_Or._ Oh, Bertrand! For pity do not hate me: but thou must; For am I not at variance with myself? Yet shall I wrong her gentle trusting nature, And spurn the heart I labour'd to obtain? She loves me, Bertrand; oh, too sure she loves me; Loves me with tenderest, truest, chastest passion; Loves me, oh, barbarous fate! as I love--Julia. _Ber._ Heard I aright? Did you not speak of Julia? Julia, the lovely ward of my good uncle? Julia! the mistress of your friend, of Rivers? _Or._ Go on, go on, and urge me with my guilt; Display my crime in all its native blackness: Tell me some legend of infernal falsehood, Tell me some dreadful tale of perjur'd friends, Of trust betray'd, of innocence deceiv'd: Place the dire chronicle before my eyes; Inflame the horror, aggravate the guilt,-- That I may see the evils which await me; Nor pull such fatal mischiefs on my head, As with my ruin must involve the fate Of all I love on earth. _Ber._ Just as I wish. [_Aside._ _Or._ Thou know'st I left my native Italy, Directed hither by the noble Rivers, To ease his father's fears, who thought he fell In that engagement where we both were wounded: His was a glorious wound, gain'd in the cause Of gen'rous friendship; for an hostile spear, Aim'd at my breast, Rivers in his receiv'd, Saved my devoted life, and won my soul. _Ber._ So far I knew; but what of Emmelina? _Or._ Whether her gentle beauties first allur'd me, Or whether peaceful scenes and rural shades, Or leisure, or the want of other objects, Or solitude, apt to engender love, Engag'd my soul, I know not; but I lov'd her. We were together always, till the habit Grew into something like necessity. When Emmelina left me I was sad, Nor knew a joy till Emmelina came; Her soft society amus'd my mind, Fill'd up my vacant heart, and touch'd my soul: 'Twas gratitude, 'twas friendship, 'twas esteem, 'Twas reason, 'twas persuasion,--nay, 'twas love. _Ber._ But where was Julia? _Or._ Oh, too soon she came: For when I saw that wondrous form of beauty, I stood entranc'd, like some astronomer, Who, as he views the bright expanse of heaven, Finds a new star. I gaz'd and was undone; Gaz'd, and forgot the tender Emmelina; Gaz'd, and forgot the gen'rous, trusting Rivers; Forgot my faith, my friendship, and my honour. _Ber._ Does Julia know your love? _Or._ Forbid it, heaven! What! think'st thou I am so far gone in guilt As boldly to avow it? Bertrand, no; For all the kingdoms of the spacious earth I would not wrong my friend, or damn my honour. _Ber._ Trust me, you judge too hardly of yourself.