SCENE III.

Aurelia's _Chamber_; _she in an Undress with_ Florella.

_Aur._ No more of that--Cease thy ungrateful Suit, _Alonzo_ is a Man I cannot love; I own he's witty, generous, and brave; Has all the Charms that Nature can bestow To fire a Woman's Heart----Yet I'm insensible, His very Sight chills all my trembling Spirits; Therefore, name him no more--I charge thee do not.

_Flor._ Madam, I've done--Yet shall I be permitted To ask a Question? Are you then resolved Ne'er to admit a Passion in your Breast?

_Aur._ Oh! Dear _Florella_, press not a Confession, Which but too well my Eyes themselves disclose. Alas! I love--I love to such Excess, That tho' I know I'm lov'd again, my Mind Is still perplex'd with Doubts and jealous Fears.

_Flor._ You love and are belov'd! Then sure you reach The Height of human Bliss, and bounteous Heaven Can scarce give more----But who's the happy Man; Is it not Count _Bassino_?

_Aur._ Oh! charming Name; there's Musick in that Sound! Yes, Count _Bassino_ is the Man I love. Canst thou now blame my Coldness to _Alonzo_?

_Flor._ Forgive me, Madam, if I dare presume To speak my Sentiments: I must confess _Bassino_ is a Man of excellent Virtue; His Education at the Court of _Savoy_ Has still refin'd what he receiv'd from Nature; His Person too is charming---- And, what most Women court, he has a Title---- But then consider, you are unacquainted With his Estate, and tho' his Equipage Denotes an ample Fortune, yet we see Many a Stranger here during the Carnival, Who makes a Figure here by industrious Gaming. As for _Alonzo_, he was born at _Venice_, Of noble Parents; his Estate, a large one---- Even from his Youth you had his amorous Wishes, And as he grew in Years his Love increas'd: You lov'd him too----Nay, which is more, your Father Approv'd your mutual Loves, and at his Death Bequeath'd you to _Alonzo_.

_Aur._ Oh! my _Florella_, thou hast rouz'd a Thought, Which will for ever break _Aurelia_'s Rest. I know my Father's Tenderness to me Made him confirm _Alonzo_'s Suit, for then I lov'd _Alonzo_---- But were my gentle Father still alive, I'm sure he would not cross my Inclinations, But, Oh! name not my Father; I cannot bear The sad Remembrance of so great a Loss. [_Weeps._

_Flor._ But fear you not t'offend his peaceful Ghost, By breaking with the Man he destin'd yours?

_Aur._ 'Tis not my Fault: and just Heaven must forgive What Heaven decrees----Yes, 'tis my cruel Stars That made my Heart inconstant to _Alonzo_, 'Tis with Regret I break my plighted Faith; In vain I strive to check my new-born Love, I cannot, cannot live without _Bassino_.

_Flor._ Madam, I wish your Passion ne'er prove fatal, But much I fear this inauspicious Match.

_Enter_ Bassino, Armando.

_Aur._ May Heaven avert th' unlucky Combination Of our presaging Thoughts: For, know, I tremble too-- But here's the man that will dispel my Fears.

_Arm._ to _Bass._ My Lord, remember To keep your Resolution.

_Bass._ to _Arm._ Yes--I will keep it--[To _Aur._] Madam, you will pardon A Morning Visit, when you know what Reasons Press'd me to fix it on this early Hour.---- By Letters from the Court I was last Night Commanded to return with Speed to _Turin_, And thence let out for _France_, to represent My Sovereign Liege in solemn Embassy. This Day I must prepare to take my Journey, Tho' 'tis with killing Grief I leave my dear, My fair _Aurelia_----[To _Arm._] Now, my _Armando_.

_Arm._ My Lord, 'tis well: But still be on your Guard, The dreadful Shock comes on----

_Aur._ This Day be gone! What means my Lord! Oh! Heaven, My boding Fears are come to pass: I see A Cloud of Woes just ready to o'erwhelm me. Is't possible! how can that Form divine Harbour such Treachery! Is then _Bassino_ false? Say, perjur'd Man, how often did you swear This happy Day should make you mine for ever! How can you now forget your solemn Vows? Why have I met with this inhuman Usage?

_Bass._ Madam, my Prince's Orders Are absolute: My Honour is concern'd.

_Aur._ Must a vain Title be preferr'd to Love? But no--You never lov'd----'twas base Deceit. Curs'd, curs'd dissembling Men! Their flattering Tongues Can feign a Passion that will look like Love, Till by Degrees they get us in their Power; Then with bold Impudence they draw the Vizor, And shew the Cheat that mock'd our credulous Hopes. Faithless _Bassino_, How oft you swore your Love could ne'er expire: How oft you swore one Smile of mine had Charms, Even above the Glories of a Crown. Those were the Oaths I fondly did believe; Those Words convey'd a Poison to my Heart, And even now I feel its mighty Force: My Head turns giddy, and my trembling Knees Betray their sinking Burden---- Alas! I faint, I die---- [_She faints_, Bassino _runs and embraces her_. _Bass._ Oh! stay, my Love, my Life, my Soul, my all: The Conflict's past, and I am thine again, But she is breathless! Oh! ye rigorous Gods, Give back her Soul, or let my own be plung'd To dark _Elysium_----Oh! my dear _Aurelia_! [_Hugs her._

_Arm._ Is this your Resolution? By Heaven, I blush To call you Friend. Your Wife, my Lord, remember Your Wife----

_Bass._ Curse on that Name---- Urge me no more to follow your Chimeras, Lest you oblige me to break off that Friendship You blush to own----Oh! my _Aurelia_!

_Arm. aside._ How sweet is treacherous Vice! how eagerly Fond Man pursues his Ruin! All Arguments were vain----yet still one Way remains, Which cannot fail, to stop the Progress of this impious Love. His Wife, by my Direction, comes to _Venice_: Her Sight will soon awake his slumbering Virtue, At least it will retrieve _Aurelia_'s Senses. [_Exit_ Armando.

_Aur. recovering._ Where am I? Where's my Lord, my false _Bassino_?

_Bass._ Here, here, my Soul, my charming Dear.

_Aur. thrusts him off._ Hold off--Approach me not--urge not my Rage, Or with this Dagger I'll revenge my Wrongs On thy perfidious Heart----But, oh! his Heart's too hard, Even for temper'd Steel--Therefore I'll sheath it here.

[_Offers at her Breast_: Bassino _snatches the Dagger, and throws himself at her Feet in a distracted Manner_.

_Bass._ Oh! hold----forbid it Gods! I am the Cursed Cause, and I must die. Oh! who could bear my Load of mortal Woe! Ye heavenly Powers bestow the Stroke of Grace, And rack _Bassino_: Let your vengeful Thunder Now crush my guilty Head----Or thou, Oh! Parent Earth, Open thy Bosom, and conceal my Crime. [_Tears the Ground._

_Aur._ Is he then mine again! [_Falls down._ Look up, my Lord, my Love, my Life! My dear _Bassino_! 'Tis _Aurelia_ calls. Let me for ever fold thee in my Arms, And beg thoul't never speak of parting more. [_Embraces him._

_Both rise and embrace in an Extasy._

_Bass._ Oh! never, never---- The Poles shall meet, the Sun and Moon invert Their wonted Motion e're I part from thee. I fondly try'd how much I was belov'd, And since you're true, my Bliss is now compleat.

_Aur._ Was't but a Trial? then my Griefs are vanish'd, And I am lost in Joy----_Bassino's_ mine. [_They embrace again._

_Bass._ Thine, thine for ever: And this happy Day, Shall end _Aurelia_'s Fears----Ha---- This Day, said I, but where's _Placentia_ then? My Wife _Placentia_! Little does she think What Baseness I intend--Oh! racking Thought! But 'tis resolv'd, I'll change nor think no more: I'll try to plunge, and reach the blissful Shore; And if I sink, yet still this Hope's my Friend, I'll snatch my Treasure e're my Course I end. [_Aside._

_Aur._ My Lord, what makes you pause?

_Bass._ The ravishing Thoughts of mighty Joys to come Kept me in Extasy and made me dumb; When on thy snowy Breast dissolv'd I lie, What Monarch can there be more blest than I? [Bassino _leads her off with a languishing Air_.

_Enter_ Alonzo.

_Alon._ Sure, if my Eyes deceive me not, I saw _Aurelia_ with the Count just parting hence: Dissolv'd in Love, and languishing they seem'd. Damnation---- I cannot bear the Thought--I'll after 'em.

Alonzo _going_. _Enter_ Florella.

_Flor. aside._ Ha----_Alonzo_ here! I must prevent a Discovery.

_Alon._ _Florella_ here! she comes opportunely----she may inform me of what I yet but fear----Good-morrow, _Florella_: How fares my Love, my dear _Aurelia_?

_Flor._ Signior, Good-morrow; you are an early Visitant.

_Alon._ Not for a Man in Love; but answer me, How does _Aurelia_?

_Flor._ Well in Health----Only she's now and then in a little Fit of Melancholy, such as usually proceeds from timorous Doubts about that dreadful State of Matrimony. You know the Time draws nigh that gives her to your Arms.

_Alon._ By Heaven! 'Tis an Age, there's six Days yet to come.

_Flor._ An Age, indeed, if he knew all. [_Aside._

_Alon._ But haste, _Florella_; lead me to my Dear, She only can contract that tedious Age Of lingring Pain, and sooth it with her Smiles. Say, is she alone?

_Flor._ Yes----No---- Oh! Heaven! What shall I say? [_Aside._ She, she's a----

_Alon._ Ha----What means this faultering Answer? All's not right, and my Suspicion's true.

_Flor._ Signior, my Lady is not drest, and I shall displease her, in admitting even you, without her Leave.

_Alon._ Ha----not drest----Take heed you mock me not; Nor think to blind me with your feign'd Excuse: For in your guilty Face I read the Truth. Come, tell me who's with her? is't not _Bassino_?

_Flor. aside._ Oh! Heaven! What shall I say?

_Alon._ Nay, nay, no Study: Lying will not do: I saw 'em part from hence, just now I saw 'em. Harkee, sweet Mistress, how long have you practis'd This subtle Trade? I find you're much improv'd. Hell and Damnation----quickly, tell me What did _Bassino_ give for his Admittance? I'll double the Reward--but she's not drest for me---- Oh! damn'd, damn'd Sex!

_Flor._ Signior, what do you mean?

_Alon._ To see _Aurelia_----see her instantly---- Nay by Heaven! I will: All Opposition's vain: For by th' avenging Power of Love I swear, Tho' in _Bassino_'s Arms, I'll drag her thence, Only to cast her from my Sight for ever: Nor shall he live to triumph in my Shame. What tho' the Marriage Rites be not perform'd, Yet I may call her Wife. Her Father gave her to me: And her own Vows have fix'd my Heart in her's. Must then _Alonzo_ be deny'd Admittance, Under that poor Pretence that she's not drest? Whilst base _Bassino_ lies dissolv'd in Pleasures On her perfidious Breast----Oh! killing Thought! She makes my Name of Husband infamous, Even before the Priest has join'd our Hands. I'll in, and if th' Affront I tamely bear, May Heaven deny me at my latest Prayer. [_Exeunt._