Committed to my trust; much more expos'd Don Henrique. Sir, I complain not of my sister's conduct; But you know well, young maids are so expos'd To the invasion of audacious men, And to the malice of their envious sex, You must confess the confines of their fame Don Carlos. Y'are too severe a judge of points of honour. Don Henrique. And therefore, having not long since receiv'd The news, that Don Antonio de Mendoza Is likely to be here this night, from Flanders; I will not close these eyes till I have seen Her, and my cares, safe lodg'd within his arms. cur'd you Of that innate severity to women, VOL. XII. C The greater quality, the closer kept: Which cruelty is reveng'd upon ourselves, Which I believe so just, I no way doubt Don Henrique. Don Carlos, let us quit this argu ment: I am now going to our noble friend At my sister's wedding: will you come along? My sister hither, who has given this evening Don. Henrique. I have some business, cousin, by I'll go before, and wait you i' th' piazza. Your servant, sir: [Don Henrique waits on him to the door. Exit Don Carlos. Don Henrique. This kinsman is my bosom friend; and yet, Of all men living, I must hide from him My deep resentments of his sister's scorn, Then close her ears against my just complaints! [Exit Don Henrique. Porcia. My heart is so oppress'd with fear and grief, That it must break, unless it finds relief; The man I love, is forc'd to fly my sight, And like a Parthian' kills me in his flight: One whom I never saw, I must embrace, Or else destroy the honour of my race. A brother's care, more cruel than his hate; Oh how perplexed are the intrigues of fate! Enter DON CARLOS and CAMILLA. Don Carlos. Cousin, I thought my sister's Would not displease you, whilst I wait upon Your brother in a visit. company Porcia. Sir, you oblige me with a welcome favour. I rather should have styl'd it charity, To bring a friend to her, whose cruel fate Has robb'd her of herself. [Aside. Camilla. Methinks, 'tis pity that a wall should make The houses two, of friends so entirely one, As you, and I, and our two brothers are. Porcia. If it be true, that lovers live much more There where they love, than where they breathe, I'm sure No walls can sever us, we're still together. Don Carlos. Were I not much engag'd, I would not quit So sweet a conversation; but, sister, 1 And like a Parthian, &c.] Prior has adopted this image. "So when the Parthian turn'd his steed, And from the hostile camp withdrew, He backward sent the fatal reed, Secure of conquest as he flew." Poems, vol. 1. p. 40. edition 1778. At my return I'll wait upon you home. Porcia. For this night, cousin, pray let her be mine, I beg it of you both. Don Carlos. You may command, we are both yours. [Exit Don Carlos. Porcia. My dear Camilla, how I long'd to have thee, [Porcia throws herself on Camilla's neck. Where, freely breathing out my grief, I might Some mitigation from thy pity find! But since there's no true pity without pain, Will full revenge in the same kind afford, Porcia. If your's as mine, from love-disasters rise, Our fates are more allied than families. Camilla. What to our sex and blooming age can prove An anguish worthy of our sighs, but love? Porcia. 'Tis true, Camilla, were your fate like mine, Hopeless to hold, unable to resign. Camilla. Let's tell our stories, then we soon shall see Which of us two excels in misery. Porcia. Cousin, agreed. Camilla. Do you begin then. Porcia. You know, Camilla, best, how generously, How long, and how discreetly, Don Octavio Camilla. My memory in this needs no refreshing. My brother passing by Don Carlos' house, Whom, not believing there, he took for you; (To whom all moderation is unknown) Retires they assault him, and in 's own defence With the resentment of Don Pedro's death. Camilla. Is this the sum of your sad story, Porcia? Is this all? Porcia. No, no, Camilla, 'tis the prologue only, To whose impetuous will my deceas'd parents, And now, to frustrate all my hopes at once, And is this night (they say) expected here. Camilla. Is such a rigour possible, dear Porcia? This speech is very much altered from the first and second editions, where it stands that Don Henrique has already married Porcia |