The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume 2 | Page 9

What is it, Madam, you would have me do?
Qu. Not side with Philip, as you hope my Grace-- Now, Sir, you know my Pleasure, think on't well.
Men. Madam, you know your Power o'er your Slave, And use it too tyrannically--but dispose The Fate of him, whose Honour, and whose Life, Lies at your Mercy-- I'll stay and die, since 'tis your gracious Pleasure.
King. Philip, upon your Life, Upon your strict Allegiance, I conjure you To remain at Court, till I have reconcil'd you.
Phil. Never, Sir; Nor can you bend my Temper to that Tameness.
King. 'Tis in my Power to charge you as a Prisoner; But you're my Brother--yet remember too I am your King--No more.
Phil. I will obey.
King. Abdelazer, I beg you will forget your Cause of Hate Against my Brother Philip, and the Cardinal; He's young, and rash, but will be better temper'd.
Abd. Sir, I have done, and beg your royal Pardon.
King. Come, Philip, give him your Hand.
Phil. I can forgive without a Ceremony.
King. And to confirm ye Friends, I invite you all to Night to banquet with me; Pray see you give Attendance--Come, Brother, You must along with us.
[Exeunt all but Abd. Queen and Women.
Qu. Leave me-- [To the Women, who go out. Now my dear Moor.
Abd. Madam.
Qu. Why dost thou answer with that cold Reserve-- Is that a Look--an Action for a Lover?
Abd. Ah, Madam--
Qu. Have I not taken off thy Banishment? Restor'd thee to thy former State and Honours? Nay, and heap'd new ones too, too mighty for thy Hopes; And still to raise thee equal to this Heart, Where thou must ever reign.
Abd. 'Tis true, my bounteous Mistress, all this you've done-- But--
Qu. But what, my Abdelazer?
Abd. I will not call it to your Memory.
Qu. What canst thou mean?
Abd. Why was the King remov'd?
Qu. To make thy way more easy to my Arms.
Abd. Was that all?
Qu. All!
Abd. Not but it is a Blessing Gods would languish for-- But as you've made it free, so make it just.
Qu. Thou mean'st, marry thee.
Abd. No, by the Gods-- [Aside. Not marry thee, unless I were a King.
Qu. What signifies the Name to him that rules one?
Abd. What use has he of Life, that cannot live Without a Ruler?
Qu. Thou wouldst not have me kill him.
Abd. Oh, by no means, not for my wretched Life! What, kill a King!--forbid it, Heaven: Angels stand like his Guards about his Person. The King! Not so many Worlds as there be Stars Twinkling upon the embroider'd Firmament! The King! He loves my Wife Florella, shou'd he die-- I know none else durst love her.
Qu. And that's the Reason you wou'd send him hence.
Abd. I must confess, I wou'd not bear a wrong: But do not take me for a Villain, Madam; He is my King, and may do what he pleases.
Qu. 'Tis well, Sir.
Abd. Again that Frown, it renders thee more charming Than any other Dress thou could'st put on.
Qu. Away, you do not love me.
Abd. Now mayst thou hate me, if this be not pretty.
Qu. Oh, you can flatter finely--
Abd. Not I, by Heaven: Oh, that this Head were circled in a Crown, And I were King, by Fortune, as by Birth! And that I was, till by thy Husband's Power I was divested in my Infancy-- Then you shou'd see, I do not flatter ye. But I, instead of that, must see my Crown Bandy'd from Head to Head, and tamely see it: And in this wretched state I live, 'tis true; But with what Joy, you, if you lov'd, might guess.
Qu. We need no Crowns; Love best contented is In shady Groves, and humble Cottages, Where when 'twould sport, it safely may retreat, Free from the Noise and Danger of the Great; Where Victors are ambitious of no Bays, But what their Nymphs bestow on Holy-days; Nor Envy can the amorous Shepherd move, Unless against a Rival in his Love.
Abd. Love and Ambition are the same to me, In either I'll no Rivals brook.
Qu. Nor I: And when the King you urge me to remove, It may be from Ambition, not from Love.
Abd. Those Scruples did not in your Bosom dwell, When you a King did in a Husband kill.
Qu. How, Sir, dare you upbraid me with that Sin, To which your Perjuries first drew me in?
Abd. You interrupt my Sense; I only meant A Sacrifice to Love so well begun Shou'd not Devotion want to finish it; And if that stop to all our Joys were gone, The envying World wou'd to our Power submit: But Kings are sacred, and the Gods alone Their Crimes must judge, and punish too, or none-- Yet he alone destroys his Happiness.
Qu. There's yet one more--
Abd. One more! give me his Name, And I will turn it to a Magick Spell, To