University of Virginia Library

Scene II.

Enter Justina and Livia, veiled.—Cyprian, Moscon, and Clarin.
Justina.
Ah, me!
Cyprian's here. See, Livia, see!

[Aside to her.
Cyprian
(aside).
I must strive and be discreet,
Feigning with a ready wit,
Till my jealousy I can prove.
I will only speak of love,
If my jealousy will permit.
Not in vain, señora sweet,—
Have I changed my student's dress,
The livery of thy loveliness,
As a servant at thy feet,
Thus I wear. If sighs could move thee
I would labour to deserve thee;
Give me leave at least to serve thee,
Since thou wilt not let me love thee.

Justina.
Slight effect, sir, as I see,
Have my words produced on you,
Since they have not brought. ...

Cyprian.
Too true!

Justina.
A forgetfulness of me.
In what way must I explain
Clearer than I have done before,
That persistence at my door
Is and ever must be vain?
If a day, a month, a year,
If for ages there you stay,
Naught but this that now I say
Ever can you hope to hear.
As it were my latest breath,
Let this sad assurance move thee,—
Fate forbids that I should love thee,
Cyprian, except in death.

[She moves towards the house.
Cyprian.
At these words my hopes revive:—
Sad! no, no, to joy they move me,
For if thou in death canst love me,
Soon for me will death arrive.
Be it so; and since so nigh
Comes the hour your words to prove—
Ah! even now begin to love,
Since I now begin to die.

[Justina enters.