To meet the keeper of her secrets here Loth. See the person whom you nam'd! Enter LUCILLA. Well, my ambassadress, what must we treat of? And make her husband party to th' agreement. Luc. Is this well done, my lord? Have you put off All sense of human nature? Keep a little, A little pity, to distinguish manhood, Lest other men, tho' cruel, should disclaim you, Luc. I've learnt to weep: That lesson my sad mistress often gives me : Loth. Oh, no more! I swear thou'lt spoil thy pretty face with crying, 240 Some keeping cardinal shall doat upon thee, To man, who makes his mirth of our undoing! Rather than know the sorrows of Calista! Loth. Does she send thee to chide in her behalf? I swear thou dost it with so good a grace, That I could almost love thee for thy frowning. 200 lines, Luc. Read there, my lord, there, in her own sad [Giving a letter. Which best can tell the story of her woes, That grief of heart which your unkindness gives her. [Lothario reads. Your cruelty-Obedience to my father-Give my hand to Altamont. By Heav'n 'tis well! such ever be the gifts With which I greet the man whom my soul hates. But to go on! [Aside. -Wish- -Heart- -Honour- too faithlessWeakness-to-morrow last trouble-lost Calista. Women, I see, can change as well as men. She writes me here, forsaken as I am, That I should bind my brows with mournful willow, For she has giv'n her hand to Altamont : Yet, tell the fair inconstant Loth. Nay, no more angry words: say to Calista, The humblest of her slaves shall wait her pleasure; If she can leave her happy husband's arms, To think upon so lost a thing as I am. Luc. Alas! for pity, come with gentler looks: 280 Wound not her heart with this unmanly triumph; And, tho' you love her not, yet swear you do, So shall dissembling once be virtuous in you. Loth. Ha! who comes here? Luc. The bridegroom's friend, Horatio. He must not see us here. To-morrow early Loth. Bear to my love My kindest thoughts, and swear I will not fail her. [Lothario putting up the letter hastily, drops it as he goes out. Exeunt Lothario and Rossano one way, Lucilla another. Enter HORATIO. Hor. Sure 'tis the very error of my eyes; What business could he have here, and with her? Profest and deadly hate-What paper's this? [Taking up the letter. Ha! To Lothario!-'s death! Calista's name! Confusion and misfortunes! [Opening it. [Reads. Your cruelty has at length determined me, and I have resolv'd this morning to yield a perfect obedience to my father, and to give my hand to Alta· mont, in spite of my weakness for the false Lothario. I could almost wish I had that heart, and that honour to bestow with it, which you have robb'd 'me of: Damnation to the rest [Reads again. But, Oh! I fear, could I retrieve 'em, I should again be undone by the too faithless, yet too lovely Lothario. This is the last weakness of my pen, and to-morrow shall be the last in which I will indulge my eyes. Lucilla shall conduct you, if you are kind enough to let me see you; it shall be the last trouble you shall meet with from The lost Calista.' The lost, indeed! for thou art gone as far 320 "Then sighing, to his ev'ry care speaks peace, "And bids his heart be satisfied with happiness. "Oh, wretched husband! while she hangs about thee “With idle blandishments, and plays the fond one, "Ev'n then her hot imagination wanders, "Contriving riot, and loose 'scapes of love; "And while she clasps thee close, makes thee a mon ster." What if I give this paper to her father? It follows that his justice dooms her dead, Lav. My lord! Enter LAVINIA. Trust me, it joys my heart that I have found you. Hor. It were unjust-No, let me spare my friend, Lock up the fatal secret in my breast, Nor tell him that which will undo his quiet. Lav, What means my lord? 1 Hor. Ha! saidst thou, my Lavinia ? |