Ben. Denies them marriage!  Very good, sir.

Cam. More than this, he refuses access to any suitor, and immures them in a mean apartment on the garden side, where he barbarously debars them from all human society.

Ben. Uses them most barbarously!  Still better and better.

Cam. The younger of these sisters, Violetta, I have seen often in the garden, from the balcony in this chamber, which looks into it; have divers times shot tickets on the point of an arrow, which she has taken; and, by the signs she made me, I find they were not ill received.

Ben. I’ll tell you now, just such an amour as this had I once with a young lady, that—­

Aur. Quote yourself again, you rogue, and my feet shall renew their acquaintance with your buttocks.

Cam. Dear Benito, take care to convey this ticket to Violetta; I saw her just now go by to the next chapel:  be sure to stand ready to give her holy water, and slip the ticket into the hand of her woman Beatrix; and take care the elder sister, Laura, sees you not, for she knows nothing of our amour.

Ben. A word to the wise.  Have you no service to Laura? [To AUR.

Aur. None that I shall trouble you withal; I’ll see first what returns you make from this voyage, before I put in my venture with you.  Away; begone, Mr Mercury.

Ben. I fly, Mr Jupiter. [Exit.

Aur. This lady, Laura, I have seen from your balcony, and was seen by her.  Methought, too, she looked with a languishing eye upon me, as who should say, Are you a man, and have no pity for a poor distressed virgin?  For my part, I never found so much disposition in myself to love any woman at first sight.  Handsome she is; of that I am certain.

Cam. And has wit, I dare assure you; but I have not heard she has admitted of any gallantry.

Aur. Her hour is not come yet; she has not met with a man to love; when that happens, (as I am resolved to push my fortune) you shall see that, as her love warms, her virtue will melt down, and dissolve in it; for there’s no such bawd to a woman, as her own wit is.

Cam. I look upon the assignation as certain; will you promise me to go?  You and Benito shall walk in the garden, while I search the nymph within the shade.  One thing I had forgot to tell you, that our general of the church, the Duke of Mantua, and the prince his son, are just approaching the gates of Rome.  Will you go see the ceremony of their entrance?

Aur. With all my heart.  They say he has behaved himself gallantly against the French, at their return from Naples.  Besides, I have a particular knowledge of young prince Frederick, ever since he was last at our Venetian carnivals.

Cam. Away, then, quickly; lest we miss the solemnity. [Exeunt.