my Dear, no; I will not part from thee, At least this Night, my Love----

_Pla._ Will then _Armando_ stay?

_Bass._ No, my best Hopes, he instantly departs With Letters to my Prince.

_Pla._ Then suffer me to go this very Moment. Three Days will soon be o'er, and your Return, Shall make me fully blest----If I should stay 'Twould look like base Distrust, and I can't think _Bassino_ would be false----

_Bass._ (_aside._) Oh! Heaven that I were not!

_Arm._ Indeed, my Lord, I think you're truly happy. Scarce does any Age produce so good a Wife.

_Bass._ Oh! that I could reward this wondrous Goodness!

_Pla._ My Lord, what makes you sigh?

_Bass._ To part from thee: But since 'tis your Desire, It shall be so. _Armando_, to thy Charge I here commit the Treasure of my Soul, Take Care of her, and think that on her Safety My Life depends.

_Arm._ My Lord, I hope you do not doubt my Care.

_Bass._ Dear Friend, I do not---- May Heaven's Blessings still attend my Love, My dear _Placentia_. [_Embraces, and goes to lead her off._

_Pla._ As many more guard my _Bassino_.

_Bass._ (_aside._) A sudden Horror seizes all my Limbs: I tremble at the Thought of this base Deed----

[_Pulls out his Handkerchief and drops a Letter, which_ Armando _takes up_.

Ha----Tears uncall'd for bathe my guilty Eyes---- Gods! either give me Virtue to withstand This impious Love, or Courage to pursue it Without Remorse; for I'm but half a Villain. [_Exeunt_ Bassino, Placent.

_Arm. opens the Letter._ A Letter! and to _Aurelia_! now Curiosity prompts me to know the Subject----What's here?

Reads. _I have dispatch'd_ Armando _to the Court of_ Savoy, _and found Pretence to stay behind_----

False treacherous Man!

_This Night I give a Mask at my Lodgings, which, I hope, will divert_ Alonzo, _till the Priest has joined our Hands; and while all the Company are engaged in Mirth, I'll steal to the dear Arms of my divine_ Aurelia.

Oh! Villain, Villain! Monstrous Villain! Oh! poor _Placentia_! But I will prevent His Policy, and break his wicked Measures. [_Exit_ Armando.