The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume 2 | Page 9

calm, and hear my Wife call'd Whore? Were he great
Jove, and arm'd with all his Lightning, By Heav'n, I could not hold my
just Resentment.
Qu. 'Twas in his Passion, noble Abdelazer-- [King talking to Phil. aside.
Imprudently thou dost disarm thy Rage, And giv'st the Foe a warning,
e'er thou strik'st; When with thy Smiles thou might'st securely kill. You
know the Passion that the Cardinal bears me; His Pow'r too o'er Philip,
which well manag'd Will serve to ruin both: put up your Sword-- When
next you draw it, teach it how to act.
Abd. You shame me, and command me.
Qu. Why all this Rage?--does it become you, Sir? [To Men. aside.
What is't you mean to do?
Men. You need not care, whilst Abdelazer's safe.
Qu. Jealousy, upon my Life--how gay it looks!
Men. Madam, you want that pitying Regard To value what I do, or
what I am; I'll therefore lay my Cardinal's Hat aside, And in bright
Arms demand my Honour back.
Qu. Is't thus, my Lord, you give me Proofs of Love? Have then my
Eyes lost all their wonted Power? And can you quit the hope of gaining
me, To follow your Revenge?--go--go to fight, Bear Arms against your
Country, and your King, All for a little worthless Honour lost.
Men. 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