CLARIN. Livia, heigh!

MOSCON. And Livia, ho!--
List good lass.

CLARIN. We're here, we two.

LIVIA. Well, what WANT you, sir? and YOU,
What do you want?

CLARIN. We both would show,
If perchance you do not know,
That we love you to distraction.
On a murderous transaction
We came here, to kill each other:--
So to put an end to the bother,
Just choose one for satisfaction.

LIVIA. Why the thing that you're demanding
Is so great, it hath bereft me
Of my wits. My grief hath left me
Without sense or understanding.
Choose but one! My heart expanding,
Beats so hard a strait to shun!
I one only! 'Tis for fun
That you ask me so to do.
For with heart enough for two,
Why require that I choose one?

CLARIN. Two at once would you have to woo?
Would not two embarrass you, pray?

LIVIA. No, we women have a way
To dispose of them two by two.

MOSCON. What's the way? do tell us, do;--
What is it? speak.

LIVIA. You put one out!--
I would love them, do not doubt....

MOSCON. How?

LIVIA. ALTERNATIVELY.

CLARIN. Eh,
What's ALTERNATIVELY?

LIVIA. 'Tis to say,
That I would love them day about.
[Exit.

MOSCON. Well, I choose to-day: good-bye.

CLARIN. I, to-morrow, the better part.
So I give it with all my heart.

MOSCON. Livia, in fine, for whom I die,
To-day love me, and to-day love I.
Happy is he who so much can say.

CLARIN. Hearken, my friend: you know my way.

MOSCON. Why this speech? Does a threat lie in it?

CLARIN. Mind, she is not yours a minute
After the clock strikes twelve to-day.
[Exeunt.

* * * * *

SCENE XI.

THE STREET BEFORE LYSANDER'S HOUSE: NIGHT

Enter FLORUS and LELIUS at opposite sides, not seeing each other.

LELIUS [aside]. Scarcely has the darksome night
O'er the brow of heaven extended*
Its black veil, when I come hither
To adore this sacred threshold;
For although at Cyprian's prayer,
I my sharp sword have suspended,
I have not my love, for love
Cannot be suspended ever.

[footnote] *Asonante in e-e, to the end of the Act.

FLORUS [aside]. Here the dawn will find