Deceit. Curs'd, curs'd dissembling Men! Their flattering Tongues Can feign a Passion that will look like Love, Till by Degrees they get us in their Power; Then with bold Impudence they draw the Vizor, And shew the Cheat that mock'd our credulous Hopes. Faithless Bassino, How oft you swore your Love could ne'er expire: How oft you swore one Smile of mine had Charms, Even above the Glories of a Crown. Those were the Oaths I fondly did believe; Those Words convey'd a Poison to my Heart, And even now I feel its mighty Force: My Head turns giddy, and my trembling Knees Betray their sinking Burden—— Alas! I faint, I die—— —— —— —— [She faints, Bassino runs and embraces her. Bass. Oh! stay, my Love, my Life, my Soul, my all: The Conflict's past, and I am thine again, But she is breathless! Oh! ye rigorous Gods, Give back her Soul, or let my own be plung'd To dark Elysium——Oh! my dear Aurelia! [Hugs her. —— [Hugs her. Arm. Is this your Resolution? By Heaven, I blush To call you Friend. Your Wife, my Lord, remember Your Wife—— —— Bass. Curse on that Name—— Urge me no more to follow your Chimeras, Lest you oblige me to break off that Friendship You blush to own——Oh! my Aurelia! —— —— Arm. aside. How sweet is treacherous Vice! how eagerly Fond Man pursues his Ruin! All Arguments were vain——yet still one Way remains, Which cannot fail, to stop the Progress of this impious Love. His Wife, by my Direction, comes to Venice: Her Sight will soon awake his slumbering Virtue, At least it will retrieve Aurelia's Senses. [Exit Armando. —— [Exit Armando. Aur. recovering. Where am I? Where's my Lord, my false Bassino?
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