+Por.+ Was ever misery like mine, Camilla? Reduc'd to such extremes, past all relief? If I acquaint my brother with my love T' Octavio, the man whom he most hates, I must expect the worst effects of fury: If I endeavour to forget Octavio, Even that attempt renews his memory, And heightens my disquiet: if I refuse To marry, I am lost: if I obey, I cast Octavio and myself away. Two such extremes of ill no choice admit. Each seems the worst; on which rock shall I split? Since, if I marry, I cannot survive, And not to marry were to die alive. +Cam.+ Your story, I confess, is strangely moving; Yet if you could my fortune weigh with yours In scales of equal sensibility, You would not change your sufferings for mine. +Por.+ What can there be in Nature more afflicting, Than to be torn from th' object of my love, And forc'd t' embrace a man whom I must hate? +Cam.+ Have you not known that object of your love, And entertain'd the person you esteem? Have you not heard, and answer'd to his sighs? Has he not borne his part in all your cares? Do you not live and reign within his heart? +Por.+ I doubt no more his faith than my hard fate. +Cam.+ Tell me, dearest Porcia--if I love one, Whom I shall never see: suff'ring as much Without the means of e'er expressing it, As what I suffer is above expression; If all my sighs wander in fleeting air, And ne'er can reach his ears for whom they're form'd; If all my passion, all my killing cares, Must be for ever to their cause unknown; If their sad weight must sink me to my grave Without one groan, that he can ever hear, Or the least hope that I should e'er obtain Ease by's pity or cure by his disdain-- If this the state of my misfortune be (As heaven, that has decreed it, knows it is) Say, dearest Porcia, do you envy me? +Por.+ What overcruel laws of decency Have struck you dumb? Have you misplac'd your love? On such a party as you dare not own? +Cam.+ No, no, the cause is worthy of th' effect: For though I had no passion for this person, I were ungrateful if I should not give The first place in my heart to such high merit. +Por.+ If he had been so happy to deserve Your love, why are not you so just to let Him know it? +Cam.+ 'Tis impossible. Ah, that dismal word Clearly states the difference of our fortunes! You in your first adventure have been cross'd, But I, before I can set out, am lost. +Por.+ Pray, make me comprehend this mystery.