_Pla._ My Lord, let not my Presence here disturb you, I doubt your Love no more, and to convince you, I will go back before 'tis known I'm here. Besides, 'tis fit I should prepare all things To welcome you at home. _Bass._ (_aside._) Blest Opportunity! Fortune I thank thee: Would my Dear then leave me So very soon? Alas! 'twill be an Age E'er I return to _Turin_: Three long Days! No, my Dear, no; I will not part from thee, At least this Night, my Love---- _Pla._ Will then _Armando_ stay? _Bass._ No, my best Hopes, he instantly departs With Letters to my Prince. _Pla._ Then suffer me to go this very Moment. Three Days will soon be o'er, and your Return, Shall make me fully blest----If I should stay 'Twould look like base Distrust, and I can't think _Bassino_ would be false---- _Bass._ (_aside._) Oh! Heaven that I were not! _Arm._ Indeed, my Lord, I think you're truly happy. Scarce does any Age produce so good a Wife. _Bass._ Oh! that I could reward this wondrous Goodness! _Pla._ My Lord, what makes you sigh? _Bass._ To part from thee: But since 'tis your Desire, It shall be so. _Armando_, to thy Charge I here commit the Treasure of my Soul, Take Care of her, and think that on her Safety My Life depends. _Arm._ My Lord, I hope you do not doubt my Care. _Bass._ Dear Friend, I do not---- May Heaven's Blessings still attend my Love, My dear _Placentia_. [_Embraces, and goes to lead her off._ _Pla._ As many more guard my _Bassino_. _Bass._ (_aside._) A sudden Horror seizes all my Limbs: I tremble at the Thought of this base Deed---- [_Pulls out his Handkerchief and drops a Letter, which_ Armando _takes up_. Ha----Tears uncall'd for bathe my guilty Eyes---- Gods! either give me Virtue to withstand This impious Love, or Courage to pursue it Without Remorse; for I'm but half a Villain. [_Exeunt_ Bassino, Placent. _Arm. opens the Letter._ A Letter! and to _Aurelia_! now Curiosity prompts me to know the Subject----What's here? Reads. _I have dispatch'd_ Armando _to the Court of_ Savoy, _and found Pretence to stay behind_---- False treacherous Man! _This Night I give a Mask at my Lodgings, which, I hope, will divert_ Alonzo, _till the Priest has joined our Hands; and while all the Company are engaged in Mirth, I'll steal to the dear Arms of my divine_ Aurelia. Oh! Villain, Villain! Monstrous Villain! Oh! poor _Placentia_! But I will prevent His Policy, and break his wicked Measures. [_Exit_ Armando. SCENE II. Pizalto's _Lodgings_. _Enter_ Pizalto _solus_.