Who but regrets a check In rivalry of wit? I could reply And urge new difficulties, but will now CYPRIAN. Go in peace! DÆMON. Remain in peace!-Since thus it profits him CYPRIAN. 210 [Aside and exit. I never Met a more learnèd 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, 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, 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, them; And thus to me, as one well' experienced 251 1 The word well should probably be struck out; but the correction is not certain.-ED. From the other, I give you my word of honour To leave you. LELIO. Under this condition, then, FLORO. It seems 260 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 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, say What would the world If one should slay the other, and if she 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 Holds dominion o'er the will, That would refuse, but can no more, And gazing, became blind with error; |