ACT III.SCENE I.
Marcus and Portius.
THANKS to my stars, I have not rang'd about
The wilds of life, e'er I could find a friend;
Nature first pointed out my Portius to me,
And early taught me, by her secret force,
To love thy person, ere I knew thy merit:
'Till what was instinct grew up into friendship.
Por.Marcus the friendships of the world are oft
Confed'racies in vice, or leagues of pleasure;
Ours has severest virtue for its basis,
And such a friendship ends not but with life.
Marc.Portius, thou know'st my soul in all its weakness,
Then, pr'ythee, spare me on its tender side,
Indulge me but in love, my other passions
Shall rise and fall by virtue's nicest rules.
Por.When love's well-tim'd, 'tis not a fault to love.
The strong, the brave, the virtuous, and the wise,
Sink in the soft captivity together.
I would not urge thee to dismiss thy passion,
(I know 'twere'vain} but to suppress its force,
Till better times may make it look more graceful.
Marc. Alas, thou talk'st like one that never felt
Th' impatient throbs and longings of a soul,
That pants and reaches after distant good!
A lover does not live by vulgar time:
Believe me, Portius, in my Lucia's absence
Life hangs upon me, and becomes a burden;
And yet, when I behold the charming maid,
I'm ten times more undone; while hope and fear,
And grief, and rage, and love rise up at once,
And with variety of pain distract me.
Por. What can thy Portius do to give thee help?
