_Jose._ No, lady, no! even in the depth of your subterraneous dungeon, one comfort still is mine, and never will forsake me: tis the consciousness that my sufferings are transitory, but that my reward will be eternal; tis the consciousness of an hereafter! tis this which supports me during all my daily sorrows; tis this which irradiates all my nightly dreams. Then this poor wretched globe with all its crimes and all its follies rolls away from before me: then all seems fair, and pure, and glorious: cherubs shed the roseate lustre of their smiles upon my stony couch, and guardian saints encourage me to suffer with patience, to hope, and to adore!-- such are my dreams: now, lady, paint if you dare, the visions which you behold in your own. _Ve._ She tortures my heart; her reproaches fire my brain-- I can endure them no longer-- remove her! away! _Jose._ (_kneeling_) Oh! drive me not from you! pity me! protect me! save me!-- _Ve._ I cannot! I dare not! take her from my sight, and-- and for ever! _Jose._ (_rising_) For ever? no, cruel woman; do not hope it! listen to these sighs; look upon these tears! in your gayest happiest moments, such sighs shall scare away delight; when you lift to your lips the cup of pleasure, you shall find the draught embittered by such tears; and when that hour arrives which you dread so justly, a form like mine shall stand beside your pillow and a voice like mine shall shriek in your ear-- “Welcome, murderess! welcome, to that grave, to which you sent me!” _Ve._ Insupportable! away with her! she kills me! _Jose._ Oh! let me stay yet a few moments more! let me gaze but a little longer on the lovely, friendly, blessed light! let me still hear a human voice, even though it threaten me; let me still look upon a human face, even though it be the face of an enemy; (_the nuns endeavour to force her away_) mercy! mercy! help me-- aid me! _Venoni_ rushes in by a side door. _Venoni._ Who shrieks for help-- for mercy! I-- I will give them! (_Veronica and nuns utter a cry of surprise_) _Ve._ Ah! a stranger? _Jose._ (_bursting from the nuns with a violent effort_) Tis he! tis he himself! save me, Venoni! oh! save me, save me! (_she rushes to throw herself into his arms, and sinks fainting at his feet._) _Ve._ Venoni, betrayed, undone! Lucia! (_she whispers Lucia._) _Venoni._ She knows me! look up, look up, unfortunate! I will protect you! I will preserve you, and-- Josepha! tis Josepha! speak to me, Josepha! oh! speak to your Venoni! _Ve._ But one moment is still ours-- (_to Lucia_) fly! hasten! (_Lucia goes off by the door through which Venoni enters._) _Venoni._ The monsters! the barbarians! oh! my beloved, how have the wretches made you suffer. _Jose._ Suffer! oh say but that you love me still, all, all will be forgotten.