_Or._ Hope you for joy? _Jul._ Have I not cause? Am I not lov'd by Rivers? Rivers, the best, the bravest of his sex! Whose valour fabled heroes ne'er surpass'd, Whose virtues teach the young and charm the old; Whose graces are the wonder of our sex, And envy of his own! _Or._ Enough! enough! O spare this prodigality of praise. But, Julia, if you would not here behold me Stretch'd at your feet a lifeless bloody corpse, Promise what I shall now request. _Jul._ What is it? _Or._ That till to-morrow's sun, I ask no longer, You will defer this marriage. _Jul._ Ah! defer it? Impossible; what would my Rivers think? _Or._ No matter what; 'tis for his sake I ask it: His peace, his happiness, perhaps his life Depends on what I ask. _Jul._ His life? the life of Rivers? Some dreadful thought seems lab'ring in your breast; Explain this horrid mystery. _Or._ I dare not. If you comply, before to-morrow's dawn All will be well, the danger past; then finish These--happy nuptials; but if you refuse, Tremble for him you love; the altar's self Will be no safeguard from a madman's rage. _Jul._ What rage? what madman? what remorseless villain? Orlando--will not you protect your friend? Think how he loves you--he would die for you-- Then save him, on my knees, I beg you save him-- [_Kneels._ Oh! guard my Rivers from this bloody foe. _Or._ Dearer than life I love him--ask no more, But promise, in the awful face of Heaven, To do what I request--and promise, further, Not to disclose the cause. _Jul._ Oh, save him! save him! _Or._ 'Tis to preserve him that I ask it: promise, Or see me fall before you. [_He draws the dagger, she still kneeling._ _Jul._ I do promise. Hide, hide that deadly weapon--I do promise. [_Rises._ How wild you look! you tremble more than I. I'll call my Rivers hither. _Or._ Not for worlds. If you have mercy in your nature, Julia, Retire. Oh, leave me quickly to myself; Do not expose me to the strong temptation Which now assaults me.--Yet you are not gone. _Jul._ Be more compos'd; I leave you with regret. (_As she goes out._) His noble mind is shaken from its seat! What may these transports mean? Heav'n guard my Rivers! (_As_ JULIA _goes out, enter_ BERTRAND; _he speaks behind_.) _Ber._ Why, this is well; this has a face; she weeps, He seems disordered.--Now to learn the cause, And then make use of what I hear by chance, As of a thing I knew. [_He listens._ _Or._ (_after a pause._) And is she gone? Her parting words shot fire into my soul; Did she not say she left me with regret? Her look was tender, and the starting tear Fill'd her bright eye; she left me with regret-- She own'd it too.