The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Ii Part 3

_Phil_. Oh, she's too foul for one or t'other t.i.tle.

_Qu_. How, Sir, do you not know me?

_Phil_. When you were just, I did, And with a Reverence, such as we pay Heav'n, I paid my awful Duty;-- But as you have abus'd my Royal Father, For such a Sin the basest of your Slaves Wou'd blush to call you Mother.

_Qu_. What means my Son?

_Phil_. Son! by Heav'n, I scorn the t.i.tle.

_Qu_. Oh Insolence!--out of my sight, rude Boy.

_Phil_. We must not part so, Madam; I first must let you know your Sin and Shame;-- Nay, hear me calmly--for, by Heav'n, you shall-- My Father whilst he liv'd, tir'd his strong Arm With numerous Battles 'gainst the Enemy, Wasting his Brains in warlike Stratagems; To bring Confusion on the faithless Moors, Whilst you, lull'd in soft Peace at home, betray'd His Name to everlasting Infamy; Suffer'd his Bed to be defil'd with l.u.s.t, Gave up your self, your Honour, and your Vows, To wanton in yon sooty Lecher's Arms.

[_Points to_ Abd.

_Abd_. Me, dost thou mean?

_Phil_. Yes, Villain, thee, thou h.e.l.l-begotten Fiend, 'Tis thee I mean.

_Qu_. Oh most unnatural, to dishonour me!

_Phil_. That Dog you mean, that has dishonour'd you, Dishonour'd me, these Lords, nay, and all Spain; This Devil's he, that--

_Abd_. That--what--Oh pardon me if I throw off All Ties of Duty:--wert thou ten King's Sons, And I as many Souls as I have Sins, Thus I would hazard all.

[Draws, they all run between.

_Phil_. Stand off--or I'll make way upon thy Bosom.

_Abd_. How got you, Sir, this daring?

_Phil_. From injur'd _Philip's_ Death, Who, whilst he liv'd, unjustly cherish'd thee, And set thee up beyond the reach of Fate; Blind with thy brutal Valor, deaf with thy Flatteries, Discover'd not the Treason thou didst act, Nor none durst let him know 'em--but did he live, I wou'd aloud proclaim them in his Ears.

_Abd_. You durst as well been d.a.m.n'd.

_Phil_. h.e.l.l seize me if I want Revenge for this-- Not dare!

Arise, thou injur'd Ghost of my dead King, And thro thy dreadful Paleness dart a Horror, May fright this pair of Vipers from their Sins.

_Abd_. Oh insupportable! dost hear me, Boy?

_Qu_. Are ye all mute, and hear me thus upbraided?

[_To the Lords_.

_Phil_. Dare ye detain me whilst the Traitor braves me?

_Men_. Forbear, my Prince, keep in that n.o.ble Heat That shou'd be better us'd than on a Slave.

_Abd_. You politick Cheat--

_Men. Abdelazer_-- By the Authority of my Government, Which yet I hold over the King of _Spain_, By Warrant of a Council from the Peers, And (as an Unbeliever) from the Church, I utterly deprive thee of that Greatness, Those Offices and Trusts you hold in _Spain_.

_Abd_. Cardinal--who lent thee this Commission?

Grandees of Spain, do you consent to this?

_All_. We do.

_Alon_. What Reason for it? let his Faith be try'd.

_Men_. It needs no tryal, the Proofs are evident, And his Religion was his Veil for Treason.

_Alon_. Why should you question his Religion, Sir?

He does profess Christianity.

_Men_. Yes, witness his Habit which he still retains In scorn to ours-- His Principles are too as unalterable.

_Abd_. Is that the only Argument you bring?

I tell thee, Cardinal, not thy Holy Gown Covers a Soul more sanctify'd than this Moorish Robe.

_Phil_. d.a.m.n his Religion--he has a thousand Crimes That will yet better justify your Sentence.

_Men_. Come not within the Court; for if you do, Worse mischief shall ensue--you have your Sentence.

[_Ex_. Phil, _and_ Men.

_Alon_. My Brother banish'd! 'tis very sudden; For thy sake, Sister, this must be recall'd. [_To_ Flor.

_Qu. Alonzo_, join with me, I'll to the King, And check the Pride of this insulting Cardinal.

[_Exeunt all, except_ Abdelazer, Florella.

_Abd_. Banish'd! if I digest this Gall, May Cowards pluck the Wreath from off my Brow, Which I have purchas'd with so many Wounds, And all for Spain; for _Spain_! ingrateful _Spain_!-- Oh, my _Florella_, all my Glory's vanish'd, The Cardinal (Oh d.a.m.n him) wou'd have me banish'd.

_Flor_. But, Sir, I hope you will not tamely go.

_Abd_. Tamely!--ha, ha, ha,--yes, by all means-- A very honest and religious Cardinal!

_Flor_. I wou'd not for the World you should be banish'd.

_Abd_. Not Spain, you mean--for then she leaves the King. [_Aside_.

What if I be?--Fools! not to know--All parts o' th' World Allow enough for Villany; for I'll be brave no more.

It is a Crime--and then I can live any where-- But say I go from hence--I leave behind me A Cardinal that will laugh--I leave behind me A _Philip_ that will clap his Hands in sport-- But the worst Wound is this, I leave my Wrongs, Dishonours, and my Discontents, all unreveng'd-- Leave me, _Florella_--prithee do not weep; I love thee, love thee wondrously--go leave me-- I am not now at leisure to be fond-- Go to your Chamber--go.

_Flor_. No, to the King I'll fly, And beg him to revenge thy Infamy. [_Ex_. Flor.

_To him_ Alonzo.

_Alon_. The Cardinal's mad to have thee banish'd Spain.

I've left the Queen in angry Contradiction, But yet I fear the Cardinal's Reasoning.

_Abd_. This Prince's Hate proceeds from Love, He's jealous of the Queen, and fears my Power. [_Aside_.

_Alon_. Come, rouse thy wonted Spirits, awake thy Soul, And arm thy Justice with a brave Revenge.

_Abd_. I'll arm no Justice with a brave Revenge.