Canst thou believe me true?

_Arm._ My Lord, I do believe you---- And am o'erjoy'd to hear your Resolution: By Heaven! there's more Glory in subduing Our wild Desires, than an embattl'd Foe.

Now do I wish his Wife had never come. [_Aside._

_Ba.s.s._ _Armando_, thou'rt my Friend, and on that Score I must desire you to repair to _Turin_, With all the Speed you can, to bear these Letters To our great Prince, and beg he will excuse My stay for three Days more----And here this Letter Bear to _Placentia_----speak to her the kindest The softest Things thy Fancy can suggest.

I shall make good thy Promise---- My dear _Placentia_! Oh! that she were here, Panting and warm within these longing Arms!

'Tis a long Age since I did see her last!

But come, my Friend, you must this Hour set forward.

_Arm._ With all my Heart: But 'twill not be amiss, Before I go, to fix the Victory, Which conquering Virtue in your Breast has gain'd; And if what you pretend be real Truth, I have a welcome Present for _Ba.s.sino_.

Madam, come forth----

_Enter_ Placentia.

_Ba.s.s._ What do I see! my Wife! This was a lucky Plot: [_Aside._ Hypocrisy did ne'er befriend me more.

This was not like a Friend--why should _Armando_ Disturb her soft Tranquility of Mind, And give her ocular Proofs of my Disloyalty?

Oh! my _Placentia_! my beloved Wife! [_Embraces her._ Oh! that I should e'er think to wrong my Dear!

_Pla._ My Lord, waste not a Sigh on my Account: My Joys are infinite, since you are mine, And what is past I easily forget.

Nay, let me beg for Pardon: For I know I have offended you in coming hither.

I should have waited this Return of Virtue: Or, if abandon'd, silently have mourn'd My Loss, without upbraiding my lov'd Lord, All this I should have done, but mighty Love, Too powerful for Duty to withstand, Guided my Steps to _Venice_---- In hopes my Presence would retrieve your Heart.

_Ba.s.s._ G.o.ds! that this Woman were _Aurelia_! [_Aside._ Thou Wonder of thy s.e.x! thou best of Women!

I blush to think that thou hast heard my Folly: Yet since your Love cancels your just Complaints, You make me doubly blest: And I'll reward This excellent Goodness with eternal Fondness.

Oh! that thou hadst been here! Not all the Beauties That _Venice_ holds could have diverted me; No, not one Moment from my dear _Placentia_.

Long Absence is the Bane of new-born Love, But Fate shall ne'er have Power to part us more.

_Pla._ Oh! my dear Lord, your Goodness is too great: And I'm o'er paid for all my Sorrows past.

_Armando_, say, is not he wondrous kind?

_Arm._ Madam, I told you Virtue Was struggling in his Breast; and that it might O'ercome his vicious Love, I thought your Presence Was requisite----And now, my Lord, I hope You will forgive me, since all the Endeavours I us'd before had been in vain. I once Design'd to let _Aurelia_ know your Marriage; But then perhaps she would not have believ'd me: Let this plead my Excuse in sending for _Placentia_ Without your Knowledge.

_Ba.s.s._ I must not let him see I am concern'd. [_Aside._ I know 'twas Friendship all, well-meaning Friendship: I only am to blame: But I'll retrieve My Credit in your Heart, and still deserve The Name of Friend--And thou, the best of Wives, Shalt ne'er have Cause to doubt my constant Love.

_Pla._ Oh! my _Ba.s.sino_! this Excess of Kindness Exalts me o'er all Mortals, if you're true, There's not a Blast within the Power of Fortune Can shock my Happiness.

_Ba.s.s._ Thou shalt ne'er find me false, I swear thou shalt not.

Oh! that I could engage She would return to _Turin_ with _Armando_; [_Aside._ For if she stays, I never can enjoy My bright _Aurelia_, and by Heaven I will, Altho' ten thousand Lives should pay the Purchase.

_Pla._ My Lord, you seem disturb'd.

_Ba.s.s._ It troubles me You can't appear in _Venice_ with a Train That may bespeak the Rank you hold in _Savoy_.

_Pla._ to _Arm._ Oh! _Armando_!

He is so kind, I with I ne'er had come!

What if I offer to return with you?

_Arm._ Madam, you will do well; For I myself cannot suspect him now.

_Pla._ My Lord, let not my Presence here disturb you, I doubt your Love no more, and to convince you, I will go back before 'tis known I'm here.

Besides, 'tis fit I should prepare all things To welcome you at home.

_Ba.s.s._ (_aside._) Blest Opportunity!

Fortune I thank thee: Would my Dear then leave me So very soon? Alas! 'twill be an Age E'er I return to _Turin_: Three long Days!

No, my Dear, no; I will not part from thee, At least this Night, my Love----

_Pla._ Will then _Armando_ stay?

_Ba.s.s._ No, my best Hopes, he instantly departs With Letters to my Prince.

_Pla._ Then suffer me to go this very Moment.

Three Days will soon be o'er, and your Return, Shall make me fully blest----If I should stay 'Twould look like base Distrust, and I can't think _Ba.s.sino_ would be false----

_Ba.s.s._ (_aside._) Oh! Heaven that I were not!

_Arm._ Indeed, my Lord, I think you're truly happy.

Scarce does any Age produce so good a Wife.

_Ba.s.s._ Oh! that I could reward this wondrous Goodness!

_Pla._ My Lord, what makes you sigh?

_Ba.s.s._ To part from thee: But since 'tis your Desire, It shall be so. _Armando_, to thy Charge I here commit the Treasure of my Soul, Take Care of her, and think that on her Safety My Life depends.

_Arm._ My Lord, I hope you do not doubt my Care.

_Ba.s.s._ Dear Friend, I do not---- May Heaven's Blessings still attend my Love, My dear _Placentia_. [_Embraces, and goes to lead her off._

_Pla._ As many more guard my _Ba.s.sino_.

_Ba.s.s._ (_aside._) A sudden Horror seizes all my Limbs: I tremble at the Thought of this base Deed----

[_Pulls out his Handkerchief and drops a Letter, which_ Armando _takes up_.

Ha----Tears uncall'd for bathe my guilty Eyes---- G.o.ds! either give me Virtue to withstand This impious Love, or Courage to pursue it Without Remorse; for I'm but half a Villain.

[_Exeunt_ Ba.s.sino, Placent.

_Arm. opens the Letter._ A Letter! and to _Aurelia_! now Curiosity prompts me to know the Subject----What's here?

Reads. _I have dispatch'd_ Armando _to the Court of_ Savoy, _and found Pretence to stay behind_----

False treacherous Man!

_This Night I give a Mask at my Lodgings, which, I hope, will divert_ Alonzo, _till the Priest has joined our Hands; and while all the Company are engaged in Mirth, I'll steal to the dear Arms of my divine_ Aurelia.

Oh! Villain, Villain! Monstrous Villain!

Oh! poor _Placentia_! But I will prevent His Policy, and break his wicked Measures.

[_Exit_ Armando.