_Aur._ He lives, blest News! Do then rash Actions speak your Love to me? Must I in publick bear with your Insults Before I'm yours? what must I then expect When the strict Ties of Marriage shall confirm Your jealous Passions? No, you have taught me to avoid the Shelf I was just running on----know, base _Alonzo_, That from this Moment I resume my Freedom, I disengage you from your former Vows, And will henceforth be Mistress of myself. _Alon._ Ha---- [_Aside._ This sudden Coldness has another Spring Than my rash Carriage----Oh! my jealous Fears; But I'm resolv'd to trace her winding Thoughts, And fetch the Secret forth---- Madam, I hope you do but try my Love: I cannot think _Aurelia_ would be false. Besides, you can't recal what's register'd in Heaven. _Aur._ Then stay till we come there----There you'll have Witness. _Alon._ Witness! Oh! faithless, perjur'd Woman, can'st thou think Upon thyself, and bid me call my Witness? Yes, you are mine----By all the Gods you are. And shall there be a Power on this Side Heaven, To stop my Bliss? No----by my Love I swear. I now can guess at your perfidious Meaning, And tho' that cowardly Villain slily thought To blind me with a Tale his Guilt had fram'd, 'Tis plain he is your Minion----yet wants Courage To own his Treachery. _Aur._ Detracting, slanderous Villain! How dare you treat me thus? Oh! for the Look of a fierce Basilisk, To punish this audacious Insolence! _Alon._ Marry thee! No----by Heavens, I'd rather Be rack'd to Death----And for thy vile Injustice, None shall enjoy thee, while this Sword is mine. [_Lays hold on his Sword._ Nor shall your Lover 'scape, to serve your Lust, Till he has forc'd a Passage thro' this Breast. [_Points to his Breast._ _Aur._ Oh! my _Bassino_. [_Aside._ Oh! cruel Man! Are not you then contented To wreak your Spite on poor _Aurelia_? Why must your Rage involve the Innocent? Oh! let me fall your Passion's Sacrifice; Let my Blood wash the Stain you fix on me, But do not blast your Name with base Revenge.---- _Alon._ By Heaven! she doats on him! Oh! cunning Woman! But this Pretence won't serve to save his Life; I'll not be caught again----No, _Syren_, no. _Bassino_ dies----Nor will I leave to Fortune The vengeful Stroke, but take a safer Way. _Aur._ Oh! Heaven! [_Kneels._ What Words shall I invent to soothe his Rage, [_Aside._ And save my dear _Bassino_? Oh! _Alonzo_. My once-lov'd Dear, will you not hear me speak? Oh! I conjure you by our plighted Loves, Whose Purity outshone the Stars above, Hear me this Time, then use me as you please. _Alon._ Oh! Woman, Woman!