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398 WILLIAM CONGREVE [ACT II
This rountless sum of tenderness and love,
For which 1 stand engaged in this all-excellence:
Then bear me in a whirlwind to my fate,
Snatch me from life, and cut me short unwarned;
Then, then 'twill be enough!—I shall be old,
I shall have lived beyond all eras then
Of yet unmeasured time; when I have made
This exquisite, this most amazing goodness,
Some recompense of love and matchless truth.
Aim. Tis more than recompense to see thy face
If Heaven is greater joy, it is no happiness,
For 'tis not to be borne.—What shall I say?
I have a thousand things to know, and ask,
And speak.—That thou art here, beyond all hope,
All thought; that all at once thou art before me,
And with such suddenness hast hit my sight,
Is such surprise, such mystery, such ccstacy;
It hurries all my soul, and stuns my sense.
Sure from thy father's tomb thou didst arise.
Ojm. I did; and thou, my love, didst call me; thou.
Aim. True; but how earnest thou there; wert thou alone?
Osm. I was, and lying on my father's lead,
When broken echoes of a distant voice
Disturbed the sacred silence of the vault,
In murmurs round my head. I rose and listened,
And thought I heard thy spirit call Alphonso;
I thought I saw thee too; but oh, I thought not
That I indeed should be so blest to see thee!
Aim. But still, how earnest thou hither? how thus?—Ha!
What's he, who like thyself is started here
Ere seen?
Osm. Where? ha! what do I see? Antonio!
I'm fortunate indeed!—my friend too, safe!
HcK. Most happily, in finding you thus blessed.
Aim. More miracles! Antonio too escaped!
Osm. And twice escaped, both from the rage of seas
And war: for in the fight I saw him fall.
Heli. But fell unhurt, a prisoner as yourself,
And as yourself made free; hither I came
Impatiently to seek you, where I knew
Your grief would lead you, to lament Anselmo.
Osm. There arc no wonders, or else all is wonder.