Leo. You urge this thing too far, and do me wrong. The Sentiments I have for you are much more favourable than your Jealousy suffers 'em to appear. But if my Heart has seem'd to lean another way, before you had a Title to it, you ought not to conclude I shall suffer it to do so long.
Don Ped. I know you have Virtue, Gratitude and Truth; and therefore 'tis I love you to my Ruin. Cou'd I believe you false, Contempt would soon release me from my Chains, which yet I can't but wish to wear for ever: therefore indulge at least your Pity to your Slave; 'tis the soft Path in which we tread to Love. I leave behind a tortur'd Heart to move you:
Weigh well its Pains, think on its Passion too, }
Remember all its Torments spring from you; }
And if you cannot love, at least be true. }
[Exit Don Pedro.
Jacin. Now by my troth, Madam, I'm ready to cry. He's a pretty Fellow, and deserves better Luck.
Leo. I own he does: And his Behaviour wou'd engage any thing that were unengag'd. But, alas! I want his Pity more than he does mine.
Jacin. You do! Now I'm of another Mind. The Moment he sees your Picture, he's in love with you; the Moment he's in love with you, he imbarks; and, like Lightning, in a Moment more, he's here: Where you are pleas'd to receive him with a Don Guzman, I am yours. Ah——poor Man!
Leo. I own, Jacinta, he's unfortunate, but still I say my Fate is harder yet. The irresistible Passion I have for Guzman, renders Don Pedro, with all his Merit, odious to me; yet I must in his favour, make eternal War against the Strength of Inclination and the Man I love.
Jac. [Aside.] Um——If I were in her Case, I cou'd find an Expedient for all this Matter. But she makes such a Bustle with her Virtue, I dare not propose it to her.