The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iii Part 112

[_He offers to embrace him, but he is shy, and keeps a little off_.

Why dost receive me coldly? I'm in earnest; As I love Honour, and esteem thee generous, I mean thee nothing but a perfect Friends.h.i.+p; By all my hopes I've no more quarrels to thee, All ends in this Embrace, and to confirm it I give thee here my Sister to thy Wife.

_Alcip_. Your Pardon, Sir, I must refuse your bounty, till I know By what strange turn of Fate I came thus blest.

To you, my Prince, I've done unheard-of injuries, And though your Mercy do afford me life, With this rich present too; Till I could know I might deserve them both, That Life will prove a Plague, and this great Gift Turn to the torment of it.

_Phi. Alcippus_, 'tis not kind to doubt me still, Is this a present for a Man I hate?

_Alcip_. 'Tis true, Sir, and your bounty does amaze me; Can I receive a blessing of this magnitude With hands, yet have not wash'd away the sin Of your _Erminia's_ murder? think of that, Sir; For though to me it did appear most just, Yet you must hate the Man that has undone you.

_Gal_. I see _Erminia_ still usurps your thoughts.

_Alcip_. I must confess my Soul is scarce diverted Of that fond Pa.s.sion which I had for her; But I protest before the G.o.ds and you, Did she still live, and I might still possess her, I would refuse it, though I were ignorant Of what the G.o.ds and your fair self design me.

_Phi_. To doubt thee were a sin below my nature, And to declare my faith above my fear, Behold what I present thee with.

[_Goes out, and enters again with_ Erminia.

_Alcip_. Ha--_Erminia_? [_He looks afrighted_.

--It is the same appear'd to me last night, --And my deluded Fancy Would have persuaded me 'twas but a dream.

_Phi_. Approach her, Sir, 'tis no fantasm.

_Alcip_. 'Tis she her self, Oh G.o.ds, _Erminia_!

[_She goes a little back, as afraid, he kneels_.

--Ah, Madam, do not fear me in this posture, Which I will never quit till you have pardon'd me; It was a fault the most excusable, That ever wretched Lover did commit; And that which hinder'd me from following thee, Was that I could not well repent the Crime; But like a surly Sinner fac'd it out, And said, I thought 'twas just, yes, fair _Erminia_; Hadst thou been mine, I would i'th' face of Heaven, Proclaim it just and brave revenge: But, Madam, you were Wife to my Prince, And that was all my sin: Alas, in vain I hop'd for some return, And grew impatient of th'unkind delay, And frantickly I then out-run my happiness.

_Er_. Rise, I forgive thee, from my soul I do; Mayst thou be happier In thy more glorious Pa.s.sion for the Princess, And all the Joys thou e'er couldst hope from me, Mayst thou find there repeated.

_Enter_ King, Orgulius, _and the rest_.

_Org_. First, I'll keep my word with thee, Receive the welcome present which I promis'd.

[_Gives him_ Erminia, _she kneels_.

_Er_. Can you forgive the Griefs I've made you suffer?

_Org_. I can forgive, though 'twas not kind To let me languish in a desperate Error; Why was this Blessing hid from me alone?

_Er_. Ah, Sir, so well I knew you lov'd _Alcippus_, That had you known it e'er the Prince had own'd me, I fear you had restor'd me back again, A Sin too great to load your Soul withal.

_Org_. My King already has forgiven that Error, And now I come to make my Peace with thee, And that I may with greatest speed obtain it, --To you, Sir, I resign her with as much Joy, [_To the Prince_.

And when they undeceiv'd me Of my opinion of her being dead--

_Phi_. And I with greater Joy receive your gift.

[_Bows and takes her_.

_King_. My Lord _Alcippus_, are you pleas'd with this?

_Alcip_. Sir, I am so pleas'd, so truly pleas'd with it, That Heaven, without this Blessing on my Prince, Had found but little trouble from my thanks, For all they have shower'd on me; 'Twas all I wisht, next my Pretensions here.

_King_. Then to compleat thy happiness, Take _Galatea_, since her Pa.s.sion merits thee, As do thy Virtues her.

[_Gives him_ Gal. _they both bow_.

_Er_. Sir, I've an humble suit t'your Majesty.

_King_. Conclude it granted then.

_Er. Falatius_, Sir, has long made love t' _Isillia_, And now he'as gain'd her Heart, he slights the Conquest, Yet all the fault he finds is that she's poor.

_King. Isillia's_ Beauty can supply that want; _Falatius_, what d'ye say to't?

_Fal_. By _Jove_, Sir, I'll agree to any thing; for I believe a handsome young Wife at Court may bring a Man a greater Fortune than he can in Conscience desire.

[_Takes_ Isillia.

_Er. Aminta_, be persuaded. [_Aside to_ Am.

_Am_. He'd use me scurvily then.

_Alcan_. That's according as you behav'd yourself, _Aminta_.

_Am_. I should domineer.

_Alcan_. I then should make love elsewhere.

_Am_. Well, I find we shall not agree then.

_Alcan_. Faith--now we have disputed a point I never thought on before, I would willingly pursue it for the humour on't, not that I think I shall much approve on't.

_Pis_. Give him your hand, _Aminta_, and conclude, 'Tis time this haughty humour were subdu'd.

By your submission, whatsoe'er he seem, In time you'll make the greater Slave of him.

_Am_. Well--not from the hope of that, but from my Love, His change of humour I'm content to prove.

Here take me, _Alcander_; Whilst to Inconstancy I bid adieu, I find variety enough in you.

[_He takes her and bows_.

_King_. Come my brave Youths, we'll toil our selves with Joys, And when we're weary of the lazy play, We'll search abroad to find new Conquests out, And get fresh Appet.i.tes to new Delights: It will redouble your vast stock of Courage, And make th'uneasy Humour light and gentle; When you remember even in heat of Battle, That after all your Victories and Spoil, You'll meet calm Peace at home in soft Embraces.

Thus may you number out your happy years,

_Till Love and Glory no more proofs can give Of what they can bestow, or you receive_.

[_Exeunt_.

EPILOGUE,

By a Woman.