_Or._ What! is it such a crime to love? away---- Thy moral comes too late; thou shouldst have urg'd Thy scruple sooner, or not urg'd at all: Thou shouldst--alas! I know not what I say-- But this I know, the charming Julia loves me, Appoints a meeting at the dead of night! She loves! The rest is all beneath my care. _Ber._ Be circumspect; the hour is just at hand; Since all is ready for your purpos'd parting, See your attendants be dispos'd aright, Near the pavilion gate. _Or._ Why so? _Ber._ 'Tis plain Julia must be the partner of your flight: 'Tis what she means, you must not mind her struggles; A little gentle violence perhaps, To make her yield to what she had resolv'd, And save her pride; she'll thank you for it after. _Or._ Take her by force? I like not that: O Bertrand, There is a mutinous spirit in my blood, That wars against my conscience.--Tell my Julia I will not fail to meet her. _Ber._ I obey. Be near the garden: I shall soon return. [_Exit_ BERTRAND. _Or._ This giant sin, whose bulk so lately scar'd me, Shrinks to a common size; I now embrace What I but lately fear'd to look upon. Why, what a progress have I made in guilt! Where is the hideous form it lately wore? It grows familiar to me; I can think, Contrive, and calmly meditate on mischief; Talk temp'rately of sin, and cherish crimes I lately so abhorr'd, that had they once But glanc'd upon the surface of my fancy, I had been terrified. Oh, wayward conscience! Too tender for repose, to sear'd for penitence! [_Exit_ ORLANDO. _Scene changes to another part of the garden--A grand pavilion--The moon shining._ _Enter_ RIVERS _in a melancholy attitude_. _Riv._ Ye lovely scenes of long remember'd bliss! Scenes which I hop'd were fated to bestow Still dearer blessings in a beauteous bride! Thou gay pavilion, which art dress'd so fair To witness my espousals, why, ah! why Art thou adorn'd in vain? Yet still I haunt thee, For Julia lov'd thee once:--dear faithless Julia! Yet is she false? Orlando swore she was not: It may be so; yet she avoids my presence, Keeps close from every eye, but most from mine. _Enter_ ORLANDO. _Or._ Ha! Rivers here! would I had shunn'd his walks! How shall I meet the man I mean to wrong? _Riv._ Why does Orlando thus expose his health To this cold air? _Or._ I ask the same of Rivers? _Riv._ Because this solitude, this silent hour, Feeds melancholy thoughts, and soothes my soul. My Julia will not see me. _Or._ How? _Riv._ She denies me Admittance to her presence. _Or._ (_aside._) Then I'm lost, Confirm'd a villain; now 'tis plain she loves me. _Riv._ She will not pardon me one single fault Of jealous love, though thou hadst clear'd up all.