The Works of Aphra Behn Volume I Part 86

This strange unusual something in my Soul, That pleads so movingly for _Silvio_ there; And makes me wish him not allied to me?

[A noise of rural Musick is heard within the Trees, as Pipes, Flutes, and Voices.

Hah! what pleasant Noise is this? sure 'tis i' the Air-- Bless me, what strange things be these!

Enter Swains playing upon Pipes, after them four Shepherds with Garlands and Flowers, and four Nymphs dancing an amorous Dance to that Musick; wherein the Shepherds make Love to the Nymphs, and put the Garlands on their Heads, and go out; the Nymphs come and lay them at _Cleonte's_ Feet, and sing.

1 Nymph. _Here at your Feet, we tribute pay, Of all the Glories of the May._

2 Nymph. _Such Trophies can be only due To Victors so divine as you,_

Both. _Come, follow, follow, where Love leads the way, To Pleasures that admit of no Delay._

1 Nymph. _Come follow to the amorous Shade, Covered with Roses, and with Jessamine._

2 Nymph. _Where the Love-sick Boy is laid, Panting for Love's charming Queen._

Both. _Come follow, follow, where we lead the way, To Pleasures that admit of no delay._ [Lead her out.

_The Scene changes to a fine Arbour, they leave her and vanish._

_Cleo._ I am all Wonder.

Enter _Silvio_ in rapture, not yet seeing _Cleonte_.

_Silv._ I'm all on Fire, till I enjoy my Sister; Not all the Laws of Birth and Nature Can hinder me from loving-- Nor is't just: Why should the charm of fair _Cleonte's_ Eyes, Me less than Aliens to her Blood surprize?

And why (since I love Beauty every where, And that _Cleonte_ has the greatest share) Should not I be allowed to worship her?

The empty Words of Nature and of Blood, Are such as Lovers never understood.

Prudence in love 'twere Nonsense to approve, And he loves most that gives a Loose to Love.

_Cleo._ _Silvio_ here!

_Silv._ Hah-- yonder she's! [Sees her.

And now my Pa.s.sion knows no Bounds, nor Laws.

_Cleonte_, come, come satisfy my Flame.

[Runs to her, and takes her pa.s.sionately by the hand.

These private Shades are ours, no jealous Eye Can interrupt our Heaven of Joy.

_Cleo._ What mean you? do you know I am your Sister?

_Silv._ Oh that accursed Name!-- why should it check me? [He pauses.

Wouldst thou had rather been some mis-begotten Monster, That might have startled Nature at thy Birth: Or if the Powers above would have thee fair, Why wert thou born my Sister?

Oh, if thou shouldst preserve thy Soul, and mine, Fly from this Place and me; make haste away, A strange wild Monster is broke in upon thee; A thing that was a Man, but now as mad As raging Love can make him.

Fly me, or thou art lost for ever.

_Cleo._ Remember, _Silvio_, that you are my Brother, And can you hurt your Sister? [Weeps.

_Silv._ Shouldst thou repeat those Ties a thousand times, 'Twill not redeem thee from the Fate that threatens thee.

Be gone, whilst so much Virtue does remain about me, To wish thee out of Danger.

_Cleo._ Sure, _Silvio_, this is but to try my Virtue.

[Weeps still.

_Silv._ No, look on my Eyes, _Cleonte_, and thou shalt see them flame with a strange wicked Fire.

[Looks wildly on her.

Yet do not look, thy Eyes increase it.

--Alas! [Turns away, and hides his Eyes.

And I shall still forget I am thy Brother: Go, go, whilst I have power to take my Eyes away, For if they turn again, it will be fatal.

_Cleo._ Pray hear me, Sir.

_Silv._ Oh, do not speak; thy Voice has Charms As tempting as thy Face; but whilst thou art silent and unseen, Perhaps my Madness may be moderate; For as it is, the best Effects of it Will prompt me on to kill thee.

_Cleo._ To kill me!

_Silv._ Yes; for shouldst thou live, adorn'd with so much Beauty, So much my Pa.s.sion is above my Reason, In some such fit as does possess me now I should commit a Rape, a Rape upon thee: Therefore be gone, and do not tempt Despair, That merciless rude thing, but save thy Honour, And thy Life.

_Cleo._ I will obey you, Sir. [Goes into the Garden.

_Silv._ She's gone-- and now [Walks, and talks in stopping.] my hot Fit abates-- she is my Sister-- that is, my Father's Daughter-- but-- what if his Wife deceiv'd him-- or perhaps-- (which is the likelier thing) my Mother play'd the false one-- for 'twas her Trade to do so-- and I'm not Son to _Ambrosio_-- Oh, that she were in being to confess this Truth, for sure 'tis Truth; then I might love, and might enjoy _Cleonte_-- enjoy _Cleonte_! [In transport.] Oh that Thought! what Fire it kindles in my Veins, and now my cold Fit's gone-- [Offers to go, but starts and returns.]

--No, let me pause a while-- For in this Ague of my Love and Fear, Both the Extremes are mortal-- [Goes into the Garden.

Enter _Ambrosio_ and _Marcel_.

_Amb._ I'm reconcil'd to you, since your Brother _Silvio_ would have it so.

_Mar._ My Blood flows to my Face, to hear him named.

_Amb._ Let there be no more Differences between you: But _Silvio_ has of late been discontented, keeps home, and shuns the Conversation which Youth delights in; goes not to Court as he was wont. Prithee, _Marcel_, learn thou the cause of it.

_Mar._ I do believe I shall, my Lord-- too soon. [Aside.

_Amb._ I'm now going to my _Villa_, and shall not return till Night; by the way I mean to visit your Wife, that was design'd to be, the rich _Flavia_, and see if I can again reconcile her to you; for your Neglect has been great, and her Anger is just.

_Mar._ I rather wish it should continue, Sir, for I have yet no Inclinations to marry.

_Amb._ No more, I'll have it so, if I can.

_Mar._ I'm silent, Sir. [Ex. _Ambrosio_ and _Marcel_.

Enter as from out of the Garden, _Cleonte_, _Clarinda_, _Francisca_, _Dormida_, from amongst the Trees, sadly; _Silvio_ who starts at sight of them.

_Cleo._ I am satisfied you knew not of my Brother's being in the Garden.

[To _Franc._

_Silv._ _Clarinda_ with my Sister! and in our House! she's very fair-- and yet how dull and blasted all her Beauties seems, when they approach the fair _Cleonte's_-- I cannot shun a tedious Compliment; to see the fair _Clarinda_ [Goes to _Clarinda_.] here, is a Happiness beyond my Hope; I'm glad to see her kind to the Sister, who always treated the Brother with so much Scorn and Rigour.

_Clar._ _Silvio_! sure I'm betray'd. [Aside.

[He talks to her.