The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iii Part 105

--I will not speak with him.

_Page_. My Lord, he's here.

[Page _goes out_.

_Enter_ Pisaro.

_Pis_. Not speak with me! nay then I fear the worst.

_Alcip_. Not for the world, _Pisaro_--

[_Hides his face with his hand_, Pis. _sees_ Erminia.

_Pis_. Thy guilt is here too plain, I need not read it in thy blus.h.i.+ng face, She's dead and pale: Ah, sweet _Erminia_!

_Alcip_. If she be dead, the fitter she's for me, She'll now be coy no more, nor cry I cannot love, And frown and blush, when I but kiss her hand: Now I shall read no terror in her Eyes, And what is better yet, shall ne'er be jealous.

_Pis_. Why didst thou make such haste to be undone?

Had I detain'd thee but an hour longer, Thou'dst been the only happy of thy s.e.x.

--I knew thou didst dissemble when we parted, And therefore durst not trust thee with thy Pa.s.sions: I only staid to gather from my Sister What news I might concerning your affairs, Which I with joy came to impart to you, But most unfortunately came too late: Why didst thou yield obedience to that Devil, Which urg'd thee to destroy this Innocent?

_Alcip. Pisaro_, do not err; I found the Prince and she alone together, He all disorder'd like a Ravisher, Loose and unb.u.t.ton'd for the amorous play; O that she had another Life to lose!

_Pis_. You wrong her most inhumanly, you do; Her Blood, yet sensible of the injury, Flows to her face to upbraid thy Cruelty.

--Where dost thou mean, bad Man, to hide thy head?

Vengeance and Justice will pursue thee close, And hardly leave thee time for Penitence.

--What will the Princess say to this return You've made to all the offers she has sent This Night by Prince _Philander_?

_Alcip_. Oh, when you name the Princess and _Philander_, Such different Pa.s.sions do at once possess me, As sink my over-laden Soul to h.e.l.l.

--Alas, why do I live? 'tis losing time; For what is Death, a pain that's sooner ended Than what I felt from every frown of hers?

--It was but now that lovely thing had Life, Could speak and weep, and had a thousand Charms, That had oblig'd a Murder, and Madness't self To've been her tame Adorers.

Yet now should even her best belov'd, the Prince, With all his Youth, his Beauties and Desires, Fall at her Feet, and tell his tale of Love, She hardly would return his amorous Smiles, Or pay his meeting Kisses back again; Is not that fine, _Pisaro_?

_Pis_. Sir, 'tis no time to talk in, come with me, For here's no safety for a Murderer.

_Alcip_. I will not go, alas I seek no Safety.

_Pis_. I will not now dispute that vain reply, But force you to security.

[Pisaro _draws him out, the Scene closes_.

SCENE VII. _The Palace_.

_Enter_ Philander, Alcander, Galatea, Aminta, _and_ Falatius.

_Fal_. Ah, fly, Sir, fly from what I have to tell you.

_Alcan_. What's the news?

_Fal_. Ah, Sir, the dismal'st heavy news that e'er was told or heard.

_Gal_. No matter, out with it.

_Fal. Erminia_, Madam--

_Phi. Erminia_, what of her?

_Fal_. Is dead, Sir.

_Alcan_. What, hast thou lost thy Wits?

_Fal_. I had them not about me at the sight, I else had been undone: Alas, _Erminia's_ dead, Murder'd, and dead.

_Alcan_. It cannot be, thou ly'st.

_Fal_. By _Jove_, I do not, Sir, I saw her dead: Alas, I ran as I was wont to do, Without demanding licence, to her Chamber, But found her not, as I was wont to do, [_The Women weep_.

In a gay humour, but stone-dead and cold.

_Phi. Alcander_, am I awake?--or being so, Dost not perceive this senseless Flesh of mine Hardened into a cold benumbed Statue?

--Methinks--it does--support me--or I fall; And so--shall break to pieces-- [_Falls into his Arms. He leads him out_.

_Gal_. Ah, lovely Maid, was this thy destiny?

Did Heaven create thy Beauties to this end?

--I must distrust their Bounties, who neglected The best and fairest of their handy-work; This will incourage Sin, when Innocence Must perish thus, and meet with no defence.

_Enter the_ King _and_ Orgulius.

_Org_. If murder'd Innocence do cry for Justice, Can you, great Sir, make a defence against it?

_King_. I think I cannot.

_Org_. Sir, as you are pious, as you are my King, The Lover and Protector of your People, Revenge _Erminia's_ Murder on _Alcippus_.

_Gal_. If e'er my Mother, Sir, were dear to you, As from your Tears I guest whene'er you nam'd her; If the remembrance of those Charms remain, Whose weak resemblance you have found in me, For which you oft have said you lov'd me dearly; Dispense your mercy, and preserve this Copy, Which else must perish with th'Original.

_King_. Why all this Conjuration, _Galatea_?

_Gal_. To move you, Sir, to spare _Alcippus'_ Life.

_King_. You are unjust, if you demand a Life Must fall a Sacrifice to _Erminia's_ Ghost, That is a debt I have ingag'd to pay.

_Gal_. Sir, if that Promise be already past, And that your Word be irrevocable, I vow I will not live a moment after him.

_King_. How, _Galatea_! I'd rather hop'd you'd join'd Your Prayers with his.

_Gal_. Ah, Sir, the late Pet.i.tion which I made you Might have inform'd you why these Knees are bow'd; 'Twas but this night I did confess I lov'd him, And you would have allow'd that Pa.s.sion in me, Had he not been _Erminia's_: And can you question now what this Address meant?