Chapter 18

Enter JUSTINA and LIVIA, veiled.--CYPRIAN, MOSCON, and CLARIN.

JUSTINA. Ah, me! Cyprian's here. [Aside to her.] See, Livia, see!

CYPRIAN [aside]. I must strive and be discreet, Feigning with a ready wit, Till my jealousy I can prove. I will only speak of love, If my jealousy will permit. Not in vain, senora sweet,-- Have I changed my student's dress, The livery of thy loveliness, As a servant at thy feet, Thus I wear. If sighs could move thee I would labour to deserve thee; Give me leave at least to serve thee, Since thou wilt not let me love thee.

JUSTINA. Slight effect, sir, as I see, Have my words produced on you, Since they have not brought....

CYPRIAN. Too true!

JUSTINA. A forgetfulness of me. In what way must I explain Clearer than I have done before, That persistence at my door Is and ever must be vain? If a day, a month, a year, If for ages there you stay, Naught but this that now I say Ever can you hope to hear. As it were my latest breath, Let this sad assurance move thee,-- Fate forbids that I should love thee, Cyprian, except in death. [She moves towards the house.

CYPRIAN. At these words my hopes revive:-- Sad! no, no, to joy they move me, For if thou in death canst love me, Soon for me will death arrive. Be it so; and since so nigh Comes the hour your words to prove-- Ah! even now begin to love, Since I now begin to die.

[JUSTINA enters.

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