_De la Cot._ What is the matter? Why do you stop?
_De la Cot._ Oh, Heaven! Mademoiselle Giannina! What an encounter! What do you advise me to do?
_Gas._ I do not know; any course is dangerous.
_De la Cot._ Why does she stop? Why does she not come in?
_De la Cot._ No; it is because you are here.
_De la Cot._ Have you the snuff-box? bring it.
_De la Cot._ Hear me! where are you going? Poor me! Gascoigne! [_Calls._]
_De la Cot._ Excuse me, I want my servant.
_Gian._ If yours is not here, there are others. Do you want any one?
_De la Cot._ No, I thank you; my trunk must be packed up.
_Gian._ And are you disturbed in this manner about so trifling an affair? do you fear there will not be time? Perhaps you are already expecting horses? If the air of this country is not favourable to your health, or rather if you are tired of us, I will myself hasten forward your departure.
_De la Cot._ Mademoiselle, have compassion on me; do not add to my suffering.
_Gian._ If I knew the cause of your suffering, instead of increasing, I would endeavour to diminish it.
_De la Cot._ Seek the cause in yourself; there is no need for me to tell you.
_De la Cot._ Yes, it is on your account that I am compelled to hasten my departure.
_Gian._ Have I become so odious in your sight?
_De la Cot._ Oh, Heaven! you never appeared to me so lovely; your eyes never beamed with so much tenderness.
_Gian._ Ah, were this true, you would not be so anxious to go.
_De la Cot._ If I loved only the beauty of your person, I should yield to the strength of my attachment, which bids me stay with you; but I love you for your virtues; I see your peace of mind is in danger, and in return for the kindness you have shown me, I mean to sacrifice the dearest hopes of my life.
_Gian._ I do not believe you have so little resolution as not to be able to control your passion, and you do me injustice if you think I cannot resist the inclinations of my heart. I own my love for you without a blush: this virtuous love, I feel, will never leave me, and I cannot persuade myself a man is less able than I am to sustain with glory the conflict of his passions. I can love you without danger; it is happiness enough for me to see you. You, on the contrary, by determining to depart, go in quest of more easy enjoyment, and show that your obstinacy prevails over your love. It is said hope always comforts the lover. He who will not use the means proves he cares but little for the end, and, if you go, you will still suffer the tortures of disappointed desire; you will act either with culpable weakness, or unfeeling indifference. Whatever cause hurries you away, go, proud of your resolution, but be at least ashamed of your cruelty.