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Ay; it must be; necessity compels me. (Lays down the letter, then looking hastily about, snatches it up again.)

Surely I hear a stranger's voice approaching.

I'll drop it farther on, and watch my time,
When Don Henriquez may be sure to find it.
[Exit.

Enter Antonio and Mencia, speaking as they enter.

ANTONIO.

Forget thee, Mencia! Yes, I will forget thee

When means are found to make it possible.
Thine image, independent of my will,
Where'er I am, is with me; night and day
Before my fancy's eye it smiles or weeps;
Motions its arms as thou wert wont to do,
When distance barr'd our intercourse of words;
Is present with me more than present things,
And makes my wretched life a maniac's dream,
Lost and unprofitable.
Is there some potent spell to lay this sprite
That haunts me to my ruin? Vain, vain words!
Thou canst not be forgotten.

MENCIA.

Thou but deceiv'st thyself: there are two spells,

Absence and time, which have to many a lover
His peace restored. Fate has between us now