The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Ii Part 38

I'll not my Weakness nor Resentment show; A Heart like mine, should sooner break than bow.

--Come, my _Semiris_, we too long have stay'd; That Call, till now, was never disobey'd.

[_Trumpets sound. Ex_.

SCENE III. _Scythian Tents_.

_Enter_ Amintas, _drest fine, with_ Urania.

_Ura_. Within this Shade till the black Day be past, I will attend thy Fortune, or thy Fate.

_Amin_. The King has taken Horse, the Fight's begun, And I must leave thee to the G.o.ds and Prayer.

_Ura_. Why was I made a Woman? or being so, Why had I not a masculine Courage given me?

That side by side I might have shar'd thy Glory, Or have expir'd together?

_Amin_. Thou wilt undo me with this Tenderness.

Come send me kindly from thee, With Joys about my Heart that may preserve it; Here rest till my Return; farewel, my Fair.

_Ura_. And if I never see thee more, farewel-- [Amin. _exit_.

Here I will lay me down, and never rise, Till thou return'st with Laurel, or with Cypress.

[_Sits down_.

Now I cou'd curse the Fortune of my Prince, Who quits a Father for an Enemy, To satisfy a Flame will ruin him.

[_A noise of Fighting_.

--The Fight increases; Oh ye G.o.ds of Battel, In midst of all your Rage preserve my Love.

_Enter_ Artabazes _over the Stage, and goes out_.

_Art_. My Nephew kill'd! and I dismounted too! oh curst Fate!

_Ura_. This Noise has comfort in't, it sounds like Victory.

[_A hollowing within amongst the noise of Fighting.

Enter_ Amintas.

--Oh G.o.ds! _Amintas_! what has Fortune done?

_Amin_. The undaunted _Scythians_ never lost the Field; Yet now at first 'twas doubtful To which side Fortune would incline her self _Ismenes_ kill'd where'er he turn'd his Sword, And quite defeated our _Agrippian_ Forces; Yet was not satisfy'd, knowing the King To be the Price of _Cleomena's_ Heart, But sought him out on all sides, Whom 'twas not hard to find; For he was hurrying now from Rank to Rank, Distributing a Death to all Opposers.

But young _Ismenes_ having pierc'd the Squadrons, And knowing our great King by several Marks, Boldly cry'd out,--Defend the Life I claim.

The King made no Reply, but at that Word Prepar'd himself to fight.

_Ura_. Thou kill'st me, till thou bring'st him off again.

_Amin_. Disorder'd thus--the _Dacian_ took Advantage, And charg'd with so much Vigour--we gave Ground; When on that side the single Combat was, There appear'd a Body of two thousand Horse, Led by a Man, whose Looks brought Victory, And made the conquering Foe retire again: But when he did perceive the King engag'd, With unresisted Fury he made up, And rus.h.i.+ng in between them, Gave the young Prince a blow upon his Head, That struck him from his Horse.

After this Victory _Thersander's_ Name Did fly from Mouth to Mouth, Inspiring every _Scythian_ with new Valour: He kill'd _Philemon_, and forc'd _Artabazes_ To seek his Safety by his Horse's Flight; --But here's the King--retire into this Wood.

[Ura. _Ex_.

_Enter_ King, Thersander, _Officers, and Soldiers_.

_King_. Let me once more embrace my dear _Thersander_.

_Amin_. The Prince is wounded, Sir.

_King_. He is--but they look lovely on him.

_Ther_. They're too slight Marks to give you of my Duty; Your Majesty has greater need of Care.

_King_. Thou art my best Physician, and thy sight Heals all the Wounds I have: come in with me, And let me lay thee to my panting Bosom, Thou great Preserver of my Crown and Life.

_Ther_. I'll wait upon you, Sir, [_Exeunt all but_ Ther. _and_ Amin.

Now let me take thee to my Arms, my Friend; For thou art half my self, my dear _Amintas_: I have strange News to tell thee since we parted, And need thy Counsel in an Affair of Love --Thou know'st my business to the Dacian Court Was to have set thee free; but oh, my Friend!

In lieu of that I've made my self a Captive.

_Amin_. Your Story, Sir, I know, but heard withal, The Princess did repay your grateful Flame.

_Ther_. I thought she did, for so a while she seem'd; And when I thought my self the most secure, Being fortify'd with all her new-made Promises, My blooming Hopes were blasted e'er full-blown, And I receiv'd her Orders for my Banishment, Which I as soon obey'd: but by the way, I did conceive a thousand Revolutions, Sometimes to serve my Princess--then my Father; Sometimes 'twas Nature got the upper hand, And then again 'twas Love: in this Dispute I met the Levies of the _Isadons_, Who were the last of all our Cavalry, To whom I made me known, and came so luckily, As gain'd the yet-disputing Victory.

_Amin_. 'Twas in an happy Moment.

_Ther_. Thus I comply'd with what I ow'd my Duty.

But these of Love are still unsatisfy'd: Dare I, who could offend to that degree, As to deserve a Banishment from her, Approach her uninvited?

_Amin_. 'Twas dangerous, Sir.

_Ther_. Then 'twere the fitter for my Enterprise: --But her Displeasure--oh, my _Cleomena_!

If, for the Punishment of my Disobedience, You'd only take away that Life you threaten, How willingly I wou'd resign it up, Rather than undergo this Separation!

_Amin_. You'll certainly expose your Life by going: What other Reason could she have to banish you, But from her Knowledge that you were _Thersander_?

And, Sir, you see her Pa.s.sion for _Clemanthis_ Cou'd not o'ercome her Hatred for her Enemy.

_Ther_. No, when I call to mind her cruel Words; If chusing me before so many Kings, I find 'twas to the Stranger, not the _Scythian_, She killingly addrest 'em; therefore I'll venture on in my Design: --Give order that our Horses be made ready, Whilst I excuse our Absence to the King; our stay will not be long: Mean time it may be thought We're gone to view the Camp; Interest and Love but rarely do agree, Yet I must reconcile 'em both to me.

[_Exeunt_.

SCENE IV. _The Dacian Tents_.

_Enter_ Queen, Cleo. Hon. Arta. Ism. _Women, Attendants_.

_Cleo_. 'Twas strangely lost, and yet I dare affirm, The Victory had been ours but for _Thersander_, Who like the impetuous Sea oppos'd by Land, Made Breaches, and o'erflow'd all that lay near it.

_Ism_. I had reveng'd you on the King of _Scythia_, Had his Arrival not prevented me.

_Cleo_. He is brave, without dispute.

_Ism_. And 'tis as certain that he did surprize me, Without permitting time for my Defence, He had not else so soon dismounted me.

But, Madam, I design (if you approve it) To fight _Thersander_ in a single Combat.

_Art_. That Justice I may hope as well as you; He kill'd my Nephew, young _Philemon_, For which I'll be reveng'd.