.

JUSTINA--And who art thou, who hast found entrance hither
Into my chamber through the doors and locks?
Art thou a monstrous shadow which my madness
Has formed in the idle air?

DEMON-- No. I am one
Called by the thought which tyrannizes thee
From his eternal dwelling--who this day
Is pledged to bear thee unto Cyprian.

JUSTINA--So shall thy promise fail. This agony
Of passion which afflicts my heart and soul
May sweep imagination in its storm,--
The will is firm.

DEMON-- Already half is done
In the imagination of an act.
The sin incurred, the pleasure then remains:
Let not the will stop half-way on the road.

JUSTINA--I will not be discouraged, nor despair,
Although I thought it, and although 'tis true
That thought is but a prelude to the deed:
Thought is not in my power, but action is:
I will not move my foot to follow thee!

DEMON--But a far mightier wisdom than thine own
Exerts itself within thee, with such power
Compelling thee to that which it inclines
That it shall force thy step; how wilt thou then
Resist, Justina?

JUSTINA-- By my free will.

DEMON-- I
Must force thy will.

JUSTINA-- It is invincible;
It were not free if thou hadst power upon it.

[_He draws, but cannot move her._

DEMON--Come, where a pleasure waits thee.

JUSTINA-- It were bought
Too dear.

DEMON-- 'Twill soothe thy heart to softest peace.

JUSTINA--'Tis dread captivity.

DEMON-- 'Tis joy, 'tis glory.

JUSTINA--'Tis shame, 'tis torment, 'tis despair.

DEMON-- But how
Canst thou defend thyself from that or me,
If my power drags thee onward?

JUSTINA-- My defense
Consists in God.

[_He vainly endeavors to force her, and at last releases her._

DEMON-- Woman, thou hast subdued me
Only by not owning thyself subdued.
But since thou thus findest defense in God,
I will assume a feigned form, and thus
Make thee a victim of my baffled rage.
For I will mask a spirit in thy form
Who will betray thy name to infamy,
And doubly shall I triumph in thy loss,
First by dishonoring thee, and then by turning