ACT III. SCENE I.

Aurelia's _Lodgings_.

_Enter_ Aurelia, Florella.

_Aur._ Oh! how I tremble for my dear _Bassino_! Haste, fly, _Florella_, bring me News he lives, Or else expect to see thy Mistress die.

_Flor._ Madam, be patient---- Consult your Reputation, and consider That the least Noise you make on this Occasion, Reflects upon your Virtue----

_Aur._ Away, away----Talk not of Reputation, When Love's in t'other Scale--But what can shock my Reputation; Heaven's my Witness, I ne'er lodg'd a Thought, For Count _Bassino_ that could wrong my Virtue. Perhaps the Gods pursue me with their Hatred, Because I break my Promise to _Alonzo_. But then, why did they not secure me his? Why must weak Mortals be expos'd to Passions, Which are not in our Power to subdue, And yet account for what they prompt us to? But I will think no more----Almighty Love, Now hear my last Resolve----if angry Heaven Refused to guard my dear _Bassino_'s Life, _Aurelia_ too shall fall, and leave his Murderer Accurst for ever----

_Enter_ Alonzo.

_Flor._ Oh! Heaven! where will this end?

_Aur._ Ha---- [_Aside._ The Gods have sent him to decide my Fate, How now! how dare you meet my angry View? Or think I'll e'er forgive the base Affront This very Day you offer'd to my Fame?

_Alon._ Just Heaven refuses not a Penitent, Therefore I cannot think that fair _Aurelia_, Whose Charms are all divine, should fail in Goodness. Oh! let my Love atone for my rash Deed: The Count and I are Friends, why should _Aurelia_ be more severe?

_Aur._ He lives, blest News! Do then rash Actions speak your Love to me? Must I in publick bear with your Insults Before I'm yours? what must I then expect When the strict Ties of Marriage shall confirm Your jealous Passions? No, you have taught me to avoid the Shelf I was just running on----know, base _Alonzo_, That from this Moment I resume my Freedom, I disengage you from your former Vows, And will henceforth be Mistress of myself.

_Alon._ Ha---- [_Aside._ This sudden Coldness has another Spring Than my rash Carriage----Oh! my jealous Fears; But I'm resolv'd to trace her winding Thoughts, And fetch the Secret forth---- Madam, I hope you do but try my Love: I cannot think _Aurelia_ would be false. Besides, you can't recal what's register'd in Heaven.

_Aur._ Then stay till we come there----There you'll have Witness.

_Alon._ Witness! Oh! faithless, perjur'd Woman, can'st thou think Upon thyself, and bid me call my Witness? Yes, you are mine----By all the Gods you are. And shall there be a Power on this Side Heaven, To stop my Bliss? No----by my Love I swear. I now can guess at your perfidious Meaning, And tho' that cowardly Villain slily thought To blind me with a Tale his Guilt had fram'd, 'Tis plain he is your Minion----yet wants Courage To own his Treachery.

_Aur._ Detracting, slanderous Villain! How dare you treat me thus? Oh! for the Look of a fierce Basilisk, To punish this audacious Insolence!

_Alon._ Marry thee! No----by Heavens, I'd rather Be rack'd to Death----And for thy vile Injustice, None shall enjoy thee, while this Sword is mine. [_Lays hold on his Sword._ Nor shall your Lover 'scape, to serve your Lust, Till he has forc'd a Passage thro' this Breast. [_Points to his Breast._

_Aur._ Oh! my _Bassino_. [_Aside._ Oh! cruel Man! Are not you then contented To wreak your Spite on poor _Aurelia_? Why must your Rage involve the Innocent? Oh! let me fall your Passion's Sacrifice; Let my Blood wash the Stain you fix on me, But do not blast your Name with base Revenge.----

_Alon._ By Heaven! she doats on him! Oh! cunning Woman! But this Pretence won't serve to save his Life; I'll not be caught again----No, _Syren_, no. _Bassino_ dies----Nor will I leave to Fortune The vengeful Stroke, but take a safer Way.

_Aur._ Oh! Heaven! [_Kneels._ What Words shall I invent to soothe his Rage, [_Aside._ And save my dear _Bassino_? Oh! _Alonzo_. My once-lov'd Dear, will you not hear me speak? Oh! I conjure you by our plighted Loves, Whose Purity outshone the Stars above, Hear me this Time, then use me as you please.

_Alon._ Oh! Woman, Woman!

_Aur._ If e'er _Aurelia_ So much as in her Thoughts did wrong _Alonzo_, May sudden Death pursue her perjur'd Steps: Heaven forgive [_Aside._ The Perjury, since I've no other way To save _Bassino's_ Life.----

_Alon._ _Aurelia_, rise---- [_Raising her._ Oh! could I credit this, how happy were _Alonzo_! But something tells me that thou art forsworn; And yet thou seem'st as fair as Truth itself; How is it possible that Guilt can look With so divine a Face?

_Aur._ Oh! kill me instantly: kill me, I beg you, kill me; Let me not linger out an Age in Pain, For such is every Moment of your Anger; I cannot bear to live in your Displeasure.

_Alon._ By Heaven she's true---- Hence frivolous Fears be gone----she's only mine. Come to my Breast, my bright _Aurelia_, come. [_Embraces her._ To that soft Shrine that holds that Sacred Image, Which triumphs o'er my Soul, and grasps it all, I knew my boundless Treasure, and the Thought Of losing thee had rais'd my Love to Madness. But now I'm calm--No more shall that fierce Passion, Rude Jealousy, disturb my peaceful Mind. Do but forgive the Faults my Rage committed, And you will find our Loves will grow the purer; Just as the Sky looks brighter when the Storm Is chas'd away, and _Phoebus_ smiles again.

_Aur._ Since both have been to blame, let it suffice, We both repent, and will offend no more.

_Alon._ Oh! never, never, I'll ne'er suspect you more--Only resolve me this--

_Aur._ What is it?

_Alon._ Why was _Bassino_ Admitted to your View, and I denied?

_Aur._ He came to take his Leave, and 't had been rude Not to admit a Man of his high Birth On this Occasion; nor was you denied, But thro' Woman's Fears of your Suspicions. She thought you would misconstrue the Count's Visit, As you have really done----I blam'd her for it, Indeed, this is the Truth--I hope _Alonzo_ Believes me now----

_Alon._ Believe Thee! Yes----As willingly as Martyrs A State of endless Joy. I will so love, my Dear, that all Mankind Shall look with Envy on our mutual Bliss. I'm like a Merchant tost at Sea by Storms, Who his last Course with Pray'rs and Toil performs; And the rich Cargo safely brought on Shore, He hugs it thus, and vows to part no more. [_Embraces her._

_Aur._ So in a flow'ry Mead a Serpent lurks, And the unwary Traveller surprizes, Where he suspects least Danger! Cursed Cheat. [_Aside._ Oh! that I could disclose the fatal Story! But it must never out----I beg, _Alonzo_, You'd leave me for a while, and rest secure, You have my Love----

_Alon._ Then the bright Sun in all his circling Turn, Cannot behold a Man more truly happy, What you command, I readily obey. Farewel, my Dear. [_Exit_ Alonzo.

_Aur._ Where art thou now, _Aurelia_? How wilt thou 'scape that dreadful Precipice, On which thou art hurried on by thy fatal Passion? With conscious Horror I deceiv'd _Alonzo_; I hate this base Treachery, but 'twas unavoidable: The Truth had been more fatal---- More fatal!----No----For I must never wed My dear _Bassino_, whilst _Alonzo_ lives. Oh! the distracting Thought! what shall I do? Why! die _Aurelia_: That's the only Way, To keep thy Vows to both--Ha----die, said I? But whether then? who knows what Punishment, Just Heav'n prepares for guilty Souls like mine. But I must think no more, lest I grow mad with Thought, If there's a Power that guards us here below, Oh! look with pitying Eyes on poor _Aurelia_: Appease the Tumults of my anxious Fear, And load me with no more than I can bear. [_Exeunt_ Aurelia, Florella.