University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

CHAMBER IN THE CONSUL'S HOUSE. Countess and Erminia.
Countess.
The depths of love are warmer than the shallows,
Purer, and much more silent.

Erminia
(aside).
Ah! how true!

Countess.
He loves you, my sweet girl; I know he does.

Erminia.
He says not so.

Countess.
Child! all men are dissemblers
The generous man dissembles his best thoughts,
His worst the ungenerous.

Erminia.
If, indeed, he loves me . .

Countess.
He told me so.

Erminia.
Ah! then he loves me not.
Who, who that loves, can tell it?

Countess.
Who can hide it?
His voice betray'd him; half his words were traitors . .
To him, my sweet Erminia! not to you.
What! still unhappy!

[Erminia weeps
Erminia.
Let me weep away
A part of too much happiness.

Countess.
I wish
One more could see it. From these early showers
What sweets, that never spring but once, arise!