The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iv Part 85

--_Semernia_--Words but poorly do express the Griefs of parting Lovers--'tis with dying Eyes, and a Heart trembling--thus-- [Puts her Hand on his Heart.

they take a heavy leave;--one parting Kiss, and one Love pressing sigh, and then farewel:--but not a long farewel; I shall return victorious to thy Arms--commend me to the G.o.ds, and still remember me.

[Exit.

_Queen._ Alas! What pity 'tis I saw the General, before my Fate had given me to the King--But now--like those that change their G.o.ds, my faithless Mind betwixt my two Opinions wavers; while to the G.o.ds my Monarch I commend; my wandring Thoughts in pity of the General makes that Zeal cold, declin'd--ineffectual.--If for the General I implore the Deities, methinks my Prayers should not ascend the Skies, since Honour tells me 'tis an impious Zeal.

_Which way soever my Devotions move, I am too wretched to be heard above._ [Goes in.

[All exeunt.

SCENE II. _Shows a Field of Tents, seen at some distance through the Trees of a Wood, Drums, Trumpets and the noise of Battel, with hollowing. The _Indians_ are seen with Battel-Axes to retreat fighting from the _English_, and all go off; when they re-enter immediately beating back the _English_, the _Indian King_ at the head of his Men, with Bows and Arrows; _Daring_ being at the head of the _English_: They fight off; the Noise continues less loud as more at distance._

Enter _Bacon_ with his Sword drawn, meets _Fearless_ with his Sword drawn.

_Fear._ Haste, haste, Sir, to the Entrance of the Wood, _Daring's_ engaged past hope of a Retreat, venturing too far, pursuing of the Foe; the King in Ambush, with his poison'd Archers, fell on, and now we are dangerously distrest.

_Bac._ _Daring_ is brave, but he's withal too rash, come on and follow me to his a.s.sistance-- [Go out.

[A hollowing within, the Fight renews; enter the _Indians_ beaten back by _Bacon_, _Daring_ and _Fearless_; they fight off; the noise of Fighting continues a while, this still behind the Wood.

Enter _Indians_ flying over the Stage, pursued by the _King_.

_King._ Turn, turn, ye fugitive Slaves, and face the Enemy; Oh Villains, Cowards, deaf to all Command: by Heaven, I had my Rival in my view, and aim'd at nothing but my conquering him--now like a Coward I must fly with Cowards, or like a desperate Madman fall, thus singly, midst the numbers.

[Follows the _Indians_.

Enter _Bacon_ inraged with his Sword drawn, _Fearless_ and _Daring_ following him.

_Bac._ --Where is the King, oh ye perfidious Slaves? how, have you hid him from my just Revenge?--search all the Brakes, the Furzes and the Trees, and let him not escape on pain of Death.

_Dar._ We cannot do wonders, Sir.

_Bac._ But you can run away.--

_Dar._ Yes, when we see occasion--yet--shou'd any but my General tell me so--by Heaven, he should find I were no starter.

_Bac._ Forgive me, I'm mad--the King's escaped, hid like a trembling Slave in some close Ditch, where he will sooner starve than fight it out.

Re-enter _Indians_ running over the Stage, pursued by the _King_, who shoots them as they fly; some few follow him.

_King._ All's lost--the Day is lost--and I'm betray'd;--Oh Slaves, that even Wounds can't animate.

[In Rage.

_Bac._ The King!

_King._ The General here! by all the Powers, betray'd by my own Men!

_Bac._ Abandon'd as thou art, I scorn to take thee basely; you shall have Soldiers chance, Sir, for your Life, since Chance so luckily has brought us. .h.i.ther; without more Aids we will dispute the Day: This Spot of Earth bears both our Armies Fates; I'll give you back the Victory I have won, and thus begin a-new on equal Terms.

_King._ That's n.o.bly said!--the Powers have heard my Wish. You, Sir, first taught me how to use a Sword, which heretofore has served me with Success: But now--'tis for _Semernia_ that it draws, a Prize more valued than my Kingdom, Sir--

_Bac._ Hah, _Semernia_!

_King._ Your Blushes do betray your Pa.s.sion for her.

_Dar._ 'Sdeath, have we fought for this, to expose the Victor to the conquer'd Foe?

_Fear._ What, fight a single Man--our Prize already.

_King._ Not so, young Man, while I command a Dart.

_Bac._ Fight him! by Heaven, no reason shall dissuade me, and he that interrupts me is a Coward; whatever be my Fate, I do command ye to let the King pa.s.s freely to his Tents.

_Dar._ The Devil's in the General.

_Fear._ 'Sdeath, his Romantick Humour will undo us.

[They fight and pause.

_King._ You fight as if you meant to outdo me this way, as you have done in Generosity.

_Bac._ You're not behind-hand with me, Sir, in courtesy: Come, here's to set us even-- [Fight again.

_King._ You bleed apace.

_Bac._ You've only breath'd a Vein, and given me new Health and Vigour by it.

[They fight again, Wounds on both sides, the _King_ staggers; _Bacon_ takes him in his Arms; the _King_ drops his Sword.

How do you, Sir?

_King._ Like one--that's hovering between Heaven and Earth; I'm--mounting--somewhere--upwards--but giddy with my flight,--I know not where.

_Bac._ Command my Surgeons,--instantly--make haste; Honour returns, and Love all bleeding's fled. [Ex. _Fearless_.

_King._ Oh, _Semernia_, how much more Truth had thy Divinity than the Predictions of the flattering Oracles! Commend me to her--I know you'll--visit--your fair Captive, Sir, and tell her--oh--but Death prevents the rest.

[Dies.

Enter _Fearless_.

_Bac._ He's gone--and now, like _Caesar_, I could weep over the Hero I my self destroyed.

_Fear._ I'm glad for your repose I see him there--'twas a mad hot-brain'd Youth, and so he died.

_Bac._ Come bear him on your Shoulders to my Tent, from whence with all the solemn State we can, we will convey him to his own Pavilion.

Enter a _Soldier_.

_Sold._ Some of our Troops pursuing of the Enemy even to their Temples, which they made their Sanctuary, finding the Queen at her Devotion there with all her _Indian_ Ladies, I'd much ado to stop their violent Rage from setting fire to the holy Pile.

_Bac._ Hang 'em immediately that durst attempt it, while I my self will fly to rescue her.

[Goes out, they bear off the _King's_ Body; Ex. all.