On thy resolve; it trembles at thy choice;
For his sake—love thyself. Example strikes
All human hearts; a bad example more; 2153
More still a father’s; that ensures his ruin.
As parent of his being, would’st thou prove
Th’ unnatural parent of his miseries,
And make him curse the being which thou gavest?
Is this the blessing of so fond a father?
If careless of Lorenzo! spare, oh! spare
Florello’s father, and Philander’s friend! 2160