_Em._ I might retort the charge, my lord Orlando! I _might_ enquire how the lov'd friend of Rivers, Whom he has held deep-rooted in his heart, Beyond a brother's dearness, sav'd his life, And cherish'd it, when sav'd, beyond his own;---- I _might_ enquire, why, when this Rivers comes, After long tedious months of expectation, Alive, victorious, and as firm in friendship As fondness could have wish'd or fancy feign'd; I _might_ enquire why thus Orlando shuns him---- Why thus he courts this melancholy gloom, As if he were at variance with delight, And scorn'd to mingle in the general joy? _Or._ Oh, my fair monitress! I have deserv'd Your gentle censure. Henceforth I'll be gay. _Em._ Julia complains, too, of you. _Or._ Ah! does Julia? If Julia chides me, I have err'd indeed; For harshness is a stranger to her nature. But why does she complain? O tell me wherefore? That I may soon repair the unwilling crime, And prove my heart at least ne'er meant to wrong her. _Em._ Why so alarm'd? _Or._ Alarm'd! _Em._ Indeed you seem'd so. _Or._ Sure you mistake. Alarm'd! oh, no, I was not; There was no cause--I could not be alarm'd Upon so slight a ground. Something you said, But what I know not, of your friend. _Em._ Of Julia? _Or._ That Julia was displeas'd----was it not so? 'Twas that, or something like it. _Em._ She complains That you avoid her. _Or._ How! that I avoid her? Did Julia say so? ah! you have forgot-- It could not be. _Em._ Why are you terrified? _Or._ No, Not terrified--I am not--but were those Her very words? you might mistake her meaning; Did Julia say Orlando shunn'd her presence? Oh! did she, could she say so? _Em._ If she did, Why this disorder? there's no cause. _Or._ No cause? O there's a cause of dearer worth than empire! Quick let me fly, and find the fair upbraider; Tell her she wrongs me, tell her I would die Rather than meet her anger. [EMMELINA _faints_. Ah, she faints! What have I said? curse my imprudent tongue! Look up, sweet innocence! my Emmelina---- My gentle friend, awake! look up, fair creature! 'Tis your Orlando calls. _Em._ Orlando's voice! Methought he talk'd of love--nay, do not mock me; My heart is but a weak, a very weak one! I am not well--perhaps I've been to blame. Spare my distress: the error has been mine. [_Exit_ EMMELINA.