e lay,
And mock'd the poor, undone, deceiv'd Ottilia!

_Caesa._ Estella? [_then aside_] Blest mistake!

_Otti._ What! didst thou hope
My rival's name unknown? Oh! well I know it,
Estella! cursed Estella! Still I'll shriek it
Piercing and loud, till Earth, and Air, and Ocean,
Ring with her name, thy guilt, and my despair.

_Caesa._ And need thy words, Ottilia, blame my falsehood?
Oh! in each feature of thy beauteous face
I blush to read reproaches far more keen.
Those glittering eyes, though now with lightnings armed,
Which erst were used to pour on blest Caesario
Kind looks, and fondest smiles, and tears of rapture;
That voice, by wrath untuned, once only breathing
Sounds like the ringdove's, amorous, soft, and sweet;
That snowy breast, now swelled by storms of passion,
But which in happier days by love was heaved,
By love for me!--The least of these, Ottilia,
Gives to my heart a deeper stab than all
Thy words could do, were every word a dagger.

_Otti._ Thou prince of hypocrites!

_Caesa._ Think'st thou I flatter!
Then trust thyself--[_leading her to a fountain._]
View on this watery mirror
Thine angel-form reflected--Lovely shade,
Bid this indignant fair confess, how vain
Estella's charms were to contend with thine!
And yet--oh madman! at Estella's feet
Breathing my vows, these eyes forgot these lips,
Than roses sweeter, redder--Oh! I'll gaze
No more, for gazing I detest myself.

_Otti._ This subtile snake, how winds he round my heart!
Oh didst thou speak sincerely.

_Caesa._ At thy feet,
Adored Ottilia! lo! I kneel repentant.
Couldst thou forgive--Vain man, it must not be.
Forgive the fool, who for a lamp's dull gleaming
Scorn'd the sun's noon-tide splendour? for a pebble
Who gave a diamond worth a monarch's ransom?
No, no, thou canst not.

_Otti._ Cannot? Oh Caesario,
Thou lov'st no longer, or thou ne'er couldst doubt
I can, I must forgive thee!----[_falling on his bosom_]

_Caesa._ Best Ottilia,
No seraph's song e'er bore a sweeter sound
Breathed in the ear of some expiring saint,
Than pardon from thy lips.

_Otti._ Those lips again
Thus seal it!----Yet to prove thy faith, I ask--

_Caesa._ What can Ottilia ask, and I deny?

_Otti._ The scarf you wear.----

_Caesa._ [_Starting._] Ottilia!

_Otti._ Well I know
It was Estella's gift. I'll therefore wear it,
And with her jealous pangs repay my own.
Give me that scarf.

_Caesa._ And can Ottilia wish
So mean a triumph?

_Otti._ Ha!