_Venoni._ Do I love thee? oh, heaven! thou, my soul! my life! best half of my existence! but come, let us quit this hated place-- let us away, and-- (_to Veronica_) nay, lady, shrink not at my approach: how you may answer to the viceroy, be that your care; but dread no reproaches from me! I shall respect that sacred habit, though you have felt for it so little reverence; I shall still remember your sex, though you seem yourself to have forgotten it. Give me the means to quit the convent-- furnish me with the portal key-- _Ve._ (_confused_) My lord-- the keys-- they shall be produced-- I have sent for them-- even now you saw a sister leave the chamber-- she returns-- I hear her-- speak! _Lucia_ returns. _Ve._ Have you found them? _Lu._ I have. _Venoni._ And where are they? The _prior_ rushes in followed by monks. _Pri._ Here! art thou found again, my fugitive? --seize him. _Jose._ Venoni! oh, Venoni! _Pri._ Tear them asunder. _Jose._ No, no! I will never leave him! while I have life, thus thus will I cling to him; if I must die, it shall be at his feet. (_they are forced asunder_) oh! cruel, cruel men! (_she sinks into the arms of the nuns-- Veronica is in the greatest agitation_) _Pri._ Away with him! (_he precedes; the monks, bearing Venoni, follow him_) Venoni, your death-hour has struck! Father _Michael_ rushes in followed by the _Viceroy_, &c. and grasps the prior’s arm. _Mi._ Tyrant, no; twas for thyself it sounded. The monks release Venoni, and the nuns Josepha; the lovers fall into each other’s arms-- at the same time the folding-doors are burst open, and the marquis, _Hortensia_, &c. enter. _Hor._ (_speaking without_) Where is she? where is the abbess? _Jose._ My mother’s voice? here, here! my mother, behold your Josepha at your feet. _Hor._ Powers of mercy! she lives, she lives! my Josepha! my joy my treasure! oh, can you forget-- _Jose._ Every thing, every thing-- except that I am still dear to you. _Vice._ Officers, you know your prisoners! remove them, their sight is painful, (_the prior is conducted away by the guards; Veronica is leading off when Josepha addresses her_) _Jose._ Lady-- you felt for me-- you pitied me; I too can pity and feel for you-- if I have influence, you shall find mercy. _Ve._ Josepha!-- angel, your prayers-- oh! pray for me: pray for me! [Exit with guards. _Venoni._ My joy-- my amazement-- but oh! let me fly to rescue-- follow me, my friends-- there is a poor old man-- a captive.---- _Vice._ Be calm, dear youth; Lodovico is in safety: in guiding us to your dungeon, this worthy friar discovered and released him. _Venoni._ My friend, my preserver! how can I reward---- _Vice._ If my power-- if my whole fortune can recompense----