_R._ And if thou hast dreamed thou hast loved another, ’Tis no impediment: for first this man, 3030 Whom thou hast honoured is my nearest friend; And not to have loved him were to have disregarded The only part of me thou ever knewest. But him, for very lack of loving rightly Thou hast much mistaken and wronged, and, as I think, Now for misunderstanding bearest ill-will. _D._ I bear him no ill-will, your grace. _R._ Nor me? _D._ But what you have done? _R._ Love can excuse me all. What woman judges by proprieties The man who would die for her, and who without her Regards not life? Passion atones my fault. 3041 _D._ Your only excuse is your offence. _R._ ’Tis thus: If I am not pardoned, I am not loved; but if I am loved, I am pardoned. If thou sayst to me I never knew thee, but I know thee now, And like thee not: thy three years’love for me I count for nothing, thy devotion nothing, Thy misery nothing: thy adventure here I set against thee; and the hour thou goest I shall lose nothing: If thou canst say this, 3050 Speak ... and I promise To turn away for ever. Is that thy mind? _D._ Is’t possible? _R._ What possible? _D._ Thy-—-truth. _R._ My love? Nay, love’s a miracle, a thing That cannot be where it seems possible, And where ’tis most incredible is most worth Our credit. _D._ That is true. _R._ That thou didst doubt Was worthy of the greatness of my love. But now I claim thy faith. Thou mayst believe, Thou must believe. Indeed, indeed, Diana, 3060 Thou mayst believe. Look’st thou to find love strong? I have heavenly security:—devoted? I have no self but thee:—patient? I plead Three years of patience:—humble? I was content To be thy servant:—wise? I knew thee better Than thou thyself; I knew that thou must love: Or is love tender?—See my childish tears Crowd now to hear my sentence. _D._ Ah, this were love, If it were só. _R._ Diana, it is so. There is nought to-day in all the world but this, I love thee. 3071 _D._ Alas! how was I wrong! Sir, sir! Thou bringst me, or at least thou seemst to bring me, The gift of God. Whether it be so or no How can I tell? ’Twould wrong it—nay I cannot Take it in haste. I cannot. I understand. Nay, leave me. I know not what to say ... your blind Attachment, is’t not cured? _R._ Cure all but that By my acceptance. (_kneels._) I am thy true lover, Thy only lover. Bid me rise beloved. _D._ Hush, some one comes. Rise! rise! 3080 _R._ Thy hand! ’tis mine, ’tis mine. (_Kisses it and rises._) _Enter St. Nicholas with Gregory. Frederick and Laura following._ _ST. NICHOLAS._