siness with one another.

_Lau._ 'Twere a shame to quit my ground upon the first charge; yet if
you please to take a truce a little, I will consent to go behind the
lovers, and listen with you.

_Aur._ I wonder you deferred the proposition so long. I were neither
true valet, nor you true woman, if we could not eves-drop.
[_They retire behind the other two, who come forward
upon the Stage._

_Cam._ [_Kissing_ VIOLETTA'S _hand._] Give me another yet, and then--

_Vio._ And then will you be satisfied?

_Cam._ And then I'll ask a thousand more, and ne'er be satisfied.
Kisses are but thin nourishment; they are too soon digested, and
hungry love craves more.

_Vio._ You feed a wolf within you.

_Cam._ Then feast my love with a more solid diet. He makes us now a
miser's feast, and we forbear to take our fill. The silent night, and
all these downy hours, were made for lovers: Gently they tread, and
softly measure time, that no rude noise may fright the tender maid,
from giving all her soul to melting joys.

_Vio._ You do not love me; if you did, you would not
Thus urge your satisfaction in my shame;
At best, I see you would not love me long,
For they, who plunder, do not mean to stay.

_Cam._ I haste to take possession of my own.

_Vio._ Ere heaven and holy vows have made it so?

_Cam._ Then witness, heaven, and all these twinkling stars--

_Vio._ Hold, hold, you are distempered with your love;
Time, place, and strong desires, now swear, not you.

_Cam._ Is not love love, without a priest and altars?
The temples are inanimate, and know not
What vows are made in them; the priest stands ready
For his hire, and cares not what hearts he couples;
Love alone is marriage.

_Vio._ I never will receive these midnight vows:
But when I come hereafter to your arms,
I'll bring you a sincere, full, perfect bliss;
Then you will thank me that I kept it so,
And trust my faith hereafter.

_Lau._ There is your destiny, lover mine: I am to be honest by
infection; my lady will none, you see.

_Aur._ Truth is, they are a lost couple, unless they learn grace by
our example. Come, shall we begin first, and shame them both?
[_Takes her by the hand again._

_Lau._ You will never be warned of this hand, Benito.

_Aur._ Oh, it is so soft, as it were made on purpose to take hearts,
and handle them without hurting! These taper fingers too, and even
joints