The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Ii Part 10

_King_. Who frights our quiet Slumbers with this Noise?

_Enter_ Queen _and Women, with Lights_.

_Qu_. Was it a Dream, or did I hear the Sound Of Treason, call me from my silent Griefs?

_King_. Who rais'd this Rumour, _Abdelazer_, you?

_Abd_. I did, Great Sir.

_King_. Your Reasons.

_Abd_. Oh Sir, your Brother _Philip_, and the Cardinal, Both animated by a Sense of Wrongs, (And envying, Sir, the Fortune of your Slave) Had laid a Plot this Night, to murder you: And 'cause they knew it was my waiting Night, They wou'd have laid the Treason, Sir, on me.

_King_. The Cardinal, and my Brother! bring them forth, Their Lives shall answer it.

_Abd_. Sir, 'tis impossible: For when they found their Villany discover'd, They in two Friers Habits made escape.

_King_. That Cardinal is subtle, and ambitious, And from him _Philip_ learnt his dangerous Principles.

_Qu_. The Ambition of the one infects the other, And they are both too dangerous to live-- But might a Mother's Counsel be obey'd, I wou'd advise you, send the valiant Moor To fetch 'em back, e'er they can reach the Camp: For thither they are fled--where they will find A Welcome fatal to us all.

_King_. Madam, you counsel well; and, _Abdelazer_, Make it your Care to fetch these Traitors back, Not only for my Safety, and the Kingdom's, But as they are your Enemies; and th' envious World Will say, you made this story to undo 'em.

_Abd_. Sir, I'll obey; nor will I know repose, Till I have justify'd this fatal Truth.

[Abd. _goes to the_ Queen, _and talks to her_.

_King_. Mean time I will to my _Florella's_ Lodging, Silence, and Night, are the best Advocates [_Aside_.

To plead a Lover's Cause--_Abdelazer_--haste.

Madam, I'll wait on you to your Chamber.

_Abd_. Sir, that's my Duty.

_King_. Madam, good Night--_Alonzo_, to your rest.

[_Ex. all but_ Qu. _and_ Abd.

_Qu. Philip_ escap'd!

Oh, that I were upon some Desart Sh.o.a.r, Where I might only to the Waves and Winds Breathe out my Sense of Rage for this Defeat.

_Abd_. Oh, 'tis no time for Rage, but Action, Madam.

_Qu_. Give me but any Hopes of blest Revenge, And I will be as calm as happy Lovers.

_Abd_. There is a way, and is but that alone; But such a way, as never must be nam'd.

_Qu_. How! not be nam'd! Oh, swear thou hat'st me rather, It were a Torment equal to thy Silence.

_Abd_. I'll shew my Pa.s.sion rather in that Silence.

_Qu_. Kind Torturer, what mean'st thou?

_Abd_. To shew you, Madam, I had rather live Wrong'd and contemn'd by _Philip_, Than have your dearer Name made infamous.

_Qu_. Heavens! dost thou mock my Rage? can any Sin I could commit, undo my Honour more Than his late Insolence?

Oh, name me something may revenge that Shame: I wou'd encounter killing Plagues, or Fire, To meet it--Come, oh quickly give me ease.

_Abd_. I dare no more reveal the guilty Secret, Than you dare execute it when 'tis told.

_Qu_. How little I am understood by thee-- Come, tell me instantly, for I grow impatient; You shall obey me--nay, I do command you.

_Abd_. Durst you proclaim--_Philip_ a b.a.s.t.a.r.d, Madam?

_Qu_. Hah! proclaim my self--what he wou'd have me thought!

What mean'st thou?--

_Abd_. Instruct you in the way to your Revenge.

_Qu_. Upon my self thou meanest--

_Abd_. No-- He's now fled to th' Camp, where he'll be fortify'd Beyond our Power to hurt, but by this means; Which takes away his Hopes of being a King, (For he'd no other Aim in taking Arms) And leaves him open to the People's Scorn; Whom own'd as King, Numbers wou'd a.s.sist him, And then our Lives he may dispose, As he has done our Honours.

_Qu_. There's Reason in thy Words: but oh my Fame!

_Abd_. Which I, by Heaven, am much more tender of, Than my own Life or Honour; and I've a way To save that too, which I'll at leisure tell you.

In the mean time send for your Confessor, And with a borrow'd Penitence confess, Their Idol _Philip_ is a b.a.s.t.a.r.d; And zealously pretend you're urg'd by Conscience, A cheap Pretence to cozen Fools withal.

_Qu_. Revenge, although I court you with my fatal Ruin, I must enjoy thee: there's no other way, And I'm resolv'd upon the mighty Pleasure; He has profan'd my purer Flame for thee, And merits to partake the Infamy.

[_He leads her out_.

_Abd_. Now have at my young King-- I know he means to cuckold me to Night, Whilst he believes I'll tamely step aside-- No, let _Philip_ and the Cardinal gain the Camp, I will not hinder 'em-- I have a n.o.bler Sacrifice to make To my declining Honour, shall redeem it, And pay it back with Interest--well, then in order to't, I'll watch about the Lodgings of _Florella_, And if I see this hot young Lover enter, I'll save my Wife the trouble of allaying The amorous Heat--this--will more nimbly do't, [_s.n.a.t.c.hes out his Dagger_.

And do it once for all--

_Enter_ Florella _in her Night-Clothes_.

_Flor_. My _Abdelazer_--why in that fierce posture, As if thy Thoughts were always bent on Death?

Why is that Dagger out?--against whom drawn?

_Abd_. Or stay,--suppose I let him see _Florella_, And when he's high with the expected Bliss, Then take him thus--Oh, 'twere a fine surprize!

_Flor_. My Lord--dear _Abdelazer_.

_Abd_. Or say--I made her kill him--that were yet An Action much more worthy of my Vengeance.

_Flor_. Will you not speak to me? what have I done?

_Abd_. By Heaven, it shall be so.

_Flor_. What shall be so?

_Abd_. Hah--