Por. Was e'er disaster like to mine, Camilla?
Cam. Was e'er misfortune, Porcia, like to mine?
Por. That I must never see Octavio more?
Cam. That I again must Don Antonio see,
Yet never see him mine?
Por. I, to be married to the man I hate!
Cam. And I, to have the man I love torn from me!
Por. I am, by robbing of my friend, undone!
Cam. I, for not hind'ring of the theft, am lost!
Por. Ye powers, who these entangled fortunes give,
Instruct us how to die or[50] I how to live. [She weeps.
Cam. Cousin, when we should act, then to complain
Is childishly to beat the air in vain.
These descants on our griefs only perplex;
Let's seek the remedy. You know, our sex
This honour bears from men, in exigents
Of love never to want expedients.
Por. You have awaken'd me, give me your veil:
[Porcia takes off Camilla's veil, and puts it on herself.
Quickly, dear cousin, quickly; and you, Flora,
Run presently, and see whether my brother
Be settled to despatch Antonio's man. [Exit Flora.
Cam. What mean you, Porcia?
Por. If once my brother be set down to write,
I may securely reckon one hour mine;
For he is so extravagantly jealous,
That he distrusts the sense of his own words,
And will weigh a subscription to a scruple,
Lest he should wrong his family by his style:
Therefore, I'll serve myself of[51] this occasion
To see Octavio, and to let him know
That all our hopes are ready to expire,
Unless he finds some prompt expedient
For our relief.
Cam. Pray, how and where d' you hope to speak with him?
Por. At his own house, where he lies yet conceal'd:
'Tis not far off, and I will venture thither.
Cam. D' you know the way?
Por. Not very well; but Flora's a good guide.
Enter Flora hastily.
Flo. O madam! he's coming already.
Por. Ah, spiteful destiny! Come, let's retire
Into my chamber, cousin. [Exeunt Porcia and Camilla.
Enter Don Henrique and Ernesto.
Don H. If you desire to see her, friend, you may.
Ern. I should be glad to acquaint my master, sir,
That I have had the honour to see his bride.
Don H. Where's your lady, Flora?
Flo. She's in her chamber, sir.
Don H. Tell her, Antonio's man attends her here,
To do his duty to her ere he goes. [Exit Flora.
Stay here: you'll find her with a kinswoman,
In her home dress without a veil; but you
Are privileg'd by your relation for this access:
I'll go despatch my letter. [Exit Henrique.
Enter Camilla, Porcia, and Flora. Ernesto
addresses himself to Camilla, seeing her without a veil.
Ern. Madam, I have been bold to beg the honour
Of seeing your ladyship, to make myself
More welcome to my lord at my return.
Por. A rare mistake! further it, dear Camilla!
Who knows what good this error may produce? [Aside.
Cam. Friend, in what state left you your lord and mine?
Ern. As happy as the hopes of being yours
Could make him, madam.
Cam. I would the master were as easily deceiv'd. [Aside.
I pray present my humble service to him;
And let him know that I am very glad
He has pass'd his journey so successfully—
Give him the letter, Flora.[52] Farewell, friend.
[Exeunt Camilla, Porcia, and Flora.
Ern. Now, by my life, she is a lovely lady;
My master will be ravish'd with her form.
I hope this blind bargain, made by proxy,
May prove as happy a marriage as those
Made after th' old fashion, chiefly for love,
And that this unseen beauty may have charms
To bring him back to his right wits again
From his wild ravings on an unknown dame,
Whom, as he fancies (once upon a time)
He recover'd from a trance, that's to say
From a sound sleep, which makes him dream e'er since.
I'll hasten to him with this pleasing news. [Exit Ernesto.
Enter Camilla, Porcia, and Flora.
Cam. My melancholy could hardly hinder me
From laughing at the formal fool's mistake.
But, tell me, did not I present your person
With rare assurance? The way for both to thrive
Is to make me your representative.
Por. Most willingly; and I am confident,
When you your charms shall to his heart apply,
You all your rivals safely may defy.
Cam. I wish I could be vain enough to hope it.
But, cousin, my despairs are so extreme,
I can't be flatter'd, though but in a dream.
Flo. Madam, do we go, or what do you resolve on?
Por. I must resolve, but know not what to choose.
Cam. Cousin, take heed, I am afraid you venture
Too much: your brother cannot tarry long,
And if at his return he finds you missing——
Por. Y' have reason; th' opportunity is lost.
What is't o'clock, Flora?
Flo. I think, near seven, for the clock struck six
Just as Camilla enter'd the chamber.
Por. Quick then, Flora, fetch your veil; you shall carry
My tablets to Octavio; there he'll find
The hour and place where I would have him meet. [Exit Flora.
Cam. 'Tis well resolv'd; but where do you design
Your meeting.
Por. In the remotest part of all the garden,
Which answers, as you know, to my apartment;
And Flora has the key of the back-door.
Cam. As the case stands, you choose the fittest place.
[Flora returns veiled.
Por. Cousin, I beg your patience whilst I write.
[Porcia writes in her tablets.
Cam. You, Mistress Flora, by this accident
May chance to see your faithful lover Diego.
Flo. He is a faithful lover of himself—[53]
Without a rival, madam.
Cam. Damsel, your words and thoughts hardly agree;
For could we see his image in your heart,
'Twould be a fairer far than e'er his glass
Reflected.
Flo. Madam, I am not yet so very old,
That I should doat.
Cam. Nor yet so very young but you may love:
Dotage and love are cousin-germans, Flora.
Flo. Yes, when we love and are not lov'd again; [Smiling.
For else I think they're not so near akin.
Cam. I have touch'd a nettle, and stung myself. [Aside.
Por. Make all the haste you can, pray, Flora.
Flo. Madam, I'll fly.
Should I not play my part, I were to blame,
Since all my fortune's betted on her game. [Aside.
Madam, has Octavio the other key
Belonging to the tablets?
Por. Yes, yes; I pray, make haste. [Exit Flora.
Cam. Cousin, pray, call for Mirabel, and let her
Divert us with a song.
Por. Who waits there?
Enter Page.
Page, bid Mirabel come in, and Floridor
With his lute, and send in somebody with chairs.
Cam. Pray, cousin, let her sing her newest air.
Por. What you please.
Cam. Tell me, prythee, whose composition was it?
Por. Guess, and I'll tell you true. [They bring in chairs.
Cam. Octavio's?
Por. Y' are i' th' right.
Enter Mirabel and Floridor.
Por. Mirabel, sing "Mistaken Kindness."
The Song.[54]
Can Luciamira so mistake,
To persuade me to fly?
'Tis cruel-kind for my own sake
To counsel me to die;
Like those faint souls, who cheat themselves of breath,
And die for fear of death.
Since love's the principle of life,
And you the object lov'd,
Let's, Luciamira, end this strife,
I cease to be remov'd.
We know not what they do are gone from hence,
But here we love by sense.
If the Platonics, who would prove
Souls without bodies love,
Had, with respect, well understood,
The passions i' the blood,
Th' had suffer'd bodies to have had their part
And seated love i' the heart.
[Exeunt Mirabel and Floridor.
Por. What discord there's in music, when the heart,
Untun'd by trouble, cannot bear a part!
Cam. In vain we seek content in outward things;
'Tis only from within where quiet springs. [Exeunt.