SCENE III.--_A Night-piece of a Garden.

_Enter_ LAURA _and_ VIOLETTA.

_Vio._ Remember your waiting-woman's part, Laura.

_Lau._ I warrant you, I'll wait on you by night, as well as I governed you by day.

_Vio._ Hark, I hear footsteps; and now, methinks, I see something approaching us.

_Lau._ They are certainly the men whom we expect.

_Enter_ AURELIAN _and_ CAMILLO.

_Cam._ I hear womens' voices.

_Aur._ We are right, I warrant you.

_Cam._ Violetta, my love!

_Vio._ My dear Camillo!

_Cam._ Speak those words again; my own name never sounded so sweetly to me, as when you spoke it, and made me happy by adding _dear_ to it.

_Vio._ Speak softly then; I have stolen these few minutes from my watchful uncle and my sister, and they are as full of danger as they are of love. Something within me checks me too, and says, I was too forward in venturing thus to meet you.

_Cam._ You are too fearful rather; and fear's the greatest enemy to love.

_Vio._ But night will hide my blushes, when I tell you, I love you much, or I had never trusted my virtue and my person in your hands.

_Cam._ The one is sacred, and the other safe; but this auspicious minute is our first of near converse. May I not hope that favour, which strangers, in civility, may claim, even from the most reserved? [_Kisses her hand._

_Vio._ I fear you'll censure me.

_Cam._ Yes, as the blest above tax heaven for making them so happy. [_They walk further off._

_Aur._ [_Stepping towards_ LAURA.] Damsel of darkness, advance, and meet my flames!

_Lau._ [_Stepping forward._] Right trusty valet, heard, but yet unseen, I have advanced one step on reputation.

_Aur._ Now, by laudable custom, I am to love thee vehemently.

_Lau._ We should do well to see each other first: You know 'tis ill taking money without light.

_Aur._ O, but the coin of love is known by the weight only, and you may feel it in the dark: Besides, you know 'tis prince-like to love without seeing.

_Lau._ But then you may be served as princes are sometimes.

_Aur._ Let us make haste, however, and despatch a little love out of the way: We may do it now with ease, and save ourselves a great deal of trouble, if we take it in time, before it grows too fast upon our hands.

_Lau._ Fye, no; let us love discreetly: we must manage our passion, and not love all our love out at one meeting, but leave some for another time.

_Aur._ I am for applying the plaster while the wound is green; 'twill heal the better. [_Takes her by the hand._

_Lau._ Let go my hand! What crime has the poor wretch committed, that you press it thus? I remember no mischief it has done you.

_Aur._ O, 'tis a heinous malefactor, and is pressed by law, because it will confess nothing. Come, withdraw a little farther, we have urgent business with one another.

_Lau._ 'Twere a shame to quit my ground upon the first charge; yet if you please to take a truce a little, I will consent to go behind the lovers, and listen with you.

_Aur._ I wonder you deferred the proposition so long. I were neither true valet, nor you true woman, if we could not eves-drop. [_They retire behind the other two, who come forward upon the Stage._

_Cam._ [_Kissing_ VIOLETTA'S _hand._] Give me another yet, and then--

_Vio._ And then will you be satisfied?

_Cam._ And then I'll ask a thousand more, and ne'er be satisfied. Kisses are but thin nourishment; they are too soon digested, and hungry love craves more.

_Vio._ You feed a wolf within you.

_Cam._ Then feast my love with a more solid diet. He makes us now a miser's feast, and we forbear to take our fill. The silent night, and all these downy hours, were made for lovers: Gently they tread, and softly measure time, that no rude noise may fright the tender maid, from giving all her soul to melting joys.

_Vio._ You do not love me; if you did, you would not Thus urge your satisfaction in my shame; At best, I see you would not love me long, For they, who plunder, do not mean to stay.

_Cam._ I haste to take possession of my own.

_Vio._ Ere heaven and holy vows have made it so?

_Cam._ Then witness, heaven, and all these twinkling stars--

_Vio._ Hold, hold, you are distempered with your love; Time, place, and strong desires, now swear, not you.

_Cam._ Is not love love, without a priest and altars? The temples are inanimate, and know not What vows are made in them; the priest stands ready For his hire, and cares not what hearts he couples; Love alone is marriage.

_Vio._ I never will receive these midnight vows: But when I come hereafter to your arms, I'll bring you a sincere, full, perfect bliss; Then you will thank me that I kept it so, And trust my faith hereafter.

_Lau._ There is your destiny, lover mine: I am to be honest by infection; my lady will none, you see.

_Aur._ Truth is, they are a lost couple, unless they learn grace by our example. Come, shall we begin first, and shame them both? [_Takes her by the hand again._

_Lau._ You will never be warned of this hand, Benito.

_Aur._ Oh, it is so soft, as it were made on purpose to take hearts, and handle them without hurting! These taper fingers too, and even joints so supple, that methinks I mould them as they pass through mine: nay, in my conscience, though it be nonsense to say it, your hand feels white too.

_Lau._ Methinks yours is not very hard, for a serving-man's. But where, in the name of wonder, have you learned to talk so courtly? You are a strange _valet de chambre_.

_Aur._ And you are as strange a waiting-woman: You have so stabbed me with your repartees to-night, that I should be glad to change the weapon, to be revenged on you.

_Lau._ These, I suppose, are fragments, which you learned from your wild master, Aurelian: many a poor woman has passed through his hands with these very words. You treat me just like a serving-man, with the cold meat which comes from your master's table.

_Aur._ You could never have suspected me for using my master's wit, if you had not been guilty of purloining from your lady. I am told, that Laura, your mistress's sister, has wit enough to confound a hundred Aurelians.

_Lau._ I shall do your commendations to Laura for your compliment.

_Aur._ And I shall not fair to revenge myself, by informing Aurelian of yours.

_Enter_ BENITO _with a Guitar._

_Ben._ The poor souls shall not lose by the bargain, though my foolish gadding masters have disappointed them. That ladder of ropes was doubtless left there by the young lady in hope of them.

_Vio._ Hark, I hear a noise in the garden.

_Lau._ I fear we are betrayed.

_Cam._ Fear nothing, madam, but stand close.

_Ben._ Now, Benito, is the time to hold forth thy talent, and to set up for thyself. Yes, ladies, you shall be serenaded, and when I have displayed my gifts, I'll retire in triumph over the wall, and hug myself for the adventure. [_He fums on the Guitar._

_Vio._ Let us make haste, sister, and get into covert; this music will raise the house upon us immediately.

_Lau._ Alas, we cannot; the damn'd musician stands just in the door where we should pass.

_Ben._ singing. _Eveillez vous, belles endormies; Eveillez vous: car il est jour: Mettez la tête a la fenestre, Vous entendrez parler d'amour._

_Aur._ [_aside to_ CAM.] Camillo, this is my incorrigible rogue; and I dare not call him, Benito, for fear of discovering myself not to be Benito.

_Cam._ The alarm is already given through the house. Ladies, you must be quick: Secure yourselves and leave us to shift. [_Exeunt Women._

_Within._ This way, this way.

_Aur._ I hear them coming; and, as ill luck will have it, just by that quarter where our ladder is placed.

_Cam._ Let us hide in the dark walk till they are past.

_Aur._ But then Benito will be caught, and, being known to be my man, will betray us.

_Ben._ I hear some in the garden: Sure they are the ladies, that are taken with my melody. To it again, Benito; this time I will absolutely enchant them. [_Fums again._

_Aur_: He is at it again. Why, Benito, are you mad?

_Ben._ Ah, madam! are you there? This is such a favour to your poor unworthy servant. [_Sings._

_But still between kissing Amyntas did say, Fair Phillis, look up, and you'll turn night to day._

_Aur._ Come away, you insufferable rascal; the house is up, and will be upon us immediately.

_Ben._ O gemini, is it you, sir?

_Within._ This way; follow, follow.

_Aur._ Leave your scraping and croaking, and step with us into this arbour.

_Ben._ Scraping and croaking! 'Sfoot, sir, either grant I sing and play to a miracle, or I'll justify my music, though I am caught, and hanged for it.

_Enter_ MARIO, _and Servants._

_Mar._ Where is this serenading rascal? If I find him, I'll make him an example to all midnight caterwaulers, of which this fidler is the loudest.

_Ben._ O that I durst but play my tune out, to convince him! Soul of harmony! Is this lewd? [_Plays and sings softly._

_Cam._ Peace, dear Benito: We must flatter him.

_Ben._ [_singing softly._] _Mettez le tête:_ The notes which follow are so sweet, sir, I must sing them, though it be my ruin--_Parler d'amour._ [LAURA _and_ VIOLETTA _in the Balcony._

_Lau._ Yes, we are safe, sister; but they are yet in danger.

_Vio._ They are just upon them.

_Lau._ We must do something: Help, help! thieves, thieves! we shall be murdered.

_Mar._ Where? Where are they?

_Lau._ Here, sir, at our chamber-door, and we are run into the balcony for shelter: Dear uncle, come and help us.

_Mar._ Back again quickly: I durst have sworn they had been in the garden. 'Tis an _ignis fatuus_, I think, that leads us from one place to another. [_Exit_ MARIO, _and Servants._

_Vio._ They are gone. My dear Camillo, make haste, and preserve yourself.

_Cam._ May our next meeting prove more propitious!

_Aur._ [_To_ BENTIO.] Come, sirrah, I shall make you sing another note when you are at home.

_Ben._ Such another word, and I'll sing again.

_Aur._ Set the ladder, and mount first, you rogue.

_Ben._ Mount first yourself, and fear not my delaying. If I am caught, they'll spare me for my playing. [_Sings as he goes off._ _Vouz entendrez parler d'amour._ [_Exeunt._