University of Virginia Library

SCENE III.

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 womans 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 resolv'd
Ne're 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 humane 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 Vertue,
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 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 encreas'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're prove fatal,
But much I fear this inauspicious match.

Enter Bassino, Armanda.
Aur.
May Heaven avert th' unlucky Combination
Of our presaging Thoughts. For, know I tremble too—
But here's the man that will dispell my fears.

Arm.
to Bass.
My Lord, remember
To keep your Resolution.

Bas.
to Arm.
Yes—I will keep it— [To Aur.
Madam, you will pardon
A morning Visit, when you know what Reasons
Prest 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 set out for France, to represent
My Soveraign Leige 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'rewhelm 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 inhumane usage?

Bas.
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.
Curst, curst 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 mockt our credulous hopes.
Faithless Bassino,
How oft you swore your Love cou'd ne're 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 Poyson 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 Chimæra's,
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 Ruine!
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 chaming 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 dye.
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 thou'lt 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 Tryal? 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 lye,
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 timerous 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's, She's a—

Alon.
Ha—What means this faultering answer?
All's is 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 fixt my heart in hers.
Must then Alonzo be deny'd Admittance,
Under that poor pretence that she's not drest?
Whilest 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 joyn'd our Hands.
I'll in, and if th'affront I tamely bear,
May Heaven deny me at my latest Prayer.

Exeunt