+Por.+ I know not how: only of this I'm sure, I have not long to expect the dismal end Of my sad tragedy; since 'tis evident, The person that hath led me to this place, This fatal place, is the abus'd Antonio, Who has conspir'd with my unnatural brother To take away my wretched life, and chose This scene as fittest for their cruelty. And thus, strange fate! (through ignorance betray'd) I have sought protection from the same party Whom I have injur'd, and have made my husband The only confidant of his own affront: Who, to accomplish his too just revenge, As well upon my family as person, Gives me up to be murder'd by my brother; So, whilst I'm branded as a faithless bride, He'll be detested as a parricide. +Cam.+ Prodigious accident! but wert thou blind, Not to know thine own house, unhappy Porcia? +Por.+ Alas! how could I, in so dark a night, In such confusion, and so full of fear? Besides, he brought me in by the back-way, Through his own quarter, where was neither light, Nor any creature of the family. +Cam.+ Although I cannot comprehend the steps Of this your strange adventure, yet, dear cousin, Your case, as I conceive, is not so desperate. +Por.+ We easily persuade ourselves to hope The things we wish. But, cousin, my condition Will not admit self-flattery, and what Can you propose to temper my despair? +Cam.+ Don't you remember, how this afternoon Antonio's man, finding me in your quarter Without a veil, you having put on mine, That he applied himself to me, and I, By your command, assum'd your person? +Por.+ Yes, very well. +Cam.+ The master since has, by the man's mistake, Been happily led into the same error: I have not disabus'd him yet, in hopes It might produce advantage to us both. +Por.+ O, he has spoken with my brother since, Who (sure) has undeceiv'd him long e'er this. No, without doubt, they, having found themselves Affronted both, have both conspir'd my death. +Cam.+ How, cousin, can that be, if Don Antonio Has engag'd himself in your protection, And is Octavio's friend? +Por.+ Cousin, if you impartially reflect On the affront which I have done Antonio, You will not wonder much if he recede From the scarce-trodden path of rigid honour To meet with his revenge, and to that end Proceeds thus cautelously, still pretending He knows not me, that he may disavow, Both to Octavio and to all the world, Th' infamy of betraying a poor maid To loss of life and honour.