The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Ii Part 44

_Semiris_, are those Garments ready I spoke for?

_Sem_. Madam, they're here--but now what will you do?

_Cleo_. Now, I will die--and now thou know'st my Will.

_Sem_. Ah, Madam, 'tis too much you let me know, Denying me t' attend you where you go, With such a Guide I cannot err.

_Cleo_. Alone I'll go, the Journey is not far In pa.s.sing; though I miss the aids of Day, Yet my _Clemanthis_ lights me on my way.

Why dost thou weep? indeed thou art unkind.

_Sem_. I weep because you'd leave me here behind; Doubting my Love, I beg you wou'd permit That I might give you the last proof of it.

I in your last adventure was too slow, And will not be deny'd my Duty now.

_Cleo_. Thou show'st a Soul so generous and free, That I'm contented thou shou'dst follow me; Come, dry thy Eyes, such helps we do not need; To ease our Griefs, we must not weep but bleed.

[_Exeunt_.

SCENE VI. _A Street_.

_Enter_ Vallentio _pa.s.sing over the Stage, is met by a Rabble of Citizens_.

_1 Cit_. Well, Colonel, have you delivered our Grievances to the Queen?

_Val_. Yes, I have.

_1 Cit_. Well, and what Success? shall we have a King?

_Val_. And why a King? why should you be thus earnest for a King? what good will a King do you? he's but a single Man, cannot redeem the lost Victory, cannot raise up your dead Members, no, nor levy new ones.

_1 Cit_. That's all one, Colonel, we will have a King: for look ye, Colonel, we have thought of a King, and therefore we will have one. Hah, Neighbours! a substantial Reason.

_All_. Ay, ay, a King, a King.

_Val_. I like your Resolution, but not your Reason; and must have a better than that.

_1 Cit_. 'Sha, Sir, we can give you many, though that's sufficient; as look you, Sir, 'tis first a new thing to have a King--a thing--a thing--we have not been acquainted with in our Age: besides, we have lost the Victory, and we are very angry with some body, and must vent it somewhere.

You know, Colonel, we have busy Heads, working Brains, which must be executed; therefore, what say you, are we to have leave to shut up Shop, and go to work with long Staff and Bilbo, or are we to be very mutinous, and do't in spite of you?

_Val_. You shall not need; go, shut up your Shops, gather your Fellow-mutineers together, and meet me at the Citadel; but be sure you're well arm'd, lest the Queen's Guards prevent you.

_1 Cit_. I warrant you for honest true Hearts enough at any mischief, though not to go against the _Scythians_; for, Colonel, we love Civil Wars, Colonel, Civil Wars.

_Val_. Make haste, and then I'll shew you my Orders for the King's Deliverance.

_Cit_. Oh, incomparable Colonel! we will raise thy Statue in Bra.s.s in the Market-place, and wors.h.i.+p it when we have done--but harkye, Colonel, are we to give no Quarter?

_Val_. None to those that oppose you.

_All_. No, no, none, none.

_Cit_. Oh, how this will please ye all, my Mates--

[_Citizens goes out.

Enter_ Pimante.

_Pim_. Oh, Colonel, the Princess, Colonel.

_Val_. Well, Sir.

_Pim_. She's fled away, and none knows whither.

_Val_. I left her in her Tent just now.

_Pim_. Ay, ay, Colonel, that's all one, she's gone just as she shou'd have been married too--there's the Devil on't! Oh, the Days we shou'd have seen! the dancing, loving Days!

_Val_. Gone alone?

_Pim_. No, no, that dissembling thing _Semiris_ is with her; she only left a Letter for the Queen, which she has sent to the Prince of _Scythia_. Oh, adieu, adieu, to Love and Musick.

[_Goes out crying_.

_Val_. This is strange--if she be gone, 'tis time the King were free--I'll haste to meet the Rabble, that it may not look like an act of my own.

[_Exit_.

SCENE VII. Thersander's _Tent_.

_He enters with a Letter in his Hand open--with Attendants_.

_Ther_. Be gone, I'll read the Letter o'er again, [_Exeunt Attendants_.

And here impress thy Cruelty, and see what that will do To set me free.

_Ther_. reads the Letter-- _Finding it impossible to obey your unkind Commands, I am fled, and do resolve never to marry that_ Barbarian, _whose Crimes are only known to me; no, nor any other that cannot bring me his Head; whereto sollicite_ Artabazes, _and_ Ismenes, if they will obey_. Cleomena.

If I consult my Reason and my Courage, They say I should not love this cruel Maid.

But oh, my Reason, you're weak to counsel; I'll think of nothing else but dying for her, Since 'tis my Life she asks, and here demands it.

But 'tis in vain to arm my happy Rivals, For I my self can more devoutly serve you.

'Tis I will pierce this unaccepted Heart, Whose Flames are found so criminal--

_Enter_ Lysander.

_Lys_. Sir, there's without a Youth that desires admittance.

_Ther_. From whom comes he?

_Lys_. He would not tell me that, but has a Letter, Which he'll deliver only to your Highness.

_Ther_. Bring him in, it may be from _Amintas_.

_Enter_ Cleomena _drest like a Country-Shepherd, comes bowing to him, gives him a Note_.