The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Ii Part 19

_Alon_. Sir, we attend your Answer.

_Qu_. 'Tis now near twenty Years, when newly married, (And 'tis the Custom here to marry young,) King _Philip_ made a War in _Barbary_, Won _Tunis_, conquer'd Fez, and hand to hand Slew great _Abdela_, King of _Fez_, and Father To this _Barbarian_ Prince.

_Abd_. I was but young, and yet I well remember My Father's Wound--poor _Barbary_--but no more.

_Qu_. In absence of my King I liv'd retir'd, Shut up in my Apartment with my Women, Suffering no Visits, but the Cardinal's, To whom the King had left me as his Charge; But he, unworthy of that Trust repos'd, Soon turned his Business into Love.

_Card_. Heavens! how will this Story end? [_Aside_.

_Qu_. A Tale, alas! unpleasant to my Ear, And for the which I banish'd him my Presence, But oh, the power of Gold! he bribes my Women, That they should tell me (as a Secret too) The King (whose Wars were finish'd) would return Without acquainting any with the time; He being as jealous, as I was fair and young, Meant to surprize me in the dead of Night: This pa.s.s'd upon my Youth, which ne'er knew Art.

_Card_. G.o.ds! is there any h.e.l.l but Woman's Falshood! [Aside.

_Qu_. The following Night I hasted to my Bed, To wait my expected Bliss--nor was it long Before his gentle Steps approach'd my Ears.

Undress'd he came, and with a vigorous haste Flew to my yielding Arms: I call'd him King, My dear lov'd Lord; and in return he breath'd Into my Bosom, in soft gentle Whispers, My Queen! my Angel! my lov'd _Isabella_!

And at that word--I need not tell the rest.

_Alon_. What's all this, Madam, to the Cardinal?

_Qu_. Ah, Sir, the Night too short for his Caresses, Made room for Day, Day that betray'd my Shame; For in my guilty Arms I found the Cardinal.

_Alon_. Madam, why did not you complain of this?

_Qu_, Alas, I was but young, and full of Fears; Bashful, and doubtful of a just Belief, Knowing King _Philip's_ rash and jealous Temper; But from your Justice I expect Revenge.

_Rod_. His Crime, my Lords, is Death, by all our Laws.

_Card_. Have you betray'd me by my too much Faith?

Oh shameless Creature, am I disarm'd for this?

Had I but so much Ease to be inrag'd, Sure I shou'd kill thee for this Treachery: But I'm all Shame, and Grief--By all that's holy, My Lords, I never did commit this Crime.

_Abd_. 'Tis but in vain, Prince Cardinal, to deny it.

_Qu_. Do not believe him, Lords;-- Revenge--let Sentence pa.s.s upon the Traitor.

_Card_. I own that Name with Horror, which you drew me to, When I betray'd the best of Men, and Princes; And 'tis but just you fit me for Despairs, That may instruct me how to follow him in Death: Yet as I'm Prince o'th' Blood, and Cardinal too, You cannot be my Judges.

_Abd_. You shall be try'd, Sir, as becomes your Quality.

_Osmin_, we commit the Cardinal to your Charge.

_Card_. Heaven! should I live to that! No, I have within me a private Shame, That shall secure me from the publick one.

_Alon_. A pretty turn of State!--we shall all follow, Sir.

_Card_. The Powers above are just: Thus I my Prince a Sacrifice first made, And now my self am on the Altar laid.

[_Ex_. Card, _guarded_.

_Abd_. Madam, retire, you've acted so divinely, You've fill'd my Soul with new admiring Pa.s.sion: I'll wait on you in your Apartment instantly, And at your Feet pay all my Thanks, and Love.

_Qu_. Make haste, my dearest Moor, whilst I retire, And fit my Soul to meet thy kind Desire.

[_Ex_. Queen _and her Train_; Leon, _advancing to follow, is staid by_ Abd.

_Abd_. Stay, beauteous Maid, stay, and receive that Crown, [_Leads her back_.

Which as your due, Heav'n and all _Spain_ present you with.

_Alon_. But granting _Philip_ is--that thing you call him, If we must grant him so, who then shall reign?

Not that we do not know who ought to reign, But ask who 'tis you will permit to do so. [_To_ Abd.

_Abd_. Who but bright _Leonora_! the Royal Off-spring Of n.o.ble _Philip_, whose Innocence and Beauty, Without th' advantage of her glorious Birth, Merits all Adoration.

_All_. With Joy we do salute her Queen.

_Abd_. Live _Leonora_! beauteous Queen of _Spain!

[Shout_.

_Alon_. From _Abdelazer_ this! it cannot be, At least not real. [_Aside_.

_Abd_. My Lords, Be it now your Care magnificently to provide Both for the Coronation, and the Marriage Of the fair Queen; Let nothing be omitted that may shew, How we can pay, where we so vastly owe.

[_Bows_.

_Alon_. I am much bound to _Spain_, and you, my Lords, For this great Condescenion.

_Leo_. My Lords, I thank ye all, And most the gallant Moor--I am not well-- [_Turns to Alon_.

Something surrounds my Heart so full of Death, I must retire to give my Sorrow Breath.

[_Ex_. Leo. _followed by all but_ Abd. _and_ Rod. _who looks on_ Abd.

_Rod_. Sir,--what have you done?

_Abd_. What every Man that loves like me shou'd do; Undone my self for ever, to beget One Moment's thought in her, that I adore her; That she may know, none ever lov'd like me, I've thrown away the Diadem of _Spain_-- 'Tis gone! and there's no more to set but this-- (My Heart) at all, and at this one last Cast, Sweep up my former Losses, or be undone.

_Rod_. You court at a vast Rate, Sir.

_Abd_. Oh, she's a G.o.ddess! a Creature made by Heaven To make my prosperous Toils all sweet and charming!

She must be Queen, I and the G.o.ds decree it.

_Rod_. Sir, is she not designed _Alonzo's_ Bride?

_Abd_. Yes, so her self and he have ill agreed; But Heav'n and I am of another Mind, And must be first obey'd.

_Rod. Alonzo_ will not yield his Interest easily.

_Abd_. Wou'd that were all my stop to Happiness; But, _Roderigo_, this fond amorous Queen Sits heavy on my Heart.

_Rod_. She's but a Woman, nor has more Lives than one.

_Abd_. True, _Roderigo_, and thou hast dealt in Murders, And knowest the safest way to--