_Aur._ O, 'tis a heinous malefactor, and is pressed by law, because it will confess nothing. Come, withdraw a little farther, we have urgent business with one another. _Lau._ 'Twere a shame to quit my ground upon the first charge; yet if you please to take a truce a little, I will consent to go behind the lovers, and listen with you. _Aur._ I wonder you deferred the proposition so long. I were neither true valet, nor you true woman, if we could not eves-drop. [_They retire behind the other two, who come forward upon the Stage._ _Cam._ [_Kissing_ VIOLETTA'S _hand._] Give me another yet, and then-- _Vio._ And then will you be satisfied? _Cam._ And then I'll ask a thousand more, and ne'er be satisfied. Kisses are but thin nourishment; they are too soon digested, and hungry love craves more. _Vio._ You feed a wolf within you. _Cam._ Then feast my love with a more solid diet. He makes us now a miser's feast, and we forbear to take our fill. The silent night, and all these downy hours, were made for lovers: Gently they tread, and softly measure time, that no rude noise may fright the tender maid, from giving all her soul to melting joys. _Vio._ You do not love me; if you did, you would not Thus urge your satisfaction in my shame; At best, I see you would not love me long, For they, who plunder, do not mean to stay. _Cam._ I haste to take possession of my own. _Vio._ Ere heaven and holy vows have made it so? _Cam._ Then witness, heaven, and all these twinkling stars-- _Vio._ Hold, hold, you are distempered with your love; Time, place, and strong desires, now swear, not you. _Cam._ Is not love love, without a priest and altars? The temples are inanimate, and know not What vows are made in them; the priest stands ready For his hire, and cares not what hearts he couples; Love alone is marriage. _Vio._ I never will receive these midnight vows: But when I come hereafter to your arms, I'll bring you a sincere, full, perfect bliss; Then you will thank me that I kept it so, And trust my faith hereafter. _Lau._ There is your destiny, lover mine: I am to be honest by infection; my lady will none, you see. _Aur._ Truth is, they are a lost couple, unless they learn grace by our example. Come, shall we begin first, and shame them both? [_Takes her by the hand again._ _Lau._ You will never be warned of this hand, Benito. _Aur._ Oh, it is so soft, as it were made on purpose to take hearts, and handle them without hurting! These taper fingers too, and even joints so supple, that methinks I mould them as they pass through mine: nay, in my conscience, though it be nonsense to say it, your hand feels white too. _Lau._ Methinks yours is not very hard, for a serving-man's. But where, in the name of wonder, have you learned to talk so courtly? You are a strange _valet de chambre_.