Por. If he who at your feet his heart would lay, Be met with first, and robbed upon the way, You may indeed the robber's strength accuse, But pardon him, who did the present lose.
Val. Who is this thief, that does my right possess? Name her, and then we of her strength may guess.— From whence does your unwonted silence come?
Por. She bound and gagged me, and has left me dumb.
Val. But of my wrongs I will aloud complain. False man, thou wouldst excuse thyself in vain; For thee I did a maiden's blush forsake; And owned a love thou hast refused to take.
Por. Refused it!—like a miser, midst his store, Who grasps and grasps, till he can hold no more; And when his strength is wanting to his mind, Looks back, and sighs on what he left behind.
Val. No, I resume that heart thou didst possess; My father shall my injuries redress: With me thou losest his imperial crown, And speedy death attends upon his frown.
Por. You may revenge your wrongs a nobler way; Command my death, and I will soon obey.
Val. No, live! for, on thy life my cure depends: In debtors' deaths all obligation ends: 'Twill be some ease ungrateful thee to call; And, bankrupt-like, say, trusting him lost all.
Por. Upbraided thus, what generous man would live! But fortune will revenge what you forgive. When I refuse, (as in few hours I must) This offered grace, your father will be just.
Val. Be just! say rather he will cruel prove, To kill that only person I can love. Yet so it is!—— Your interest in the army is so high, That he must make you his, or you must die. It is resolved! whoe'er my rival be, [Aside, after a pause.