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Are gently lifted up and down by tides.
I snatch'd the glorious golden opportunity,
And with prevailing, youthful ardor press'd her,
'Till with short sighs, and murmuring reluctance,
The yielding fair one gave me perfect happiness.
Ey'n all the live-long night we pass'd in bliss,
In ecstacies too fierce to last for ever;

At length the morn and cold indifference came ;
When, fully sated with the luscious banquet,
I hastily took leave, and left the nymph
To think on what was past, and sigh alone.
Ros. You saw her soon again?

Loth. Too soon I saw her:

For, Oh! that meeting was not like the former :
I found my heart no more beat high with transport,
No more I sigh'd, and languish'd for enjoyment;
'Twas past, and reason took her turn to reign,
While every weakness fell before her throne.
Ros. What of the lady?

Loth. With uneasy fondness

She hung upon me, wept, and sigh'd, and swore
She was undone; talk'd of a priest, and marriage;
Of flying with me from her father's pow'r;
Call'd every saint, and blessed angel down,
To witness for her that she was my wife.
I started at that name.

Ros. What answer made you?

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Loth. None; but pretending sudden pain and illness, Escap'd the persecution. Two nights since,

By message urg'd and frequent importunity,

Again I saw her. Straight with tears and sighs,
With swelling breasts, with swooning, with distraction,
With all the subtleties and powerful arts
Of wilful woman lab'ring for her purpose,
Again she told the same dull nauseous tale.
Unmov'd, I begg'd her spare th' ungrateful subject,
Since I resolv'd, that love and peace of mind
Might flourish long inviolate betwixt us,
Never to load it with the marriage chain;
That I would still retain her in my heart,
My ever gentle mistress and my friend!
But for those other names of wife and husband,
They only meant ill nature, cares, and quarrels.
Ros. How bore she this reply?

Loth. "Ev'n as the earth,

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"When, winds pent up, or eating fires beneath,
"Shaking the mass, she labours with destruction."
At first her rage was dumb, and wanted words;
But when the storm found way, 'twas wild and loud.
Mad as the priestess of the Delphic god,
Enthusiastic passion swell'd her breast,

Enlarg'd her voice, and ruffled all her form.
Proud and disdainful of the love I proffer'd.
She call'd me Villain! Monster! Base Betrayer!
At last, in very bitterness of soul,

With deadly imprecations on herself,
She vow'd severely ne'er to see me more;
Then bid me fly that minute: I obey'd,

And, bowing, left her to grow cool at leisure.

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Ros. She has relented since, else why this message,

To meet the keeper of her secrets here
This morning?

Loth. See the person whom you nam'd!

Enter LUCILLA.

Well, my ambassadress, what must we treat of?
Come you to menace war, and proud defiance,
Or does the peaceful olive grace your message ?
Is your fair mistress calmer? Does she soften?
And must we love again? Perhaps she means
To treat in juncture with her new ally,

And make her husband party to th' agreement.

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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,
And judge you to be number'd with the brutes.
Loth. I see thou'st learn't to rail.

Luc. I've learnt to weep:

That lesson my sad mistress often gives me :
By day she seeks some melancholy shade,
To hide her sorrows from the prying world;
At night she watches all the long, long hours,
And listens to the winds and beating rain,'
With sighs as loud, and tears that fall as fast.
Then, ever and anon, she wrings her hands,
And cries, false, false Lothario!

Loth. Oh, no more!

I swear thou'lt spoil thy pretty face with crying,
And thou hast beauty that may make thy fortune:

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Some keeping cardinal shall doat upon thee,
And barter his church treasure for thy freshness.
Luc. What! shall I sell my innocence and youth,
For wealth or titles, to perfidious man!

To man, who makes his mirth of our undoing!
The base, profest betrayer of our sex!
Let me grow old in all misfortunes else,

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. 260

Luc. Read there, my lord, there, in her own sad

lines,

[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

Luc. How, my lord1

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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: 86 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 Be at the garden gate.

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;
Waking I dream, or I beheld Lothario;
He seem'd conferring with Calista's woman:
At my approach they started, and retir'd.

What business could he have here, and with her?
I know he bears the noble Altamont

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.

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