ASTOLFO, with the portrait; and ROSAURA.
ASTOLFO. Here then is the portrait, Princess:
But, good God!
ROSAURA. Your Highness trembles;
What has startled, what surprised you?
ASTOLFO. Thee, Rosaura, to see present.
ROSAURA. I Rosaura? Oh, your Highness
Is deceived by some resemblance
Doubtless to some other lady;
I'm Astrea, one who merits
Not the glory of producing
An emotion so excessive.
ASTOLFO. Ah, Rosaura thou mayst feign,
But the soul bears no deception,
And though seeing thee as Astrea,
As Rosaura it must serve thee.
ROSAURA. I, not knowing what your Highness
Speaks of, am of course prevented
From replying aught but this,
That Estrella (the bright Hesper
Of this sphere) was pleased to order
That I here should wait expectant
For that portrait, which to me
She desires you give at present:
For some reason she prefers
It through me should be presented --
So Estrella -- say, my star --
Wishes -- so a fate relentless
Wills -- in things that bring me loss --
So Estrella now expecteth.
ASTOLFO. Though such efforts you attempt,
Still how badly you dissemble,
My Rosaura! Tell the eyes
In their music to keep better
Concert with the voice, because
Any instrument whatever
Would be out of tune that sought
To combine and blend together
The true feelings of the heart
With the false words speech expresses.
ROSAURA. I wait only, as I said,
For the portrait.
ASTOLFO. Since you're bent then
To the end to keep this tone,
I adopt it, and dissemble.
Tell the Princess, then, Astrea,
That I so esteem her message,
That to send to her a copy
Seems to me so slight a present,
How so highly it is valued
By myself, I think it better
To present the original,
And you easily may present it,
Since, in point of fact, you bring it
With you in your own sweet person.
ROSAURA. When it has been undertaken
By a man, bold, brave, determined,
To obtain a certain object,
Though he get perhaps a better,
Still not bringing back the first
He returns despised: I beg, then.
That your highness give the portrait;
I, without it, dare not venture.
ASTOLFO. How, then, if I do not give it
Will you get it?
ROSAURA. I will get it
Thus, ungrateful.
[She attempts to snatch it.[
ASTOLFO. 'Tis in vain.
ROSAURA. It must ne'er be seen, no, never
In another woman's hands.
ASTOLFO. Thou art dreadful.
ROSAURA. Thou deceptive.
ASTOLFO. Oh, enough, Rosaura mine.
ROSAURA. Thine! Thou liest, base deserter.
[Both struggle for the portrait.]
* * * * *