Aurelia's _Chamber_; _she in an Undress with_ Florella.
_Aur._ No more of that--Cease thy ungrateful Suit,
_Alonzo_ is a Man I cannot love;
I own he's witty, generous, and brave;
Has all the Charms that Nature can bestow
To fire a Woman's Heart----Yet I'm insensible,
His very Sight chills all my trembling Spirits;
Therefore, name him no more--I charge thee do not.
_Flor._ Madam, I've done--Yet shall I be permitted
To ask a Question? Are you then resolved
Ne'er to admit a Passion in your Breast?
_Aur._ Oh! Dear _Florella_, press not a Confession,
Which but too well my Eyes themselves disclose.
Alas! I love--I love to such Excess,
That tho' I know I'm lov'd again, my Mind
Is still perplex'd with Doubts and jealous Fears.
_Flor._ You love and are belov'd! Then sure you reach
The Height of human Bliss, and bounteous Heaven
Can scarce give more----But who's the happy Man;
Is it not Count _Bassino_?
_Aur._ Oh! charming Name; there's Musick in that Sound!
Yes, Count _Bassino_ is the Man I love.
Canst thou now blame my Coldness to _Alonzo_?
_Flor._ Forgive me, Madam, if I dare presume
To speak my Sentiments: I must confess
_Bassino_ is a Man of excellent Virtue;
His Education at the Court of _Savoy_
Has still refin'd what he receiv'd from Nature;
His Person too is charming----
And, what most Women court, he has a Title----
But then consider, you are unacquainted
With his Estate, and tho' his Equipage
Denotes an ample Fortune, yet we see
Many a Stranger here during the Carnival,
Who makes a Figure here by industrious Gaming.
As for _Alonzo_, he was born at _Venice_,
Of noble Parents; his Estate, a large one----
Even from his Youth you had his amorous Wishes,
And as he grew in Years his Love increas'd:
You lov'd him too----Nay, which is more, your Father
Approv'd your mutual Loves, and at his Death
Bequeath'd you to _Alonzo_.
_Aur._ Oh! my _Florella_, thou hast rouz'd a Thought,
Which will for ever break _Aurelia_'s Rest.
I know my Father's Tenderness to me
Made him confirm _Alonzo_'s Suit, for then
I lov'd _Alonzo_----
But were my gentle Father still alive,
I'm sure he would not cross my Inclinations,
But, Oh! name not my Father; I cannot bear
The sad Remembrance of so great a Loss. [_Weeps._
_Flor._ But fear you not t'offend his peaceful Ghost,
By breaking with the Man he destin'd yours?
_Aur._ 'Tis not my Fault: and just Heaven must forgive
What Heaven decrees----Yes, 'tis my cruel Stars
That made my Heart inconstant to _Alonzo_,
'Tis with Regret I break my plighted Faith;
In vain I strive to check my new-born Love,
I cannot, cannot live without _Bassino_.
_Flor._ Madam, I wish your Passion ne'er prove fatal,
But much I fear this inauspicious Match.
_Enter_ Bassino, Armando.
_Aur._ May Heaven avert th' unlucky Combination
Of our presaging Thoughts: For, know, I tremble too--
But here's the man that will dispel my Fears.
_Arm._ to _Bass._ My Lord, remember
To keep your Resolution.
_Bass._ to _Arm._ Yes--I will keep it--[To _Aur._] Madam,
you will pardon
A Morning Visit, when you know what Reasons
Press'd me to fix it on this early Hour.----
By Letters from the Court I was last Night
Commanded to return with Speed to _Turin_,
And thence let out for _France_, to represent
My Sovereign Liege in solemn Embassy.
This Day I must prepare to take my Journey,
Tho' 'tis with killing Grief I leave my dear,
My fair _Aurelia_----[To _Arm._] Now, my _Armando_.
_Arm._ My Lord, 'tis well: But still be on your Guard,
The dreadful Shock comes on----
_Aur._ This Day be gone! What means my Lord! Oh! Heaven,
My boding Fears are come to pass: I see
A Cloud of Woes just ready to o'erwhelm me.
Is't possible! how can that Form divine
Harbour such Treachery! Is then _Bassino_ false?
Say, perjur'd Man, how often did you swear
This happy Day should make you mine for ever!
How can you now forget your solemn Vows?
Why have I met with this inhuman Usage?
_Bass._ Madam, my Prince's Orders
Are absolute: My Honour is concern'd.
_Aur._ Must a vain Title be preferr'd to Love?
But no--You never lov'd----'twas base Deceit.
Curs'd, curs'd dissembling Men! Their flattering Tongues
Can feign a Passion that will look like Love,
Till by Degrees they get us in their Power;
Then with bold Impudence they draw the Vizor,
And shew the Cheat that mock'd our credulous Hopes.
Faithless _Bassino_,
How oft you swore your Love could ne'er expire:
How oft you swore one Smile of mine had Charms,
Even above the Glories of a Crown.
Those were the Oaths I fondly did believe;
Those Words convey'd a Poison to my Heart,
And even now I feel its mighty Force:
My Head turns giddy, and my trembling Knees
Betray their sinking Burden----
Alas! I faint, I die----
[_She faints_, Bassino _runs and embraces her_.
_Bass._ Oh! stay, my Love, my Life, my Soul, my all:
The Conflict's past, and I am thine again,
But she is breathless! Oh! ye rigorous Gods,
Give back her Soul, or let my own be plung'd
To dark _Elysium_----Oh! my dear _Aurelia_! [_Hugs her._
_Arm._ Is this your Resolution? By Heaven, I blush
To call you Friend. Your Wife, my Lord, remember
Your Wife----
_Bass._ Curse on that Name----
Urge me no more to follow your Chimeras,
Lest you oblige me to break off that Friendship
You blush to own----Oh! my _Aurelia_!
_Arm. aside._ How sweet is treacherous Vice! how eagerly
Fond Man pursues his Ruin!
All Arguments were vain----yet still one Way remains,
Which cannot fail, to stop the Progress of this impious Love.
His Wife, by my Direction, comes to _Venice_:
Her Sight will soon awake his slumbering Virtue,
At least it will retrieve _Aurelia_'s Senses. [_Exit_ Armando.
_Aur. recovering._ Where am I? Where's my Lord, my false _Bassino_?
_Bass._ Here, here, my Soul, my charming Dear.
_Aur. thrusts him off._ Hold off--Approach me not--urge not my Rage,
Or with this Dagger I'll revenge my Wrongs
On thy perfidious Heart----But, oh! his
Heart's too hard,
Even for temper'd Steel--Therefore I'll sheath it here.
[_Offers at her Breast_: Bassino _snatches the Dagger, and
throws himself at her Feet in a distracted Manner_.
_Bass._ Oh! hold----forbid it Gods!
I am the Cursed Cause, and I must die.
Oh! who could bear my Load of mortal Woe!
Ye heavenly Powers bestow the Stroke of Grace,
And rack _Bassino_: Let your vengeful Thunder
Now crush my guilty Head----Or thou, Oh! Parent Earth,
Open thy Bosom, and conceal my Crime. [_Tears the Ground._
_Aur._ Is he then mine again! [_Falls down._
Look up, my Lord, my Love, my Life!
My dear _Bassino_! 'Tis _Aurelia_ calls.
Let me for ever fold thee in my Arms,
And beg thoul't never speak of parting more. [_Embraces him._
_Both rise and embrace in an Extasy._
_Bass._ Oh! never, never----
The Poles shall meet, the Sun and Moon invert
Their wonted Motion e're I part from thee.
I fondly try'd how much I was belov'd,
And since you're true, my Bliss is now compleat.
_Aur._ Was't but a Trial? then my Griefs are vanish'd,
And I am lost in Joy----_Bassino's_ mine.
[_They embrace again._
_Bass._ Thine, thine for ever: And this happy Day,
Shall end _Aurelia_'s Fears----Ha----
This Day, said I, but where's _Placentia_ then?
My Wife _Placentia_! Little does she think
What Baseness I intend--Oh! racking Thought!
But 'tis resolv'd, I'll change nor think no more:
I'll try to plunge, and reach the blissful Shore;
And if I sink, yet still this Hope's my Friend,
I'll snatch my Treasure e're my Course I end. [_Aside._
_Aur._ My Lord, what makes you pause?
_Bass._ The ravishing Thoughts of mighty Joys to come
Kept me in Extasy and made me dumb;
When on thy snowy Breast dissolv'd I lie,
What Monarch can there be more blest than I?
[Bassino _leads her off with a languishing Air_.
_Enter_ Alonzo.
_Alon._ Sure, if my Eyes deceive me not, I saw
_Aurelia_ with the Count just parting hence:
Dissolv'd in Love, and languishing they seem'd.
Damnation----
I cannot bear the Thought--I'll after 'em.
Alonzo _going_. _Enter_ Florella.
_Flor. aside._ Ha----_Alonzo_ here! I must prevent a Discovery.
_Alon._ _Florella_ here! she comes opportunely----she may inform me of
what I yet but fear----Good-morrow, _Florella_: How fares my Love, my
dear _Aurelia_?
_Flor._ Signior, Good-morrow; you are an early Visitant.
_Alon._ Not for a Man in Love; but answer me, How does _Aurelia_?
_Flor._ Well in Health----Only she's now and then in a little Fit of
Melancholy, such as usually proceeds from timorous Doubts about that
dreadful State of Matrimony. You know the Time draws nigh that gives
her to your Arms.
_Alon._ By Heaven! 'Tis an Age, there's six Days yet to come.
_Flor._ An Age, indeed, if he knew all. [_Aside._
_Alon._ But haste, _Florella_; lead me to my Dear,
She only can contract that tedious Age
Of lingring Pain, and sooth it with her Smiles.
Say, is she alone?
_Flor._ Yes----No----
Oh! Heaven! What shall I say? [_Aside._
She, she's a----
_Alon._ Ha----What means this faultering Answer?
All's not right, and my Suspicion's true.
_Flor._ Signior, my Lady is not drest, and I shall displease her, in
admitting even you, without her Leave.
_Alon._ Ha----not drest----Take heed you mock me not;
Nor think to blind me with your feign'd Excuse:
For in your guilty Face I read the Truth.
Come, tell me who's with her? is't not _Bassino_?
_Flor. aside._ Oh! Heaven! What shall I say?
_Alon._ Nay, nay, no Study: Lying will not do:
I saw 'em part from hence, just now I saw 'em.
Harkee, sweet Mistress, how long have you practis'd
This subtle Trade? I find you're much improv'd.
Hell and Damnation----quickly, tell me
What did _Bassino_ give for his Admittance?
I'll double the Reward--but she's not drest for me----
Oh! damn'd, damn'd Sex!
_Flor._ Signior, what do you mean?
_Alon._ To see _Aurelia_----see her instantly----
Nay by Heaven! I will: All Opposition's vain:
For by th' avenging Power of Love I swear,
Tho' in _Bassino_'s Arms, I'll drag her thence,
Only to cast her from my Sight for ever:
Nor shall he live to triumph in my Shame.
What tho' the Marriage Rites be not perform'd,
Yet I may call her Wife. Her Father gave her to me:
And her own Vows have fix'd my Heart in her's.
Must then _Alonzo_ be deny'd Admittance,
Under that poor Pretence that she's not drest?
Whilst base _Bassino_ lies dissolv'd in Pleasures
On her perfidious Breast----Oh! killing Thought!
She makes my Name of Husband infamous,
Even before the Priest has join'd our Hands.
I'll in, and if th' Affront I tamely bear,
May Heaven deny me at my latest Prayer. [_Exeunt._