The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume 2 | Page 7

Worse mischief shall
ensue--you have your Sentence. [Ex. Phil, and Men.
Alon. My Brother banish'd! 'tis very sudden; For thy sake, Sister, this
must be recall'd. [To Flor.
Qu. Alonzo, join with me, I'll to the King, And check the Pride of this
insulting Cardinal. [Exeunt all, except Abdelazer, Florella.
Abd. Banish'd! if I digest this Gall, May Cowards pluck the Wreath
from off my Brow, Which I have purchas'd with so many Wounds, And
all for Spain; for Spain! ingrateful Spain!-- Oh, my Florella, all my
Glory's vanish'd, The Cardinal (Oh damn him) wou'd have me banish'd.
Flor. But, Sir, I hope you will not tamely go.
Abd. Tamely!--ha, ha, ha,--yes, by all means-- A very honest and
religious Cardinal!
Flor. I wou'd not for the World you should be banish'd.
Abd. Not Spain, you mean--for then she leaves the King. [Aside. What
if I be?--Fools! not to know--All parts o' th' World Allow enough for
Villany; for I'll be brave no more. It is a Crime--and then I can live any
where-- But say I go from hence--I leave behind me A Cardinal that
will laugh--I leave behind me A Philip that will clap his Hands in
sport-- But the worst Wound is this, I leave my Wrongs, Dishonours,
and my Discontents, all unreveng'd-- Leave me, Florella--prithee do not
weep; I love thee, love thee wondrously--go leave me-- I am not now at
leisure to be fond-- Go to your Chamber--go.
Flor. No, to the King I'll fly, And beg him to revenge thy Infamy. [Ex.
Flor. To him Alonzo.
Alon. The Cardinal's mad to have thee banish'd Spain. I've left the
Queen in angry Contradiction, But yet I fear the Cardinal's Reasoning.

Abd. This Prince's Hate proceeds from Love, He's jealous of the Queen,
and fears my Power. [Aside.
Alon. Come, rouse thy wonted Spirits, awake thy Soul, And arm thy
Justice with a brave Revenge.
Abd. I'll arm no Justice with a brave Revenge. [Sullenly.
Alon. Shall they then triumph o'er thee, who were once Proud to attend
thy conqu'ring Chariot-Wheels?
Abd. I care not--I am a Dog, and can bear wrongs.
Alon. But, Sir, my Honour is concern'd with yours, Since my lov'd
Sister did become your Wife; And if yours suffer, mine too is unsafe.
Abd. I cannot help it--
Alon. What Ice has chill'd thy Blood? This Patience was not wont to
dwell with thee.
Abd. 'Tis true; but now the World is chang'd you see. Thou art too
brave to know what I resolve-- [Aside. No more--here comes the King
with my Florella. He loves her, and she swears to me she's chaste; 'Tis
well, if true--well too, if it be false: [Aside. I care not, 'tis Revenge That
I must sacrifice my Love and Pleasure to. [Alon. and Abd. stand aside.
Enter King, Lords, Guards passing over the Stage, Florella in a
suppliant posture weeping.
King. Thou woo'st me to reverse thy Husband's Doom, And I woo thee
for Mercy on my self, Why shoud'st thou sue to him for Life and
Liberty, For any other, who himself lies dying, Imploring from thy
Eyes a little Pity?
Flor. Oh mighty King! in whose sole Power, like Heav'n, The Lives
and Safeties of your Slaves remain, Hear and redress my Abdelazer's
Wrongs.

King. All Lives and Safeties in my Power remain! Mistaken charming
Creature, if my Power Be such, who kneel and bow to thee, What must
thine be, Who hast the Sovereign Command o'er me and it? Wou'dst
thou give Life? turn but thy lovely Eyes Upon the wretched thing that
wants it, And he will surely live, and live for ever. Canst thou do this,
and com'st to beg of me?
Flor. Alas, Sir, what I beg's what you alone can give, My Abdelazer's
Pardon.
King. Pardon! can any thing ally'd to thee offend? Thou art so sacred
and so innocent, That but to know thee, and to look on thee, Must
change even Vice to Virtue. Oh my Florella! So perfectly thou dost
possess my Soul, That ev'ry Wish of thine shall be obey'd: Say, wou'dst
thou have thy Husband share my Crown? Do but submit to love me,
and I yield it.
Flor. Such Love as humble Subjects owe their King. [Kneels, he takes
her up. And such as I dare pay, I offer here.
King. I must confess it is a Price too glorious: But, my Florella--
Abd. I'll interrupt your amorous Discourse. [Aside. [Abd. comes up to
them.
Flor. Sir, Abdelazer's here.
King. His Presence never was less welcome to me;-- [Aside. But,
Madam, durst the Cardinal use this Insolence? Where is your noble
Husband?
Abd. He sees me, yet inquires for me. [Aside.
Flor. Sir, my Lord is here.
King. Abdelazer, I have heard with much surprize,