t it were _so_,
But no! I saw my scarf----that very scarf----
My own hands wrought it.----Many a midnight lamp,
While thou wert at the wars, in toil I wasted,
And made it my sole joy to toil for thee,
There was no thread I had not blest! no flower
I had not kist a thousand times, and murmured
With every kiss a prayer for thy return,
And yet thou gav'st this sacred work to buy
A wanton's favours.----

_Caesa._ Say, to buy her silence?

_Amel._ Her silence?

_Caesa._ As this morn I left the palace,
She marked my flight.

_Amel._ Just heaven!

_Caesa._ Though unrequited,
Her love has long been mine.--She raved; she threatened;
She would have vengeance; she would rouse the guards;
Alarm the king.----

_Amel._ [_Shuddering._] My father!

_Caesa._ But her silence
Bought by that scarf.--

_Amel._ Caesario, could I trust thee?
Were this tale true, could I but think.--

_Caesa._ I'll swear.

_Amel._ No! at the altar thou hast sworn already
Mine were thy hand and heart, and mine forever:
If thou canst break this oath, none else will bind thee----
Yet did I wrong thee? art thou true? I fain
Would think thee so.----But this fond heart, my husband,
Is such a weak sad thing and where it loves,
Loves so devoutly----Spare me, dear Caesario,
Such fears in future; let no word, no thought,
Cloud thy pure faith, for so my soul dotes on thee,
But to suspect thee racks each nerve, and almost
Drives my brain mad,--Oh! could'st thou know, Caesario,
How painful 'tis for one who loves like me,
To _cease_ to love----Cease, said I?----No, my heart
Ceased to esteem, but never ceased to love thee.

[_Falling on his neck._]

_Caesa._ My soul! my Amelrosa,--Now all planets
Rain plagues upon my perjured head, if e'er
I break the vow, which here I breathe; this heart,
Filled but with thee, and formed but to adore thee,
Is thine, my love, thine now, and thine forever!

_Amel._ Hark!--steps approach----Estella?

_Estel._ [_who has retired, advances hastily._]
Haste, Caesario,
You must away! the king's returned, I see
His train now loitering near the garden-gate,
Fly by the private postern.

_Caesa._ Straight I'll follow. [_Exit_ Estella.
And must I leave thee, leave thee for so long too?
The king's affairs now call me far from Burgos,
And ere we meet again twelve hours must pass.

_Amel._ Ah! me, to love, an age.

_Caesa._ Yet should I leave thee
With calmer soul, nor feel such pain in absence,
Were I but sure on