The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iii Part 111

_Isil_. The Storm comes on, your Highness should avoid it.

_Phi_. Let him give place, I'll keep possession here.

_Isil_. It is the Prince's pleasure, Sir, you quit the Presence.

_Alcip_. No, this I call my Home; And since _Erminia's_ here that does ent.i.tle it so, I will not quit the Presence.

_Phi_. Gave thee a t.i.tle to't, _Alcippus_?

_Alcip_. Me, _Philander_!

[_They come to each other's breast, and so draw_.

_Phi_. Thee.

_Alcip_. Me, what dare you now?

_Phi_. I dare declare that I can hear no more; Be witness, Heaven, how justly I'm compell'd.

_Alcip_. Now, Sir, you are brave and love _Erminia_ too.

[_The Women run all away crying; they draw out some one way, and some another, leaving some their Veils behind them, some half off, half on_.

_Phi_. We are here not safe, these Women will betray us.

_Alcip_. Sir, 'tis a work that will soon be dispatcht, And this a place and time most proper for't.

[_A pa.s.s or two_. Fal. _peeps in and runs away.

Enter_ Pisaro, _runs between_.

_Pis_. Hold, Sir, are you grown desperate?

What means your Highness? [_To the_ Prince.

_Alcippus_, what is't you design in this?

_Alcip_. To fight, _Pisaro_, and be kill'd.

_Pis_. By Heaven, you shall not fight, unless with me, And you have so anger'd me with this rash action, I could almost provoke you to it.

_Enter_ Alcander.

_Alcan_. G.o.ds, Sir, that you should thus expose your self, The World's great Heir, against a desperate Madman!

_Pis_. Have you forgot your Apparition, Sir?

_Alcip_. Oh, 'twas an idle lying one, _Pisaro_, And came but to intrap me.

_To them_ Galatea, Aminta, _and_ Olinda.

_Gal_. Ah, Brother, why so cruel to your Sister?

_Phi_. Here, _Galatea_, punish my misfortune, For yet I want the will to injure thee.

Heaven knows what provocations I receiv'd E'er I would draw a Sword on him you lov'd.

_Gal_. Unjust _Alcippus_, how dost thou reward me?

_Alcip_. Ah, Madam, I have too much shame to live.

Had Heaven preserv'd my Innocence intire, That I with confidence might have ador'd you, Though I had been successless; Yet I had liv'd and hop'd, and aim'd to merit you: But since all hopes of that are taken from me, My Life is but too poor a Sacrifice, To make atonement for my Sins to you.

_Gal_. I will not answer thee to what thou hast said, But only beg thou wilt preserve thy life, Without which mine will be of little use to me.

_Alcip_. Might I without a sin believe this Blessing, Sure I should be immortal.

Falatio _peeps in again_.

_Fal_. I think I may venture, the fury is past, and the great shot spent, the mad Captain General's wounded; so, I hope 'twill let out some of his hot blood--

_Enter the_ King, Cleontius, _and Attendants_.

_King_. My Love, _Alcippus_, is despis'd I see, And you in lieu of that return you owe me, Endeavour to destroy me.

--Is this an Object for your Rage to work on?

Behold him well, _Alcippus_, 'tis your Prince.

--Who dares gaze on him with irreverend Eyes?

The good he does you ought to adore him for, But all his evils 'tis the G.o.ds must punish, Who made no Laws for Princes.

_Alcip_. Sir, I confess I'm culpable, And were it not a sin equal to that, To doubt you could forgive me, I durst not hope your mercy after it.

_King_. I think with all the Tenderness I'm guilty of, I hardly shall be brought to pardon thee.

_Phi_. I humbly beg you will forgive him, Sir, I drew him to it against his will; I forc'd him, And gave him language not to be indur'd By any gallant man.

_King_. Whilst you intreat for him, who pleads for you?

For you are much the guiltier of the two, And need'st a greater interest to persuade me.

_Alcip_. It were not just to contradict my Prince, A Prince to whom I've been so late a Traitor; But, Sir, 'tis I alone am criminal, And 'twas I, Justly I thought provok'd him to this hazard: 'Tis I was rude, impatient, insolent, Did like a Madman animate his Anger, Not like a generous Enemy.

Sir, when you weigh my Sorrows with this Action, You'll find no base Design, no Villany there; But being weary of a Life I hated, I strove to put it off, and missing that way, I come to make an offer of it here.

_King_. If I should take it, 'twere no more than just; Yet once again I will allow it thee, That thou mayst owe me for't a second time: Manage it better than the last I gave-- [_Ex_. King.

_Phi. Alcippus_, may I credit what thou'st said, Or do you feign repentance to deceive me?

_Alcip_. I never could dissemble at my best, And now methinks your Highness should believe me, When my despairs and little love to life Make me despise all ways that may preserve it.

_Phi_. If thou wouldst have me credit thee, _Alcippus_, Thou shouldst not disesteem a Life, which ought To be preserv'd, to give a proof that what thou say'st Is true, and dispossess me of those fears I have, That 'tis my Life makes thine displeasing to thee.

_Alcip_. 'Tis a high proof to give you of my Duty, Yet that's more ease to me than your Unbelief.

_Phi_. Let me embrace and thank thee for this goodness.