The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iii Part 101

_Alcip_. Ah, do not weep, a tear or two's enough For the Completion of your Cruelty, That when it fail'd to exercise your will, Sent those more powerful Weapons from your Eyes, And what by your severity you mist of, These (but a more obliging way) perform.

Gently, _Erminia_, pour the Balsam in, That I may live, and taste the sweets of Love.

--Ah, should you still continue, as you are, Thus wondrous good, thus excellently fair, I should retain my growing name in War, And all the Glories I have ventur'd for, And fight for Crowns to recompense thy Bounty.

--This can your Smiles; but when those Beams are clouded, Alas, I freeze to very Cowardice, And have not Courage left to kill my self.

_Er_. A Fate more glorious does that Life attend, And does preserve you for a n.o.bler end.

_Alcip. Erminia_, do not sooth my easy Heart, For thou my Fate, and thou my Fortune art; Whatever other blessings Heaven design, Without my dear _Erminia_, I'll decline.

Yet, Madam, let me hope before I go, In pity that you ought to let me do: 'Tis all you shall allow m'impatient heart.

_Er_. That's what against my will I must impart: But wish it please the G.o.ds, when next we meet, We might as Friends, and not as Lovers greet.

[_Exeunt_.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. _The Palace_.

_Enter_ Galatea _and_ Aminta, _met by_ Philander _and_ Alcander.

_Phi_. So hasty, Sister!

_Gal_. Brother, I am glad to meet you.

_Aminta_ has some welcome News for you.

_Am_. My Lord!

_Erminia_ yet is hardly brought to yield; She wants but some encouragement from you, That may a.s.sist her weakness to subdue, And 'twas but faintly she deny'd to see you.

_Phi_. However, I will venture, She can but chide, and that will soon be past: A Lover's Anger is not long to last.

_Am. Isillia_ I have won to give you entrance.

_Phi_. Love furnish me with powerful Arguments: Direct my Tongue, that my disorder'd Sense May speak my Pa.s.sion more than Eloquence. [_Aside_.

_Gal_. But is _Alcippus_ gone?

_Alcan_. Madam, an hour since.

_Phi_. 'Tis well; and Sister, Whilst I persuade _Erminia_ to this flight, Make it your business to persuade the King, Hang on his neck, and kiss his willing cheek: Tell him how much you love him, and then smile, And mingle Words with Kisses; 'twill o'ercome him Thou hast a thousand pretty Flatteries, Which have appeas'd his highest fits of Pa.s.sion: A Song from thee has won him to that rest, Which neither Toil nor Silence could dispose him to.

Thou know'st thy power, and now or never use it.

_Gal_. 'Twas thither I was going.

_Phi_. May'st thou be prosperous.

[_Exeunt_ Phi. _and_ Gal. Aminta _and_ Alcander _stay_.

_Am_. What now, _Alcander_?

_Alcan_. As 'twas, _Aminta_.

_Am_. How's that?

_Alcan_. Such a distracted Lover as you left me.

_Am_. Such as I found you too, I fear, _Alcander_.

_Alcan_. Ah, Madam, do not wrong me so; Till now I never knew the joys and sorrows That do attend a Soul in love like mine: My Pa.s.sion only fits the Object now; I hate to tell you so, 'tis a poor low means To gain a Mistress by, of so much wit: _Aminta_, you're above that common rate Of being won.

Mean Beauties should be flatter'd into praise, Whilst you need only Sighs from every Lover, To tell you who you conquer, and not how, Nor to instruct you what attracts you have.

_Am_. This will not serve to convince me, But you have lov'd before.

_Alcan_. And will you never quit that error, Madam?

_Am_. 'Tis what I've reason to believe, _Alcander_, And you can give me none for loving me: I'm much unlike _Lucinda_ whom you sigh'd for, I'm not so coy, nor so reserv'd as she; Nor so designing as _Florana_ your next Saint, Who starv'd you up with hope, till you grew weary; And then _Ardelia_ did restore that loss, The little soft _Ardelia_, kind and fair too.

_Alcan_. You think you're wondrous witty now, _Aminta_, But hang me if you be.

_Am_. Indeed, _Alcander_, no, 'tis simple truth: Then for your bouncing Mistress, long _Brunetta_, O that majestick Garb, 'tis strangely taking, That scornful Look, and Eyes that strike all dead That stand beneath them.

_Alcander_, I have none of all these Charms: But well, you say you love me; could you be Content to dismiss these petty sharers in your Heart, And give it all to me; on these conditions I may do much.

_Alcan. Aminta_, more perhaps than I may like.

_Am_. Do not fear that, _Alcander_.

_Alcan_. Your Jealousy incourages that Fear.

_Am_. If I be so, I'm the fitter for your humour.

_Alcan_. That's another reason for my fears; that ill-Luck owes us a spite, and will be sure to pay us with loving one another, a thought I dread. Farewel, _Aminta_; when I can get loose from _Ardelia_, I may chance wait on you, till then your own Pride be your Companion.

[_Holds him_.

_Am_. Nay, you shall not go, _Alcander_.

_Alcan_. Fy on't, those Looks have lost their wonted Force, I knew you'd call me back to smile upon me, And then you have me sure; no, no, Aminta, I'll no more of that. [_Goes out_.

_Am_. I have too much betray'd my Pa.s.sion for him, --I must recal it, if I can I must:-- I will--for should I yield, my power's o'erthrown, And what's a Woman when that glory's gone?

[_Exit_.

SCENE II. _The Apartments of_ Alcippus.