[Enter Moscon And Clarin.]

MOSCON: Run! run! for where we left My master. I now hear the clash of swords.

NOTES: _228 I now hear transcr.; we hear 1824. _227-_229 lines of otherwise arranged, 1824.

CLARIN: I never run to approach things of this sort But only to avoid them. Sir! Cyprian! sir!

CYPRIAN: Be silent, fellows! What! two friends who are In blood and fame the eyes and hope of Antioch, One of the noble race of the Colalti, The other son o' the Governor, adventure And cast away, on some slight cause no doubt, Two lives, the honour of their country?

NOTE: _233 race transcr.; men 1824. Colalti]Colatti 1824.

LELIO: Cyprian! Although my high respect towards your person Holds now my sword suspended, thou canst not Restore it to the slumber of the scabbard: Thou knowest more of science than the duel; For when two men of honour take the field, No counsel nor respect can make them friends But one must die in the dispute.

NOTE: _239 of the transcr.; of its 1824. _242 No counsel nor 1839, 1st edition; No [...] or 1824; No reasoning or transcr. _243 dispute transcr. pursuit 1824.

FLORO: I pray That you depart hence with your people, and Leave us to finish what we have begun Without advantage.--

CYPRIAN: Though you may imagine That I know little of the laws of duel, Which vanity and valour instituted, You are in error. By my birth I am Held no less than yourselves to know the limits Of honour and of infamy, nor has study Quenched the free spirit which first ordered them; And thus to me, as one well experienced In the false quicksands of the sea of honour, You may refer the merits of the case; And if I should perceive in your relation That either has the right to satisfaction From the other, I give you my word of honour To leave you.

NOTE: _253 well omit, cj. Forman.

LELIO: Under this condition then I will relate the cause, and you will cede And must confess the impossibility Of compromise; for the same lady is Beloved by Floro and myself.

FLORO: It seems Much to me that the light of day should look Upon that idol of my heart--but he-- Leave us to fight, according to thy word.

CYPRIAN: Permit one question further: is the lady Impossible to hope or not?

LELIO: She is So excellent, that if the light of day Should excite Floro's jealousy, it were Without just cause, for even the light of day Trembles to gaze on her.

CYPRIAN: Would you for your Part, marry her?

FLORO: Such is my confidence.

CYPRIAN: And you?

LELIO: Oh! would that I could lift my hope So high, for though she is extremely poor, Her virtue is her dowry.

CYPRIAN: And if you both Would marry her, is it not weak and vain, Culpable and unworthy, thus beforehand To slur her honour? What would the world say If one should slay the other, and if she Should afterwards espouse the murderer?

[THE RIVALS AGREE TO REFER THEIR QUARREL TO CYPRIAN; WHO IN CONSEQUENCE VISITS JUSTINA, AND BECOMES ENAMOURED OF HER; SHE DISDAINS HIM, AND HE RETIRES TO A SOLITARY SEA-SHORE.]

SCENE 2.

CYPRIAN: O memory! permit it not That the tyrant of my thought Be another soul that still Holds dominion o'er the will, That would refuse, but can no more, To bend, to tremble, and adore. Vain idolatry!--I saw, And gazing, became blind with error; Weak ambition, which the awe Of her presence bound to terror! So beautiful she was--and I, Between my love and jealousy, Am so convulsed with hope and fear, Unworthy as it may appear;-- So bitter is the life I live, That, hear me, Hell! I now would give To thy most detested spirit My soul, for ever to inherit, To suffer punishment and pine, So this woman may be mine. Hear'st thou, Hell! dost thou reject it? My soul is offered!

DAEMON (UNSEEN): I accept it.