The forc'd marriage, or, The jealous bridegroom a tragi-comedy : as it is acted at His Highnesse the Duke of Yorks theatre
Behn, Aphra, 1640-1689.
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ACT IV. SCENE. VII.
Enter Phillander, Alcander, Gallatea, Aminta, and Falatius.
Fa.
Ah fly, Sir, fly, from what I have to tell you.
Alcan.
What's the news?
Fa.
Ah Sir, the dismall'st heavy news that ere
Was told or heard.
Gall.
No matter, out with it.
Fa.
Erminia, Madam.
Phi.
Erminia, What of her?
Fal.
Is dead, Sir.
Alcan.
What hast thou lost thy wits?
Fa.
I had them not about me, at the sight
I else had been undone: Alass Erminias dead,
Murther'd and dead.
Alcan.
It cannot be, thou ly'st.
Fa.
By Jove, I do not Sir, I saw her dead,
Alass, I ran as I was wont to do,
Without demanding licence to her chamber,
But found her not as I was wont to do,
[The women weep.
In a gay humour; but stone dead, and cold.
Phi.
Alcander, am I awake—or being so,
Dost not perceive this senseless flesh of mine
Harden into a cold benummed statue.
—Methinks—it does—support me—or I fall
And so—shall break to pieces—
[Falls into his arms.
Gall.
Ah lovely maid, was this thy destiny?
Did Heaven create thy beauties to this end?
[he leads him out.
—I must distrust their bounties, who neglected
The best and fairest of their handy-work;
This will encourage sin, when innocence
Must perish thus, and meet with no defence.
Enter the King and Orgulius.
Org.
If murther'd innocence do cry for justice,
Can you, great Sir, make a defence against it?
Kin.
I think I cannot.
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Org.
Sir, as you are pious, as you are my King,
The Lover and Protector of your people,
Revenge Erminia's Murther on Alcippus.
Gall.
If e're my Mother, Sir, were dear to you,
As from your tears I guest whene're you nam'd her:
If the remembrance of those charmes remain,
Whose weak resemblance you have found in me,
For which you oft have said you lov'd me dearly;
Dispence your mercies, and preserve this Copy,
Which else must perish with th' Original.
King.
Why all this Conjuration, Gallatea.
Gall.
To move you, Sir, to spare Alcippus life.
Kin.
You are unjust, if you demand a life,
Must fall, a sacrifice to Erminia's Ghost,
That is a debt I have ingag'd to pay.
Gall.
Sir, if that promise be already past,
And that your word be irrevocable.
I vow I will not live a moment after him.
Kin.
How Gallatea! I'de rather hop'd you'd joyn'd
Your prayers with his.
Gall.
Ah Sir, the late Petition which I made you
Might have inform'd you why these knees are bow'd,
'Twas but this night I did confess I lov'd him,
And you would have allow'd that passion in me,
Had he not been Erminias,
And can you question now what this address meant.
Or.
Remember Sir, Erminia was my Daughter.
Gall.
And Sir, remember that I am your Daughter.
Or.
And shall the Traytor live that murther'd her?
Gall.
And will you by his death Sir, murther me?
In dear Erminias death too much is done,
If you revenge that death, 'tis two for one.
Or.
Ah Sir, to let him live's unjust in you.
Gall.
And killing me, you more injustice do.
Or.
Alcippus, Madam, merits not your love,
That could so cruel to Erminia prove.
Gall.
If lovers could be rul'd by reasons laws.
For this complaint on him, we'd had no cause.
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'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 Genetall;
By which you have destroy'd Phillander too,
And now you would Alcippus life undoe.
Or.
That was a fault of duty to your Majesty.
Kin.
Though that were honest, 'twas not wisely don•…
For had I known the passion of my son,
And how essentiall 'twas to his content,
I willingly had granted my consent,
Her worth and beauty had sufficient been,
To've rais'd her to the title of a Queen.
Did not my Glorious Father, Great Gen'rall,
Marry the Daughter of his Admirall.
And I might to my Son have been as kind,
As then my Father did my Grandsire find.
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.
Kin.
How did Phillander take Erminias death?
Gall.
My own surprise and grief was so extream,
I know not what effects it had in him,
But this account of him I'me forc'd to give,
Since she is dead, I know he cannot live.
Kin.
I'le know Phillanders fate ere I proceed,
And if he dye, Alcippus too shall bleed.
[Exeunt.
