Asca. Ay, ay, when the love is once come so far, that spiritual mind will never leave pulling, and pulling, till it has drawn the beastly body after it.

Fred. Well, madam, since I must confess it,—­though I expect to be laughed at, after my railing against love,—­I do love you all over, both soul and body.

Asca. Lord, sir, what a tigress have you provoked! you may see she takes it to the death, that you have made this declaration.

Hip. I thought where all her anger was:  Why do you not rail, madam?  Why do you not banish him? the prince expects it; he has dealt honestly, he has told you his mind, and you may make your worst on’t.

Luc. Because he does expect it, I am resolved, I’ll neither satisfy him nor you:  I will neither rail nor laugh:  Let him make his worst of that, now.

Fred. If I understand you right, madam, I am happy beyond either my deserts or expectation.

Luc. You may give my words what interpretation you please, sir; I shall not envy you their meaning in the kindest sense.  But we are near the jessamine walk, there we may talk with greater freedom, because ’tis farther from the house.

Fred. I wait you, madam. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.

  AURELIAN, with a dark lanthorn. CAMILLO and BENITO.

Cam. So, we are safe got over into the nunnery-garden; for what’s to come, trust love and fortune.

Aur. This must needs be the walk she mentioned; yet, to be sure, I’ll hold the lanthorn while you read the ticket.

Cam. [Reads.] I prepared this ticket, hoping to see you in the chapel:  Come this evening over the garden wall, on the right hand, next the Tiber.

Aur. We are right, I see.

Cam. Bring only your discreet Benito with you, and I will meet you
attended by my faithful Beatrix.
                                   VIOLETTA.

Ben. Discreet Benito!  Did you hear, sir?

Aur. Mortify thyself for that vain thought; and, without enquiring into the mystery of these words, which I assure thee were not meant to thee, plant thyself by that ladder without motion, to secure our retreat; and be sure to make no noise.

Ben. But, sir, in case that—­

Aur. Honest Benito, no more questions:  Basta is the word.  Remember, thou art only taken with us, because thou hast a certain evil daemon, who conducts thy actions, and would have been sure, by some damned accident or other, to have brought thee hither to disturb us.

Cam. I hear whispering not far from us, and I think ’tis Violetta’s voice.

Aur. [To BEN.] Retire to your post; avoid, good Satan.
          
                                                [Exit BEN.