had not been near
I might have pursued my ill.
He who at such timely hour
Helped me to resist the power
Of this fearful violence,
Will my humble innocence
Guard, whatever dangers lower.--
Livia, my cloak: whene'er
[Exit LIVIA.
Overwhelming griefs oppress,
I to holy church repair,
Where we secretly confess
The true faith.
[LIVIA returns with the cloak, which she places on JUSTINA.
LIVIA. 'Tis this you wear.

JUSTINA. There perchance I may appease
This strange fire that burns me so.

LYSANDER. I desire with thee to go.

LIVIA [aside]. I will breathe much more at ease
When they're out of the house, I know.

JUSTINA. Since I wholly trust to thee
Heaven, thy hold to me afford.
Save me....

LYSANDER. Come: so it may be.

JUSTINA. Since the cause is thine, O Lord!
Oh, defend Thyself and me!
[Exeunt JUSTINA and LYSANDER.

* * * * *

SCENE IX.

MOSCON and LIVIA.

MOSCON. Have they gone?

LIVIA. They're gone: all right.

MOSCON. Why, I'm almost dead with fright.

LIVIA. Were you of your sense bereft
When but now my room you left
And appeared before her sight?

MOSCON. Left your room? Be seen by her?
Why, I swear it, Livia dear,
Not one moment did I stir.

LIVIA. Who then was it she saw here?

MOSCON. Well, the devil, as I infer.
How know I? But then do not
Take it so to heart, my soul.

LIVIA. Oh! that's not the cause.
[She weeps.

MOSCON. Then what?

LIVIA. Such a question, when the whole
Of a day it was his lot
With me here locked up to stay?
For his comrade far away
Must I not a tear then shed,
Though I take this day instead,
Having wept not yesterday?
Would I have him think of me
As a woman who could be
So forgetful and so frail,
As for half a year to fail
In what we did both agree?

MOSCON. Half a year? It is above
One whole year since he went away.

LIVIA. Quite an error, as I'll prove.
Mind, I cannot count a day
When I Clarin could not love.
This being so, if I to thee
Gave up half the year (ah me!),
I would give a false amount
To place all to his account.

MOSCON. Ah, ungrat