ORUS. Stay.

* * * * *

SCENE XV.

CYPRIAN. You must not follow him,
[Aside. (Oh, this news with death o'erwhelms me!)
Since if he who is the loser
Of what you have gained, expressly
Says he would forget it, you
Should not try his patient temper.

FLORUS. Both by you and him at once
Has mine own been too well tested.
Speak not now unto Justina
About me; for though full vengeance
I propose to take for being
Thus supplanted and rejected,
Every hope of her being mine
Now has ceased, for shameful were it,
In the face of such proved facts,
To persist in my addresses.
[Exit.

* * * * *

SCENE XVI.

CYPRIAN, MOSCON, and CLARIN.

CYPRIAN [aside]. What is this, O heavens! I hear?
Can it be the two are jealous
Of each other at one time?
And I too of both together?--
Doubtless from some strange delusion
The two suffer, which I welcome
With a sort of satisfaction,
For to it I am indebted
For the fact of their desisting
From their suit and their pretension.--
Moscon, have for me by morning
A rich court-suit; sword and feathers,
Clarin, be thy care; for love
In a certain airy splendour
Takes delight; for now no longer
Books or studies give me pleasure;--
Love they say doth murder mind,
Learning dies when he is present.
[Exeunt.

ACT THE SECOND.

SCENE I.

THE STREET IN FRONT OF LYSANDER'S HOUSE.

Enter CYPRIAN, MOSCON, and CLARIN, in gala dresses.

CYPRIAN [aside]. Where, presumptuous thoughts, ah! where,
Would you lead me, whither go?
If for certain now you know
That the high attempts you dare
Are delusive dreams of bliss,
Since you strive to scale heaven's wall,
But from that proud height to fall
Headlong down a dark abyss?
I Justina saw..... So near
Would to God I had not seen her,
Nor in her divine demeanour
All the light of heaven's fourth sphere.
Lovers twain for her contend,
Both being jealous each should woo,
And I, jealous of the two,
Know not which doth most offend.
All I know is, that suspicion,
Her disdain, my own desires,
Fill my heart with furious fires--
Drive me, ah! to my perdition.
T