Scene Synopsis:

That night, Prince Patrius goes to the Levius garden where he finds Flavia under the silvery moonlight, adoring a sweet rose. He sneaks up on her and hears her own sweet eulogize for him. The prince is smitten and decides to exchange eternal vows of love to Flavia. Then, with them both blinded by the power of love, decides to make out.

ACT THREE, SCENE TWO: In the Levius garden

(Enter Prince, sneaking and Flavia, holding a rose)

Prince Patrius (hiding behind a lane wall): How her face defy all the stars illuminating throughout the inky sky! Just as daylight puts lamplight to shame—so would the brightness of her cheek put the celestial stars to ignominy. Her eyes in heaven would radiate such light that the birds would sing and think that it was not night. See how she caresses the rose in her own bosom! I wish I were a rose upon that hand so that I could touch her bosom, confessing my deep desires!

Flavia (caressing a rose): Oh Patrius, Patrius, why do you have to be Patrius? Turn your back on your father and your status. Or if you will not, swear that you love me and I will give up my noble class. It is only your rank that is my foe.

Prince Patrius (shows up): I believe what you say, my sweet honey. Just tell me that you love me, a love so profound you can bargain your life. If you will, I will alter my royal status.

Flavia (shocked): Ay, me! It’s you, dear Patrius, the only apple of my gem.

(Prince kisses Flavia with passion for about three minutes)

Flavia: One question looms—how did you get here? The king never allows you to be out strolling through the nights.

Prince Patrius: I use love’s light wings to fly over these orchard walls. High stalls cannot keep philosophical love out. Love can do many things, once it blossoms with passion within. So your fellow men are no thorn of obstacle to me, my dear rose.

Flavia: If the men see you, especially my mistress Portia, great catastrophe awaits us! God forbid our own clandestine defiance!

Prince Patrius: I deeply regret that there is more danger in your eyes than in thousands of the catastrophe’s occult. Your sweet face will mask me from their black hostility.

Flavia: My, I wouldn’t want Portia to find you here—I shall be beheaded because of my dirty conscience. Yet I would die happy if you by my side.

Prince Patrius: Oh, let them behead me, my sweet Flavia. The night is a cloak and I hide in its darkness. Unless you love me, my life isn’t worth anything. I asked Cupid for counsel and I showed him the way here. I don’t know the ways of the sea, but if you were on the farthest shore, I would venture forth to find you.

Flavia: I know my face is hidden by the night; otherwise, you would see me blush. The words you have overheard me speak tonight embarrasses me. I could have gladly behaved according to social rules and denied that I have said these things, but it is too late for polite behavior. Do you love me? I know you will say ‘yes’ and I will take you at your word and believe you. But you still might not be telling the truth. The ancient god Jove laughs when lovers lie. Oh, gentle Patrius, if you do love me, then hence tell it truthfully.

But if you think I am easily won, I will change my disposition and be difficult in order to make you court me properly. Of course, I would not do that under any other circumstances. In truth, I love you too much and am concerned that you might think my behavior unbecoming. But faith in me, for I will be more sincere in my love than those who pretend to be indifferent. I should have been more distant, I must confess, but you overhead me before I knew it.

Prince Patrius: I swear by the blessed moon which paints these fruit trees with silver—

Flavia: Oh, don’t swear by the fickle moon. The moon changes each month, my darling sweet. So don’t swear by the moon unless your love is going to be changeable, too.

Prince Patrius: Then, what shall I swear by, saccharine Flavia?

Flavia: Don’t swear at all. Or if you swear by anything, swear by your gracious self, because I idolize you. You are my god and I believe you more than I believe in Jesus.

Prince Patrius: I you feel this way—

Flavia: Well, do not swear. Although I enjoy you, I would not be pleased with a marriage contract tonight. It is too quick; we haven’t had a chance to consider what we are doing. It reminds me too much of lightning that disappears before you can say ‘look at the lightning’.

Prince Patrius: Will you leave me so unsatisfied?

Flavia: What more can you expect from me tonight?

Prince Patrius: Let us exchange vows of love, my dear precious. (Prince holds Flavia’s hand)

Flavia: Oh, you charming Patrius. (giggles and blushes) I gave you mine before you even asked for it. And yet I wish I could rotate the reckless time and give it to you again.

Prince Patrius: Would you take your vow back? That would be my nightmare.

Flavia: Just to be prodigal and give it to you again. The thing that I want is what I already have: your love. The gift of your love is as boundless as the sea, and the more I love you, the deeper my love becomes. The more I give it to you, the more I have, because my love and the sea are both infinite.

Prince Patrius: It is a thousand times worse to want you and be denied. Love is drawn to love as powerfully as schoolboys are repelled by their books. And when love leaves love it is with the same intensity schoolboys feel when they are forced to go to school.

Flavia: Oh, if I had the powerful voice of a falconer, I could call my falcon Patrius back again. But I dare not speak aloud because my mistress Portia and my father might hear and denounce my own humanity. Otherwise, I would find Echo in her cave and make her hoarse by making her repeat my Patrius’ lovely name.

(Patrius kneels to his knees)

Prince Patrius: Fair Flavia is my soul, and I hear my soul call my name. The voices of lovers make a silvery-sweet sound at night. It is soft music to the ears of those who listen.

Flavia: Oh, Patrius! I cannot bear my longing desire, my love. This is so heavy; my own heart can’t buy it and treasure it with my own.

Prince Patrius: Oh, let me release the burden that you are carrying right now. I would offer my whole life for you to feel blissful till the morning lark calls out the night.

Flavia: Oh, are you really that sweet my love? Then my face is too thick to let you burden yourself!

Prince Patrius: Afraid not to speak your deepest desires, my Flavia. We are concealed by the dark veil of the night. Many lovers confess their own here.

Flavia (blushes): Hence, I want to pleasure every piece of your fine manhood.

Prince Patrius: My love, I will subject my own body to you! This is the blessing that we have to share, to make our love known.

Flavia: Then you can take any control of my maiden’s body.

Prince Patrius: Gracious Mary! You are a maiden blessed with a body molded to sheer perfection! My deepest earthly desires are already tasting the sweetness of your body.

(Both hides in the rows of roses)

Prince Patrius (raspy whisper): Darling, forgive me if go beyond the limits. You are just too tempting!

Flavia: Oh, you completely bring me to absolute bliss!

Prince Patrius : Shall I go deeper, my love? For my love is far deeper than that.

Flavia: This is our night of desire that shall go beyond all the hostility of the others. Love conquers all, my prince.

Prince Patrius: Yes, that is indeed very much true, my precious.

(Exeunt)