+Don O.+ Here, take my tablets, Flora: sure, they'll spare Thy life for thy sex's sake; but for poor Diego---- +Diego.+ Why, sir, they'll never offer to kill me? There's nothing in the world I hate like death. +Don O.+ Since death's the passage to eternity, To be for ever happy we must die. +Diego.+ 'Tis very true; but most that die would live, If to themselves they could new leases give. +Don O.+ We must possess our souls with such indifference, As not to wish nor fear to part from hence. +Diego.+ The first I may pretend to, for I swear I do not wish to part: 'tis true, I fear. +Don O.+ Fear! why, death's only cruel when she flies, And will not deign to close the weeping eyes. +Diego.+ That is a cruelty I can forgive, For I confess I'm not afraid to live. +Don O.+ We shall still live, though 'tis by others' breath-- By our good fame, which is secur'd by death. +Diego.+ But we shall catch such colds, sir, under ground, That we shall never hear Fame's trumpet sound. +Don O.+ 'Tis but returning, when from hence we go, As rivers to their mother-ocean flow. +Diego.+ We know our names and channels whilst w' are here; W' are swallow'd in that dark abyss when there. +Don O.+ Engulf'd in endless joys and perfect rest, Unchangeable, i' th' centre of the bless'd. +Diego.+ Hark, I hear a noise-- [_The noise of the opening of a door. +Diego+ runs to the door, looks into the next room, then comes running to +Octavio+._ +Diego.+ O sir, w' are lost! I sea two female giants Coming most terribly upon us. +Don O.+ Away, you fearful fool---- _Enter +Camilla+ and +Porcia+, the one with a key, the other with a candle._ +Por.+ I'm confident nobody saw us pass From th' other house. +Cam.+ However, let us go through my brother's quarter, And open the back-door into the street; 'Tis good in all events t' have a retreat More ways than one. [_A door claps behind, and both look back._ +Por.+ O heavens, our passage is cut off! The wind has shut the door through which we came. +Cam.+ The accident's unlucky: 'tis a spring lock, That opens only on the other side. +Por.+ Let's on the faster, and make sure of th' other-- [_Seeing +Octavio+, she starts._ Octavio here! [_+Octavio+ hearing them, starts up._ +Don O.+ Porcia in this place! may I trust my senses, Or does my fancy form these chimeras? +Diego.+ Either we sleep, and dream extravagantly, Or else the fairies govern in this house. [_+Flora+ runs to +Porcia+._ +Flo.+ Ah, dearest mistress! you shall never make me Quit you so again. +Por.+ But can that be Octavio?