The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Ii Part 32

_Ura_. I gladly take your Counsel.

[Ura. _goes into_ Amintas' _Apartment_.

_Ors_. What art thou?

_Amin_. That which I seem to be.

_Ors_. Then thou'rt a G.o.d; for till I saw a Woman, I never saw a thing so fine as thou: And 'tis but just thou shouldst be more than Mortal, That durst command that Creature from my Arms.

_Amim_. It is the King--I know it by his Innocence, and Ignorance-- [_Aside_.

--Rise, I beseech you, Sir, and pardon me.

_Ors_. So I could live a Year with looking on thee; --But where's the Creature call'd it self a Woman?

_Ger_. What Woman, Sir?

_Ors_. Ha! Geron, where's the Woman?

_Ger_. What do you mean, Sir?

_Ors_. The Heavenly Woman, that was here but now.

_Ger_. I saw none such, nor know I what you mean.

_Ors_. Not what I mean? thou could'st not be so dull: What is't that I have strove for all this while?

_Amin_. I'll leave him too, my Presence may be hurtful, And follow the Lady that's fled to my Apartment.

[_Ex_. Amin.

_Ors_. Go, fetch the Woman, or, by Heaven, I'll fling thee into the Sea.

_Ger_. I must delude'him. [_Aside_.

_Ors_. Fly, why stay'st thou dully here? go bring the Woman.

_Ger_. Sure you are frantick.

_Ors_. I am so, and thou shalt feel the effect on't.

Unless thou render back that lovely Creature.

_Ger_. Oh! this is perfect Madness, Sir, you're lost; Call back your n.o.ble Temper, and be calm.

_Ors_. No, there's a furious Tempest in my Soul, Which nothing can allay but that fine thing.

_Ger_. Hear Reason yet--no human Being can get entrance here; Look round this Castle, and no other Object Will meet your Eyes, but a watery Wilderness, And distant and unhabitable Lands.

--What airy Vision has possess'd your Fancy?

For such the G.o.ds sometimes afflict Men with.

_Ors_. Ha! an airy Vision!--Oh, but it cannot be; By all that's good,'twas real Flesh and Blood.

_Ger_. And are you sure you are awake?

_Ors_. As thou art now.

_Ger_. Then 'twas an Apparition.

_Ors_. Away--thou'st often told me of such Fooleries, And I as often did reprove thee for't.

_Ger_. From whence, or how should any living thing get hither?

_Ors_. It dropt, perhaps, from Heaven, or how, I know not; But here it was, a solid living thing; You might have heard how long we talk'd together.

_Ger_. I heard you talk, which brought me to this place, And found you struggling on the ground alone; But what you meant I know not.

_Ors_. 'Tis so--I grant you that it was a Vision --How strong is Fancy!--yet--it is impossible-- Have I not yet the Musick of its Words?

Like answering Echoes less'ning by degrees, Inviting all the yielding Sense to follow.

Have not my Lips (that fatally took in-- Unrest from ev'ry touch of that fair Hand) The sweet remains of warmth receiv'd from thence, Besides the unerring Witness of my Eyes?

And can all these deceive me? tell me, can they?

_Ger_. Most certainly they have.

_Ors_. Then let the G.o.ds take back what they so vainly gave.

_Ger_. Cease to offend, and they will cease to punish.

_Ors_. But why a Woman? cou'd they secure my Faith By nothing more afflicting?

_Ger_. Shapes Divine are most perplexing.

To Souls, like yours, whom Terrors cannot fright, It leaves desires of what it cannot gain, And still to wish for that-- Is much the greatest torment of the Mind.

_Ors_. Well said--but, _Geron_, thou'st undone thy Aim, And us'd the only Argument cou'd invite me T' offend again, that thus I might be punish'd: The G.o.ds themselves invite me to the Sin!

Not seeing a Woman, I had never bin.

[_Exeunt_.

SCENE II. _Another Room in the Prison.

Enter_ Amintas _in Fetters with _Urania.

_Amin_. My gallant Maid! this Generosity, Above thy s.e.x, and much above my Merit, I never can repay: my dear _Urania_, Thou did'st outdo thy s.e.x before in Beauty, In all the Charms that make 'em so ador'd: But this last Act, this n.o.ble Mark of Love, Begets a reverend Wonder in my Soul, And I behold thee as some sacred thing, That--this way should be wors.h.i.+p'd-- [_Kneels_, _and kisses her Hand_.

_Ura_. I'm glad you have so kind a Sense of that Which ev'ry Maid that lov'd like me wou'd do; What cou'd you less expect?--Ah, my _Amintas_, That fatal Night before our Wedding-day, Being alarm'd by the Enemy, And you were sent to try your Force with theirs, My Heart foretold your Fate; and that same Night, Whose darkness veiled my Blushes all alone, Drest like a Youth I hasted from the Court, And being well mounted, soon o'ertook the Army, When, all unknown, I got so near your Person, That in the Fight I had the Glory twice To serve you, when your Horses being kill'd, I still presented you with fresh, whose Riders Thy Valour had dismounted.

_Amin_. Oh G.o.ds! wert thou that Boy, Whom oft I said, I thought was sent from Heaven, And beg'd t' encounter when the Fight was ended?

_Ura_. The same, 'twas all you'd time to say; for after that, Venturing too far, they took you Prisoner.

_Amin_. Oh, with what Shame I look upon your Bounty, Which all my Life's too little to acknowledge; What follow'd then, my dearest fair _Urania_?

_Ura_. I gladly wou'd have been a Prisoner too, But I appear'd a poor dejected Boy, That was not worth their Fetters.