Chapter 43

AURELIAN, _with a dark lanthorn._ CAMILLO _and_ BENITO.

_Cam._ So, we are safe got over into the nunnery-garden; for what's to come, trust love and fortune.

_Aur._ This must needs be the walk she mentioned; yet, to be sure, I'll hold the lanthorn while you read the ticket.

_Cam._ [Reads.] _I prepared this ticket, hoping to see you in the chapel: Come this evening over the garden wall, on the right hand, next the Tiber._

_Aur._ We are right, I see.

Cam. _Bring only your discreet Benito with you, and I will meet you attended by my faithful Beatrix._ VIOLETTA.

_Ben._ Discreet Benito! Did you hear, sir?

_Aur._ Mortify thyself for that vain thought; and, without enquiring into the mystery of these words, which I assure thee were not meant to thee, plant thyself by that ladder without motion, to secure our retreat; and be sure to make no noise.

_Ben._ But, sir, in case that--

_Aur._ Honest Benito, no more questions: _Basta_ is the word. Remember, thou art only taken with us, because thou hast a certain evil dæmon, who conducts thy actions, and would have been sure, by some damned accident or other, to have brought thee hither to disturb us.

_Cam._ I hear whispering not far from us, and I think 'tis Violetta's voice.

_Aur._ [_To_ BEN.] Retire to your post; avoid, good Satan. [_Exit_ BEN.

_Enter_ LAURA, _with a dark lanthorn hid, and_ VIOLETTA.

_Cam._ Ours is the honour of the field, madam; we are here before you.

_Vio._ Softly, dear friend; I think I hear some walking in the garden.

_Cam._ Rather, let us take this opportunity for your escape from hence; all things are here in readiness.

_Vio._ This is the second time we ever have met; let us discourse, and know each other better first; that's the way to make sure of some love beforehand; for, as the world goes, we know not how little we may have when we are married.

_Cam._ Losses of opportunity are fatal in war, you know, and love's a kind of warfare.

_Vio._ I shall keep you yet a while from close fighting.

_Cam._ But, do you know what an hour in love is worth? 'Tis more precious than an age of ordinary life; 'tis the very quintessence and extract of it.

_Vio._ I do not like your chemical preparation of love; yours is all spirit, and will fly too soon; I must see it fixed, before I trust you. But we are near the arbour: Now our out-guards are set, let us retire a little, if you please; there we may walk more freely. [_Exit._

_Aur._ [_To_ LAU.] My lady's woman, methinks you are very reserved to-night: Pray, advance into the lists; though I have seen your countenance by day, I can endure to hear you talk by night. Be cunning, and set your wit to show, which is your best commodity: It will help the better to put off that drug, your face.

_Lau._ The coarsest ware will serve such customers as you are: Let it suffice, Mr Serving-man, that I have seen you too. Your face is the original of the ugliest vizors about town; and for wit, I would advise you to speak reverently of it, as a thing you are never like to understand.

_Aur._ Sure, Beatrix, you came lately from looking in your glass, and that has given you a bad opinion of all faces; but since when am I become so notorious a fool?

_Lau._ Since yesterday; for t'other night you talked like a man of sense: I think your wit comes to you, as the sight of owls does, only in the dark.

_Aur._ Why, when did you discourse by day with me?

_Lau._ You have a short memory. This afternoon in the great street. Do you remember when you talked with Laura?

_Aur._ But what was that to Beatrix?

_Lau._ [_Aside._] 'Slife, I had forgot that I am Beatrix. But pray, when did you find me out to be so ugly?

_Aur._ This afternoon, in the chapel.

_Lau._ That cannot be; for I well remember you were not there, Benito: I saw none but Camillo, and his friend, the handsome stranger.

_Aur._ [_Aside_] Curse on't, I have betrayed myself.

_Lau._ I find you are an impostor: you are not the same Benito: your language has nothing of the serving-man.

_Aur._ And yours, methinks, has not much of the waiting-woman.

_Lau._ My lady is abused, and betrayed by you: But I am resolved, I'll discover who you are. [_Holds out a lanthorn to him._] How! the stranger?

_Aur._ Nay, madam, if you are good at that, I'll match you there too. [_Holds out his lanthorn._] O prodigy! Is Beatrix turned to Laura?

_Lau._ Now the question is, which of us two is the greatest cheat?

_Aur._ That's hardly to be tried, at so short warning: Let's marry one another, and then, twenty to one, in a twelvemonth we shall know.

_Lau._ Marry! Are you at that so soon, signior? Benito and Beatrix, I confess, had some acquaintance; but Aurelian and Laura are mere strangers.

_Aur._ That ground I have gotten as Benito, I am resolved I'll keep as Aurelian. If you will take state upon you, I have treated you with ceremony already; for I have wooed you by proxy.

_Lau._ But you would not be contented to bed me so; or give me leave to put the sword betwixt us.

_Aur._ Yes, upon condition you'll remove it.

_Lau._ Pray let our friends be judge of it; if you please, we'll find them in the arbour.

_Aur._ Content; I am then sure of the verdict, because the jury is bribed already. [_Exeunt._