The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iii Part 117

_Doct_. I am of that opinion, Sir; Man was not made for Woman.

_Char_. Most certain, Sir, Man was to have been immortaliz'd by the Love and Conversation of these charming Sylphs and Nymphs, and Women by the Gnomes and Salamanders, and to have stock'd the World with Demi-G.o.ds, such as at this Day inhabit the Empire of the Moon.

_Doct_. Most admirable Philosophy and Reason!--But do these Sylphs and Nymphs appear in Shapes?

_Char_. The most beautiful of all the Sons and Daughters of the Universe: Fancy, Imagination is not half so charming: And then so soft, so kind! but none but the _Caballa_ and their Families are blest with their divine Addresses. Were you but once admitted to that Society--

_Doct_. Ay, Sir, what Virtues or what Merits can accomplish me for that great Honour?

_Char_. An absolute abstinence from carnal thought, devout and pure of Spirit; free from Sin.

_Doct_. I dare not boast my Virtues, Sir; Is there no way to try my Purity?

_Char_. Are you very secret?

_Doct_. 'Tis my first Principle, Sir.

_Char_. And one, the most material in our _Rosycrusian_ order.--Please you to make a Tryal?

_Doct_. As how, Sir, I beseech you?

_Char_. If you be thorowly purg'd from Vice, the Opticles of your Sight will be so illuminated, that glancing through this Telescope, you may behold one of these lovely Creatures, that people the vast Region of the Air.

_Doct_. Sir, you oblige profoundly.

_Char_. Kneel then, and try your strength of Virtue. Sir,--Keep your Eye fix'd and open. [_He looks in the Telescope_.

[_While he is looking_, Charmante _goes to the Door to_ Scaramouch, _who waited on purpose without, and takes a Gla.s.s with a Picture of a Nymph on it, and a Light behind it; that as he brings it, it shews to the Audience. Goes to the end of the Telescope_.

--Can you discern, Sir?

_Doct_. Methinks, I see a kind of glorious Cloud drawn up--and now, 'tis gone again.

_Char_. Saw you no Fuger?

_Doct_. None.

_Char_. Then make a short Prayer to _Alikin_, the Spirit of the East; shake off all earthly Thoughts, and look again.

[_He prays_. Charmante _puts the Gla.s.s into the Mouth of the Telescope_.

_Doct_.--Astonish'd, ravish'd with Delight, I see a Beauty young and Angel-like, leaning upon a Cloud.

_Char_. Seems she on a Bed? then she's reposing, and you must not gaze.

_Doct_. Now a Cloud veils her from me.

_Char_. She saw you peeping then, and drew the Curtain of the Air between.

_Doct_. I am all Rapture, Sir, at this rare Vision--is't possible, Sir, that I may ever hope the Conversation of so divine a Beauty?

_Char_. Most possible, Sir; they will court you, their whole delight is to immortalize--_Alexander_ was begot by a Salamander, that visited his Mother in the form of a Serpent, because he would not make King _Philip_ jealous; and that famous Philosopher _Merlin_ was begotten on a Vestal Nun, a certain King's Daughter, by a most beautiful young Salamander; as indeed all the Heroes, and Men of mighty Minds are.

_Doct_. Most excellent!

_Char_. The Nymph _Egeria_, inamour'd on _Numa Pompilius_, came to him invisible to all Eyes else, and gave him all his Wisdom and Philosophy.

_Zoroaster, Trismegistus, Apuleius, Aquinius, Albertus Magnus, Socrates_ and _Virgil_ had their Zilphid, which the Foolish call'd their Daemon or Devil. But you are wise, Sir.

_Doct_. But do you imagine, Sir, they will fall in love with an old Mortal?

_Char_. They love not like the Vulgar, 'tis the immortal Part they doat upon.

_Doct_. But, Sir, I have a Niece and Daughter which I love equally, were it not possible they might be immortaliz'd?

_Char_. No doubt on't, Sir, if they be pure and chaste.

_Doct_. I think they are, and I'll take care to keep 'em so; for I confess, Sir, I would fain have a Hero to my Grandson.

_Char_. You never saw the Emperor of the Moon, Sir, the mighty _Iredonozar_?

_Doct_. Never, Sir; his Court I have, but 'twas confusedly too.

_Char_. Refine your Thoughts, Sir, by a Moment's Prayer, and try again.

[_He prays_. Char. _claps the Gla.s.s with the Emperor on it, he looks in and sees it_.

_Doct_. It is too much, too much for mortal Eyes! I see a Monarch seated on a Throne--but seems most sad and pensive.

_Char_. Forbear then, Sir; for now his Love-Fit's on, and then he wou'd be private.

_Doct_. His Love-Fit, Sir!

_Char_. Ay, Sir, the Emperor's in love with some fair Mortal.

_Doct_. And can he not command her?

_Char_. Yes, but her Quality being too mean, he struggles, though a King, 'twixt Love and Honour.

_Doct_. It were too much to know the Mortal, Sir?

_Char_. 'Tis yet unknown, Sir, to the Caballists, who now are using all their Arts to find her, and serve his Majesty; but now my great Affair deprives me of you: To morrow, Sir, I'll wait on you again; and now I've try'd your Virtue, tell you Wonders.

_Doct_. I humbly kiss your Hands, most learned Sir.

[Charmante _goes out_. Doctor _waits on him to the Door, and returns: to him_ Scaramouch. _All this while_ Harlequin _was hid in the Hedges, peeping now and then, and when his Master went out he was left behind_.

_Scar_. So, so, Don _Charmante_ has played his Part most exquisitely; I'll in and see how it works in his Pericranium.

--Did you call, Sir?