Who but regrets a check

In rivalry of wit? I could reply

And urge new difficulties, but will now
Depart, for I hear steps of men approaching,
And it is time that I should now pursue
My journey to the city.

CYPRIAN.

Go in peace!

200

DÆMON.

Remain in peace!-Since thus it profits him
To study, I will wrap his senses up
In sweet oblivion of all thought, but of
A piece of excellent beauty; and, as I
Have power given me to wage enmity
Against Justina's soul, I will extract
From one effect two vengeances.

CYPRIAN.

210

[Aside and exit.

I never

Met a more learned person. Let me now
Revolve this doubt again with careful mind.
He reads. FLORO and LELIO enter.

LELIO.

Here stop. These toppling rocks and tangled

boughs,

Impenetrable by the noonday beam,
Shall be sole witnesses of what we-

FLORO.

Draw!

If there were words, here is the place for deeds.

LELIO.

Thou needest not instruct me; well I know 221 That in the field, the silent tongue of steel

Speaks thus

CYPRIAN.

[They fight.

Ha! what is this? Lelio,-Floro,

Be it enough that Cyprian stands between you, Although unarmed.

LELIO.

Whence comest thou, to stand

Between me and my vengeance?

FLORO.

From what rocks

And desert cells ?

Enter MoscON and CLARIN.

MOSCON.

Run! run! for where we left

My master, I now hear the clash of swords.

CLARIN.

I never run to approach things of this sort, But only to avoid them. Sir! Cyprian! sir! 230

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?

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; 240 For, when two men of honour take the field, No counsel nor respect can make them friends But one must die in the dispute.

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

251

1 The word well should probably be struck out; but the correction is not certain.-ED.

1

From the other, I give you my word of honour

To leave you.

LELIO.

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

260

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

270

Without just cause, for even the light of day Trembles to gaze on her.

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?

say

What would the world

If one should slay the other, and if she
Should afterwards espouse the murderer?

280

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 II.

CYPRIAN.

Oh, 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;-

1Ο