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Jul. Nay, then I’ll seize my Right.

Henr. What, here, a Brawl?

My Servants, — Turn this boist’rous Sworder forth;

And see he come not to disturb our Joys.

Jul. Hold, Dogs! — Leonora, — Coward, base, Henriquez!

[Julio is seiz’d, and drag’d out by the Servants.

Henr. She dies upon Me; help!

[Leonora swoons; as they endeavour to recover her, a Paper drops from her.

D. Bern. Throng not about her;

But give her Air.

Henr. What Paper’s That? let’s see it.

It is her own Hand-Writing.

D. Bern.Bow her Head:

’Tis but her Fright; she will recover soon.

What learn you by that Paper, good my Lord?

Henr. That she would do the Violence to herself,

Which Nature hath anticipated on her.

What Dagger means she? Search her well, I pray you.

D. Bern. Here is the Dagger. — Oh, the stubborn Sex,

Rash ev’n to Madness! —

Henr.Bear her to her Chamber:

Life flows in her again. — Pray, bear her hence:

And tend her, as you would the World’s best Treasure.

[Women carry Leonora off.

Don Bernard, this wild Tumult soon will cease,

The Cause remov’d; and all return to Calmness.

Passions in Women are as short in Working,

As strong in their Effect. Let the Priest wait:

Come, go we in: My Soul is all on Fire;

And burns impatient of this forc’d Delay.

[Exeunt; and the Scene closes.

Scene III. Prospect of a Village at a Distance.

Enters Roderick.

Rod. Julio’s Departure thus in secret from Me,

With the long doubtful Absence of my Brother,

(Who cannot suffer, but my Father feels it;)

Have trusted me with strong Suspicions,

And Dreams, that will not let me sleep, nor eat,

Nor taste those Recreations Health demands:

But, like a Whirlwind, hither have they snatch’d me,

Perforce, to be resolv’d. I know my Brother

Had Julio’s Father for his Host: from him

Enquiry may befriend me.

Enters Camillo.

Old Sir, I’m glad

To ’ve met you thus: What ails the Man? Camillo, —

Cam. Ha?

Rod. Is’t possible, you should forget your Friends?

Cam. Friends! What are Those?

Rod. Why, Those that love you, Sir.

Cam. You’re None of Those, sure, if you be Lord Roderick.

Rod. Yes, I am that Lord Roderick, and I lie not,

If I protest, I love you passing well.

Cam. You lov’d my Son too passing well, I take it:

One, that believ’d too suddenly his Court-Creed.

Rod. All is not well. [aside.] — Good old Man, do not rail.

Cam. My Lord, my Lord, you’ve dealt dishonourably.

Rod. Good Sir, I am so far from doing Wrongs

Of that base Strain, I understand you not.

Cam. Indeed! — You know not neither, o’ my Conscience,

How your most virtuous Brother, noble Henriquez,

(You look so like him, Lord, you are the worse for’t;

Rots upon such Dissemblers!) under colour

Of buying Coursers, and I know not what,

Bought my poor Boy out of Possession

Ev’n of his plighted Faith. — Was not this Honour?

And This a constant Friend?

Rod. I dare not say so.

Cam. Now you have robb’d him of his Love, take all;

Make up your Malice, and dispatch his Life too.

Rod. If you would hear me, Sir, —

Cam. Your brave old Father

Would have been torn in Pieces with wild Horses,

E’er he had done this Treachery. On my Conscience,

Had he but dreamt you Two durst have committed

This base, unmanly Crime, —

Rod. Why, this is Madness. —

Cam. I’ve done; I’ve eas’d my Heart; now you may talk.

Rod. Then as I am a Gentleman, believe me,

(For I will lie for no Man;) I’m so far

From being guilty of the least Suspicion

Of Sin that way, that fearing the long Absence

Of Julio and my Brother might beget

Something to start at, hither have I travell’d

To know the Truth of you.

Enters Violante behind.

Viol. My Servant loiters; sure, he means me well.

Camillo, and a Stranger? These may give me

Some Comfort from their Talk. I’ll step aside:

And hear what Fame is stirring. [Violante retires.

Rod. Why this Wond’ring?

Cam. Can there be one so near in Blood as you are

To that Henriquez, and an honest Man?

Rod. While he was good, I do confess my Nearness;

But, since his Fall from Honour, he’s to me

As a strange Face I saw but Yesterday,