University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

Aurelia's Lodgings.
Enter Aurelia, Florella.
Aur.
Oh! how I tremble for my dear Bassino?
Haste, fly Florella, bring me news he lives,
Or else expect to see thy Mistress die.

Flor.
Madam be patient—
Consult your Reputation, and consider
That the least noise you make on this occasion,
Reflects upon your Virtue—

Aur.
Away, away—Talk not of Reputation.
When Lov's in t'other scale—But what can shock my Reputation.
Heaven's my Witness I ne're lodg'd a Thought,
For Count Bassino that could wrong my Virtue.
Perhaps the Gods pursue me with their Hatred,
Because I break my Promise to Alonzo.
But then, why did they not secure me his?
Why must weak mortals be expos'd to Passions,
Which are not in our Power to subdue,
And yet account for what they prompt us to?
But I will think no more—Almighty Love,
Now hear my last Resolve—if angry Heaven
Refus'd to guard my dear Bassino's Life,
Aurelia too shall fall, and leave his Murderer
Accurst for ever—

Enter Alonzo.
Flor.
Oh! Heaven! where will this end?

Aur.
Ha.—
Aside.
The Gods have sent him to decide my Fate.
How now! how dare you meet my angry view?
Or think I'll e're forgive the base affront,
This very day you offer'd to my Fame?

Alon.
Just Heaven refuses not a Penitent,
Therefore I cannot think that fair Aurelia
Whose Charms are all divine, should fail in Goodness.
Oh! Let my Love atone for my rash Deed:
The Count and I are Friends, why should Aurelia be more severe?

Aur.
He lives! blest News!
Aside.
Do then rash Actions speak your Love to me?
Must I in publick bear with your insults
Before I'm yours? what must I then expect
When the strict Ties of Marriage shall confirm
Your jealous Passions?
No, you have taught me to avoid the shelf,
I was just running on—know base Alonzo,
That from this moment I resume my Freedom,
I disingage you from your former Vows,
And will henceforth be Mistress of my self.

Alon.
Ha—
Aside.
This sudden Coldness has another Spring,
Than my rash Carriage—Oh! my jealous Fears,
But I'm resolv'd to trace her winding Thoughts,
And fetch the secret forth—
Madam, I hope you do but try my Love:
I cannot think Aurelia would be false.
Besides, you can't recal what's registred in Heaven.

Aur.
Then stay till we come there—There you'll have witness.

Alon.
Witness!
Oh! Faithless, perjur'd Woman canst thou think,
Upon thy self and bid me call my Witness?
Yes, you are mine—By all the Gods, you are.
And shall there be a Power on this side Heaven,
To stop my Bliss? No—by my Love I swear.
I now can guess at your perfidious meaning,
And tho that cowardly Villain slily thought
To blind me with a Tale his guilt had fram'd,
'Tis plain he is your Minion—yet wants Courage
To own his Treachery.

Aur.
Detracting, Slanderous Villain!
How dare you treat me thus?
Oh! for the look of a fierce Basilisk,
To punish this audacious insolence!

Alon.
Marry thee! No—by Heavens, I had rather
Be rackt to Death—And for thy vile injustice
None shall enjoy thee, while this sword is mine.
Lays hold on his Sword.
Nor shall your Lover scape to serve your lust,
Till he has forc'd a Passage thro this Breast.

Points to his Breast.
Aur.
Oh! My Bassino.
Aside.
Oh! cruel Man! Are not you then contented
To wreak your Spite on poor Aurelia?
Why must your Rage involve the innocent?
Oh! Let me fall your Passion's Sacrifice;
Let my Blood wash the stain you fix on me,
But do not blast your Name with base Revenge.—

Alon.
By Heaven! she dotes on him! Oh! Cunning Woman?
But this Pretence won't serve to save his Life;
I'll not be caught again—No, Syren No:
Bassino dies—Nor will I leave to Fortune
The vengeful stroke, but take a safer way.

Aur.
Oh! Heaven!
Aside.
What words shall I invent to sooth his Rage,
Kneels.
And save my dear Bassino? Oh! Alonzo
My once lov'd Dear, will you not hear me speak?
Oh! I conjure you by our plighted Love's,
Whose purity outshone the Stars above,
Hear me this Time, then use me as you please.

Alon.
Oh! Woman, Woman!

Aur.
If e're Aurelia
So much as in her thoughts did wrong Alonzo
May sudden Death pursue her purjur'd steps:
Heaven forgive
Aside.
The Perjury, since I've no other way
To Save Bassino's Life—

Alon.
Aurelio. rise—
Raising her.
Oh! could I credit this, how happy were Alonzo!
But something tells me that thou art forsworn;
And yet thou seemst as fair as Truth itself:
How is it possible that Guilt can look
With so a divine a Face?

Aur.
Oh kill me instantly: kill me, I beg you, kill me;
Let me not linger out an Age in pain;
For such is every Moment of your Anger;
I cannot bear to to live in your displeasure.

Alon.
By Heaven she's true—
Hence frivolous fears be gone—she's only mine.
Come to my Breast, my bright Aurelia, come.
Embraces her.
To that soft shrine that holds that Sacred image,
Which triumphs o're my soul, and grasps it all.
I knew my boundless Treasure, and the Thought
Of losing thee had rais'd my love to Madness.
But now I'm calm—No more shall that fierce Passion,
Rude Jealousy disturb my peaceful mind.
Do but forgive the Faults my Rage committed,
And you will find our Loves will grow the purer;
Just as the Sky looks brighter when the storm
Is chas'd away, and Phæbus smiles again.

Aur.
Since both have been to blame, let it suffice,
We both repent, and will offend no more.

Alon.
Oh! never, never.
I'll ne're suspect you more—Only resolve me this—

Aur.
What's it?

Alon.
Why was Bassino
Admitted to your View, and I denied?

Aur.
He came to take his leave, and 'thad been rude.
Not to admit a man of his high Birth
On this occasion; Nor was you denied,
But thro my Woman's Fears of your suspicions.
She thought you would misconstrue the Count's Visit,
As you have really done—I blam'd her for it
Indeed, this is the Truth—I hope Alonzo
Believes me now—

Alon.
Believe Thee! Yes—As willingly as Martyrs
A State of endless Joy.
I will so love my Dear, that all Mankind
Shall look with envy on our mutual bliss.
I'm like a Merchant tost at Sea by storms,
Who his last Course with Pray'ts and Toil performs.
And the rich Cargo safely brought on shore,
He hugs it thus, and vows to part no more.

(embraces her)
Aur.
aside.
So in a flowry Mead a Serpent lurks,
And the unwary Traveller surprizes,
Where he suspects least danger! Cursed Cheat.
Aside.
Oh! that I could disclose the fatal story!
But it must never out—I beg Alonzo,
You'd leave me for a while, and rest secure,
You have my Love—

Alon.
Then the bright Sun in all his circling Turn,
Cannot behold a man more truly happy:
What you command I readily obey.
Farewel, my dear.
Exit Alonzo.

Aur.
Where art thou now, Aurelia?
How wilt thou scape that dreadful Precipice,
On which thou art hurried on by thy fatal Passion?
With conscious horror I deceiv'd Alonzo,
I hate this base Treachery, but 'twas unavoidable:
The truth had been more fatal—
More fatal?—No—For I must never Wed
My dear Bassino whilst Alonzo lives.
Oh! the distracting thought! what shall I do?
Why! dye Aurelia: That's the only way,
To keep thy vows to both—Ha—dye, said I,
But whither then? who knows what Punishment,
Just Heav'n prepares for guilty Souls like mine.
But I must think no more, lest I grow mad with thought.
If there's a Power that guards us here below,
Oh! look with pitying eyes on poor Aurelia:
Appease the Tumults of my anxious Fear,
And load me with no more than I can bear.

Exeunt Aurelia, Florella.