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._