love!

_Pri._ What say you my son?

_Venoni._ (_passionately_) I say, that one is love! and I say the truth!
father, I have engaged to renounce the world, to descend alive into the
tomb; but I have not engaged to forget that I had, that I still have,
a heart; that that heart is broken; that it burns, and will burn till it
ceases to beat, with a passion which heaven cannot blame, since it was
an angel who inspired it! I have told you, that her image would
accompany me even to the altar's foot; I have told you that I would give
up the world, but would never give up her; her who exists no longer
except in this sad heart, this heart, where she shall never cease to
exist-- till I do!

_Vice._ Dear unfortunate youth!

_Venoni._ Unfortunate, say you? oh, no! the day of misfortune, the day
of despair was that when I heard the death-bell sound, and they told
me-- twas for her! when I asked for whom was that funeral bier, and they
told me-- twas for her! but from that hour I ceased to suffer. It's
true, my heart-- all there is a devouring fire-- my brain-- all there is
confusion and clouds: but that fire, it was she who first kindled it!
but among these gloomy clouds, she is the only object which I still
perceive distinctly-- she is there, near me, always there; I see her,
I speak to her, she replies to me-- oh! judge then, my friend, whether
with justice I can be called unfortunate! (_sinking into the viceroy's
arms_)

_Mar._ Two victims! Hortensia, two victims! one has already perished,
and the other--

_Hor._ (_greatly affected_) Oh! spare me, my husband! could I have
forseen-- never, never shall I cease to reproach myself--

_Pri._ My daughter, this trial is too severe for sensibility like yours.
Let me entreat you, retire, and compose your mind!

_Hor._ You are right, father; you shall be obeyed. Venoni-- farewell,
Venoni! (_going_)

_Venoni._ (_starting forward with a frantic look, and grasping her by
the arm_) Hold! you must not leave me yet! first tell me, why was the
marriage so long delayed? why were your orders given, that Josepha
should not see me at the convent? answer me-- I will be answered!

_Pri._ My son, my son! you will make me repent that I allowed this
interview-- let us retire!

_Venoni._ (_violently_) No, no, no! I will stay here-- here (_with
affection, and embracing the marquis_) with my father. (_returning to
Hortensia_) Answer me!

_Hor._ (_terrified_) Venoni! for heaven's sake! have mer