The Works of Aphra Behn Volume Iii Part 106

_Org_. Remember, Sir, _Erminia_ was my Daughter.

_Gal_. And, Sir, remember that I am your Daughter.

_Org_. And shall the Traitor live that murder'd her?

_Gal_. And will you by his Death, Sir, murder me?

In dear _Erminia's_ Death too much is done; If you revenge that Death, 'tis two for one.

_Org_. Ah, Sir, to let him live's unjust in you.

_Gal_. And killing me, you more injustice do.

_Org. Alcippus_, Madam, merits not your Love, That could so cruel to _Erminia_ prove.

_Gal_. If Lovers could be rul'd by Reason's Laws, For this complaint on him we'ad had no cause.

'Twas Love that made him this rash act commit; Had she been kind, 't had taught him to submit.

--But might it not your present Griefs augment, I'd say that you deserve this punishment, By forcing her to marry with the General; By which you have destroy'd _Philander_ too, And now you would _Alcippus'_ Life undo.

_Org_. That was a fault of duty to your Majesty.

_King_. Though that were honest, 'twere not wisely done; For had I known the pa.s.sion of my Son, And how essential 'twas to his content I willingly had granted my consent; Her Worth and Beauty had sufficient been T'ave rais'd her to the t.i.tle of a Queen.

Did not my glorious Father, great _Gonzal_, Marry the Daughter of his Admiral?

And I might to my Son have been as kind, As then my Father did my Grandsire find.

_Org_. You once believ'd that I had guilty been, And had the Punishment, but not the Sin; I suffer'd when 'twas thought I did aspire, And should by this have rais'd my crimes yet higher.

_King_. How did _Philander_ take _Erminia's_ death?

_Gal_. My own surprize and grief was so extream, I know not what effects it had in him; But this account of him, I'm forc'd to give, Since she is dead, I know he cannot live.

_King_. I'll know _Philander's_ fate e'er I proceed; And if he die, _Alcippus_ too shall bleed.

[_Exeunt_.

SCENE VIII. _The Gallery_.

_Enter_ Falatius _and_ Labree.

_Fal_. Wert thou never valiant, _Labree_?

_Lab_. Yes, Sir, before I serv'd you, and since too: I Am provok'd to give you proofs on't sometimes; For when I am angry I am a very Hector.

_Fal_. Ay, the Devil when a body's angry, but that's Not the Valour in mode; Men fight now a-days Without that, and even embrace whilst they draw Their Swords on one another.

_Lab_. Ay, Sir, those are Men that despise their lives.

_Fal_. Why, that's it, _Labree_, that I would learn to do, And which I fear, nothing but Poverty will make me do; _Jove_ defend me from that experiment.

_Enter_ Erminia _veil'd with a thin Tiffany_.

_Lab_. What's the matter, Sir?

Does the fit take you now?

_Fal_. Save us, save us, from the Fiend.

_Lab_. A Ghost, a Ghost! O, O, O!

[_They fall shaking on the ground_.

_Er_. This was a happy mistake, Now I may pa.s.s with safety.

[_Ex_.

_Fal_. Look up, _Labree_, if thou hast any of that Courage thou spakest of but now.

_Lab_. I dare not, Sir, experience yours I pray.

_Fal_. Alas, alas, I fear we are both rank Cowards.

_Lab_. Rise, Sir, 'tis gone.

_Fal_. This was worse than the fright _Alcander_ put Me into by much.

[_They rise and go out_.

SCENE IX. Philander's _Apartments_.

_Enter_ Philander _and_ Cleontius.

_Phi_. I know he's fled to the Camp, For there he only can secure himself.

_Cle_. I do not think it, Sir.

He's too brave to justify an Action Which was the Outrage only of his Pa.s.sion, That soon will toil it self into a Calm, And then will grow considerate again, And hate the Rashness it provok'd him to.

_Phi_. That shall not serve his turn--go Tell him I'll get his Pardon of the King, And set him free from other fears of Justice, But those which I intend to execute.

If he be brave, he'll not refuse this offer; If not, I'll do as he has done by me, And meet his hated Soul by Treachery. [Cle_. goes out_.

--And then I've nothing more to do but die.

--Ah, how agreeable are the thoughts of Death!

How kindly do they entertain my Soul, And tell it pretty tales of Satisfaction in the other world, That I shall dwell for ever with _Erminia_?--but stay, That sacred Spirit yet is unreveng'd, --I'll send that Traitor's Soul to eternal Night, Then mine shall take its so desired Flight. [_Going out_.

_Enter _Erminia, _calls him_.

_Er_. Return, Philander, whither wouldst thou fly?