The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iii Part 85

MEN.

King, Mr. _Westwood_.

_Philander_, his Son, betrothed to _Erminia_, Mr. _Smith_.

_Alcippus_, Favourite, in love with _Erminia_, Mr. _Betterton_.

_Orgulius_, late General, Father to _Erminia_, Mr. _Norris_.

_Alcander_, Friend to the Prince, in love with _Aminta_, Mr. _Young_.

_Pisaro_, Friend to the young General _Alcippus_, Mr. _Cademan_.

_Falatius_, a fantastick Courtier, Mr. _Angel_.

_Labree_, his Man.

_Cleontius_, Servant to the Prince, and Brother Mr. _Crosby_.

to _Isillia_, Page to _Pisaro_.

WOMEN.

_Galatea_, Daughter to the King, Mrs. _Jennings_.

_Erminia_, Daughter to _Orgulius_, espous'd to the Mrs. _Betterton_.

Prince, _Aminta_, Sister to _Pisaro_, in love with _Alcander_, Mrs. _Wright_.

_Olinda_, Sister to _Alcander_, Maid of Honour to Mrs. _Lee_.

the Princess, _Isillia_, Sister to _Cleontius_, Woman to _Erminia_, Mrs. _Clough_.

_Lysette_, Woman to _Aminta_.

Clergy, Officers, Pages and Attendants.

_Scene within the Court of_ FRANCE.

ACT I.

SCENE I. _The Palace_.

_Enter_ King, Philander, Orgulius, Alcippus, Alcander, Pisaro, Cleontius, Falatius; _and Officers_.

_King_. How shall I now divide my Grat.i.tude, Between a Son, and one that has oblig'd me, Beyond the common duty of a Subject?

_Phil_. Believe me, Sir, he merits all your Bounty, I only took example by his Actions; And all the part o'th' Victory which I gain'd, Was but deriv'd from him.

_King_. Brave Youth, whose Infant years did bring us Conquests; And as thou grew'st to Man, thou grew'st in Glory, And hast arriv'd to such a pitch of it, As all the slothful Youth that shall succeed thee, Shall meet reproaches of thy early Actions: When Men shall say, thus did the brave _Alcippus_; And that great Name shall every Soul inspire With Emulation to arrive at something, That's worthy of Example.

_Alcip_. I must confess I had the honour, Sir, To lead on twenty thousand fighting Men, Whom Fortune gave the Glory of the Day to.

I only bid them fight, and they obey'd me; But 'twas my Prince that taught them how to do so.

_King_. I do believe _Philander_ wants no courage; But what he did was to preserve his own.

But thine the pure effects of highest Valour; For which, if ought below my Crown can recompense, Name it, and take it, as the price of it.

_Alcip_. The Duty which we pay your Majesty, Ought to be such, as what we pay the G.o.ds; Which always bears its Recompence about it.

_King_. Yet suffer me to make thee some return, Though not for thee, yet to incourage Bravery.

I know thy Soul is generous enough, To think a glorious Act rewards it self.

But those who understand not so much Virtue, Will call it my neglect, and want of Grat.i.tude; In this thy Modesty will wrong thy King.

_Alcippus_, by this pause you seem to doubt My Power or Will; in both you are to blame.

_Alcip_. Your pardon, Sir; I never had a thought That could be guilty of so great a Sin.

That I was capable to do you service, Was the most grateful Bounty Heaven allow'd me, And I no juster way could own that Blessing, Than to imploy the Gift for your repose.

_King_. I shall grow angry, and believe your Pride Would put the guilt off on your Modesty, Which would refuse what that believes below it.

_Phil_. Your Majesty thinks too severely of him; Permit me, Sir, to recompense his Valour, I saw the wonders on't, and thence may guess In some Degree, what may be worthy of it.

_King_. I like it well, and till thou hast perform'd it, I will divest my self of all my Power, And give it thee, till thou hast made him great.

_Phil_. I humbly thank you, Sir--

[_Bows to the_ King, _takes the Staff from_ Orgulius, _and gives it to_ Alcippus, _who looks amazedly_.

And here I do create him General.

You seem to wonder, as if I dispossess'd The brave _Orgulius_; but be pleas'd to know, Such Reverence and Respect I owe that Lord, As had himself not made it his Pet.i.tion, I sooner should have parted with my Right, Than have discharg'd my debt by injuring him.

_King_. _Orgulius_, are you willing to resign it?

_Org_. With your permission, Sir, most willingly; His vigorous Youth is fitter for't than Age, Which now has render'd me uncapable Of what that can with more success perform.

My Heart and Wishes are the same they were, But Time has quite depriv'd me of that power That should a.s.sist a happy Conqueror.

_King_. Yet Time has added little to your years, Since I restor'd you to this great Command, And then you thought it not unfit for you.

_Org_. Sir, was it fit I should refuse your Grace?

That was your act of Mercy: and I took it To clear my Innocence, and reform the Errors Which those receiv'd who did believe me guilty, Or that my Crimes were greater than that Mercy.

I took it, Sir, in scorn of those that hated me, And now resign it to the Man you love.

_King_. We need not this proof to confirm thy Loyalty; Nor am I yet so barren of Rewards, But I can find a way, without depriving Thy n.o.ble Head of its victorious Wreaths, To crown another's Temples.

_Org_. I humbly beg your Majesty's consent to't, If you believe _Alcippus_ worthy of it; The generous Youth I have bred up to Battles, Taught him to overcome, and use that Conquest As modestly as his submissive Captive, His Melancholy, (but his easy Fetters) To meet Death's Horrors with undaunted looks: How to despise the Hardships of a Siege; To suffer Cold and Hunger, want of Sleep.

Nor knew he other rest than on his Horse-back, Where he would sit and take a hearty Nap; And then too dreamt of fighting.

I could continue on a day in telling The Wonders of this Warrior.

_King_. I credit all, and do submit to you.

But yet _Alcippus_ seems displeas'd with it.

_Alcip_. Ah, Sir! too late I find my Confidence Has overcome my unhappy Bashfulness; I had an humbler Suit to approach you with; But this unlook'd for Honour Has soon confounded all my lesser aims, As were they not essential to my Being, I durst not name them after what y'have done.

_King_. It is not well to think my Kindness limited; This, from the Prince you hold, the next from me; Be what it will, I here declare it thine.

--Upon my life, designs upon a Lady; I guess it from thy blushing.

--Name her, and here thy King engages for her.

_Phi_. O G.o.ds!--What have I done? [_Aside_.

_Alcip_. _Erminia_, Sir.-- [_Bows_.