University of Virginia Library

Scene XIII.

Florus enters.—Justina and Lysander; Lelius, peeping at the door of the inner room.
Florus
(aside).
Licence has a jealous lover,
Who but enters to unmask here
A pretended purity,
To forego politer manners.
I come here with that intention ...
But as she is with her father
I will wait a new occasion.

Lysander.
Who is there? Some footstep passes.

Florus
(aside).
Ah! 'tis now impossible
Without speaking to get back here.
Some excuse I'll try to offer:—
I am ...

Lysander.
You here, sir?

Florus.
Your pardon.
I ask leave, sir, to speak with you
On a most important matter.

Justina
(aside).
Oh! take pity on me, fortune,
For these trials are too many.

Lysander.
Well, sir, speak.

Florus
(aside).
What shall I say?
Never was I so embarassed.

Lelius
(aside, at the door).
Florus in Justina's house
Leaves and enters like a master!—
These are not unfounded jealousies,
These are real and substantial.

Lysander.
You grow pale, you change your colour.

Florus.
Do not wonder, be not startled,
For I came to give a warning,
To your life of utmost value,
Of an enemy that you have,
Who your swift destruction planneth.
What I've said is quite sufficient.

Lysander
(aside).
Florus, doubtless, must have gathered
Somehow that I am a Christian,
And thus comes in kindliest manner
Of my danger to apprise me.—
Speak, hide nothing in this matter.

[Aloud.