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Engrosses now your partial thoughts. And yet What may he boast which, in a lover's suit, I may not urge? He's brave, and so am I. In birth I am his equal; for my mother, As I shall prove, was married to Count Albert, My noble father, tho' for reasons tedious Here to be stated, still their secret nuptials Were unacknowledged, and on me hath fallen A cruel stigma which, degrades my fortunes. But were I—O forgive th' aspiring thought!— But were I Orra's Lord, I should break forth Like the unclouded sun, by all acknowledg'd As ranking with the highest in the land.

Or. Do what thou wilt when thou art Orra's Lord; But being as thou art, retire and leave me: I chuse to be alone.(Very proudly.)

Rud. Then be it so. Thy pleasure, mighty Dame, I will not balk. This night, to-morrow's night, and every night, Shall thou in solitude be left; if absence Of human beings can secure it for thee. It wears already on the midnight hour; Good night! (Pauses again, she still, more disturb'd.) Perhaps I understood too hastily Commands you may retract.

Or. (recovering her state.) Leave me, I say; that part of my commands I never can retract.