The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Ii Part 7

_Qu. Philip_! instruct me how t' undo that Boy I hate; The publick Infamy I have receiv'd, I will revenge with nothing less than Death.

_Abd_. 'Tis well we can agree in our Resentments, For I have vow'd he shall not live a day; He has an Art to pry into our Secrets: To all besides our Love is either hid, Or else they dare not see--But this Prince Has a most dangerous Spirit must be calm'd.

_Qu_. I have resolv'd his Death, And now have waiting in my Cabinet, Engines to carry on this mighty Work of my Revenge.

_Abd_. Leave that to me, who equally am injur'd; You, like the G.o.ds, need only but command, And I will execute your sacred Will-- That done, there's none dare whisper what we do.

_Qu_. Nature, be gone, I chase thee from my Soul, Who Love's almighty Empire does controul: And she that will to thy dull Laws submit, In spite of thee, betrays the Hypocrite.

No rigid Virtue shall my Soul possess, Let Gown-men preach against the Wickedness; Pleasures were made by G.o.ds, and meant for us, And not t' enjoy 'em, were ridiculous.

_Abd_. Oh perfect, great and glorious of thy s.e.x!

Like thy great self 'twas spoke, resolv'd and brave-- I must attend the King--where I will watch All _Philip's_ Motions.

_Qu_. And--after that--if you will beg Admittance, I'll give you leave to visit me to Night.

_Abd_. Madam, that Blessing now must be defer'd.

[_Leads her to the Door_.

My Wrongs and I will be retir'd to Night, And bring forth Vengeance with the Morning's Light.

_Enter_ Osmin, Zarrack.

_Osm_. My gracious Lord.

_Abd_. Come near--and take a Secret from my Lips; And he who keeps not silent hears his Death.-- This Night the Prince and Cardinal--do you mark me-- Are murder'd.

_Osm_. Where, Sir?

_Abd_. Here in the Court.

_Osm_. By whom, great Sir?

_Abd_. By thee--I know thou darst.

_Osm_. Whatever you command.

_Abd_. Good!--then see it be perform'd.

_Osmin_, how goes the Night?

_Osm_. About the hour of Eight, And you're expected at the Banquet, Sir: Prince _Philip_ storms, and swears you're with the Queen.

_Abd_. Let him storm on; the Tempest will be laid-- Where's my Wife?

_Osm_. In the Presence, Sir, with the Princess and Other Ladies.

_Abd_. She's wondrous forward!--what the King-- (I am not jealous tho)--but he makes court to her.

--Hah, _Osmin_!

He throws out Love from Eyes all languis.h.i.+ng;-- Come tell me,--he does sigh to her,--no matter if he do-- And fawns upon her Hand,--and kneels;--tell me, Slave!

_Osm_. Sir, I saw nothing like to Love; he only treats her Equal to her Quality.

_Abd_. Oh, d.a.m.n her Quality.

_Zar_. I came just now From waiting on his Person to the Banquet, And heard him ask, if he might visit her to Night, Having something to impart to her, that concern'd his Life.

_Abd_. And so it shall, by Heav'n! [_Aside_.

_Zar_. But she deny'd, and he the more intreated-- But all in vain, Sir.

_Abd_. Go, _Osmin_, (you the Captain of my Guard of Moors) Chuse out the best affected Officers, To keep the Watch to Night-- Let every Guard be doubled--you may be liberal too-- And when I gave the Word, be ready all.

_Osm_. What shall the Word be?

[_Ex_. Zarrack.

_Abd_. Why--Treason--mean time make it your Business, To watch the Prince's coming from the Banquet; Heated with Wine, and fearless of his Person, You'll find him easily to be attack'd.

_Osm_. Sir, do not doubt my Management nor Success.

[_Ex_. Osmin.

_Abd_. So, I thank thee, Nature, that in making me, Thou didst design me Villain; Hitting each Faculty for active Mischief: Thou skilful Artist, thank thee for my Face, It will discover nought that's hid within.

Thus arm'd for Ills, Darkness, and Horrour, I invoke your aid; And thou dread Night, shade all your busy Stars In blackest Clouds, And let my Dagger's Brightness only serve To guide me to the Mark--and guide it so, It may undo a Kingdom at one Blow.

[Exit.

SCENE II. _A Banqueting Hall_.

_A Banquet, under a Canopy the_ King, Leonora, Florella, _Ladies waiting_; Philip, Mendozo, Alonzo, Ordonio, Antonio, Sebastian, _Lords and Attendants: As soon as the Scene draws off, they all rise, and come forward_.

_King_. My Lords, you're sad to Night; give us loud Musick-- I have a double Cause to mourn; And Grief has taken up his dwelling here-- Beyond the Art of Love, or Wine to conquer-- 'Tis true, my Father's dead--and possibly 'Tis not so decent to appear thus gay; But Life, and Death, are equal to the wretched, And whilst _Florella_ frowns--'tis in that Number [_To_ Flor.

I must account her Slave--_Alonzo_, How came thy Father so bewitch'd to Valour, (For _Abdelazer_ has no other Virtue) To recompense it with so fair a Creature?

Was this--a Treasure t' inrich the Devil with?

_Alon_. Sir, he has many Virtues, more than Courage, Royally born, serv'd well his King, and Country; My Father brought him up to martial Toils, And taught him to be brave; I hope, and good;-- Beside, he was your Royal Father's Favourite.

_King_. No, _Alonzo_, 'twas not his Love to Virtue, But nice Obedience to his King, and Master, Who seeing my increase of Pa.s.sion for her, To kill my Hopes, he gave her to this _Moor_.

_Alon_. She's now a virtuous Woman, Sir.

_King_. Politick Sir, who would have made her other?

Against her Will, he forc'd her to his Arms, Whilst all the World was wondring at his Madness.

_Alon_. He did it with her Approbation, Sir.

_King_. With thine, _Florella!_ cou'dst thou be so criminal?

_Flor_. Sir, I was ever taught Obedience; My humble Thoughts durst ne'er aspire to you, And next to that--Death, or the Moor, or any thing.

_King_. Oh G.o.d! had I then told my Tale So feebly, it could not gain Belief.

Oh my _Florella_! this little Faith of thine Has quite undone thy King--_Alonzo_, Why didst not thou forbid this fatal Marriage, She being thy only Sister?