_Y. Book._ Sir, do but hear me--[_Pushing away_ LAT. _Lat._ I'll easily convince you--[_Pushing away_ BOOK. _Y. Book._ Pray mind him not, his brain is touched-- _Lat._ I am the man, he was not near the place---- _Love._ I can hold out no longer.--Lovemore still lives to adore your noble friendship, and begs a share in't. Be not amazed! but let me grasp you both, who, in an age degenerate as this, have such transcendent virtue-- _Y. Book._ Oh, Lovemore! Lovemore! how shall I speak my joy at thy recovery-- I fail beneath the too ecstatic pleasure. What help has human nature from its sorrows, When our relief itself is such a burthen? _O. Book._ Oh, the best burthen upon earth!--I beg your pardon, sir--I never was so taken with a man in my life at first sight. [_Kisses_ LOVE.] Let me be known to you too. [_To_ LAT. _Lat._ Sir, you do me honour. _O. Book._ But you, ladies, are the first cause of the many errors we have been in, and you only can extricate us with satisfaction. Such is the force of beauty. The wounds the sword gave this gentleman were slight, but you've transfixed a vital and a noble part--his heart. Had I known his pretences, I had not interposed for my son. _Fred._ Come, madam, no more of the cruel--go on, Lovemore; o' my conscience, the man's afraid 'tis impudence to be alive again. You see him now, madam; now you may press his livid lips, and call him back to life with your complaints. _Love._ I stand, methinks, on the brink of fate, in an ambiguous interval of life, and doubt to accept of being till you smile. In every human incident besides I am superior, and can choose or leave; But in minutest things that touch my love, My bosom's seized with anguish or with transport. _Pen._ You've shown your passion to me with such honour that if I am confused, I know I should not be, to say I approve it; for I know no rules should make me insensible of generous usage. My person and my mind are yours for ever. _Love._ Then doubts, and fears, and anxious cares be gone, All ye black thoughts that did corrode my breast; Here enter faith, and confidence, and love! Love that can't live with jealousy, but dwells With sacred marriage, truth, and mutual honour. I knew not where you would bestow your vows, But never doubted of your faith when given. [_Kissing her hand._ _O. Book._ You see, my son, how constancy's rewarded! You have from nature every quality To make you well become what fortune gave you; But neither wit nor beauty, wealth nor courage, Implicitly deserve the world's esteem; They're only in their application good. How could you fight a man you knew not why? You don't think that 'tis great merely to dare? 'Tis that a man is just he should be bold. Indeed you've erred. _Lat._ You give my friend, methinks, too much compunction for a little levity in his actions--when he's too severe in his own reflections on 'em. _Pen._ Well, Victoria, you see I take your advice at last in choice of Lovemore.