University of Virginia Library

SCEN. II.

Enter Aminta as passing over the Stage, is stayed by Olinda.
Oli.
Why so hasty, Aminta.

Am.
The time requires it, Olinda.

Oli.
But I've an humble suit to you.

Am.
You shall command me anything.

Oli.
Pray Heaven you keep your word:

Am.
That sad tone of thine Olinda has almost
Made me repent of my promise, but come; wist;

Oli.
My Brother, Madam.

Am.
Now fye upon thee, is that all thy business?

[offers to go
Oli.
Stay Madam, he dies for you.

Am.
He cannot do't for any woman living:
But well—it seems he speaks of love to you;
To me he does appear a very Statue.

Oli.
He naught but sighs and calls upon your Name,
And vows you are the cruell'st Maid that breaths.

Am.
Thou canst not be in earnest sure.

Oli.
I'le swear I am, and so is he.

Am.
Nay then thou hast a hard task on't; to make
Vows to all the Women he makes love to;
Indeed I pity thee; ha, ha, ha.

Ol.
You should not laugh at those you have undon.

Am.
Aminta sings.
Hang love, for I will never pine,
For any Man alive;
Nor shall this jolly heart of mine,
The thoughts of it receive;
I will not purchase slavery
At such a dangerous rate.
But glory at my liberty,
And laugh at love and fate.

Oli.
You'll kill him by this cruelty.

Am.
What is't thou call'st so,
For I have hitherto given no denials.
Nor has he given me cause;
I've seen him wildely gaze upon me often,
And somtimes blush and smile, but seldom that;
And now and then found fault with my replies,
And wonder'd where the devil lay that wit;
Which he beleev'd no Judg of it could find.

Oli.
Faith Madam, that's his way of making love.

Am.
It will not take with me, I love a man,
Can kneel, and swear, and cry, and look submiss,
As if he meant indeed to die my slave:
Thy Brother looks—but too much like a Conqueror.

[sighs.
Oli.
How Aminta, can you sigh in earnest.

Am.
Yes Olinda, and you shall know its meaning,
I love Alcander—and am not asham'd o'th' secret,
But prithee do not tell him what I say.
—Oh he's a man made up of those perfections,
Which I have often lik't in several men;
And wish't united to compleat some one,
Whom I might have the glory to o'recome
—His Mean and Person, but 'bove all his Humour,
That surly Pride, though even to me addrest,
Do strangely well becom him.

Oli.
May I believe this?

Am.
Not if you mean to speak on't,
But I shall soon enough betray my self.
Enter Falatius
[with a patch or two on his face.
Falatius, Welcom from the Wars
I'me glad to see y've scap'd the dangers of them.

Fa.
Not so well scap'd neither, Madam, but I
Have left still a few testimonies of their
Severity to me.

[points to his face.
Oli.
That's not so well, beleeve me.

Fa.
Nor so ill, since they be such as render us no
Less acceptable to your fair eyes, Madam;
But had you seen me when I gain'd them, Ladies,
In that Heroick posture.

Am.
What posture?

Fa.
In that of fighting, Madam.
You would have call'd to mind that ancient story
Of the stout Giants that wag'd War with Heaven;
Just so I fought, and for as glorious prize,
Your excellent Ladiship.

Am.
For me, was it for me you ran this hazard then?

Fa.
Madam, I hope you do not question that,
Was it not all the faults you found with me,
The reputation of my want of Courage,
A thousand Furies are not like a Battel,
And but for you,
By Jove I would not fight it o're again
For all the glory on't, and now do you doubt me:
Madam your heart is strangely fortified
That can resist th'effects I've made against it,
And bring to boot such marks of valour too.

Enter to them Alcander, who seeing them would turn back, but Olinda stays him.
Ol.
Brother, come back.

Fa.
Advance, advance, what Man, afraid of me?

Alc.
How, can she hold discourse with that Fantastick

[aside.
Fa.
Come forward and be complaisant

[pulls him again.
Alc.
That's most proper for your wit Falatius.

Fa.
Why so angry?

Alc.
Away, thou art deceav'd.

Am.
You've lost your sleep, which puts you out of humour.

Alc.
He's damn'd will lose a moment on't for you.

Am.
Who is't that has displeas'd you?

Alc.
You have, and took my whole repose away,
And more then that, which you can ne're restore;
I can do nothing as I did before.
When I would sleep, I cannot do't for you,
My Eyes and Fancy do that form pursue,
And when I sleep, you Revel in my dreams,
And all my life is nothing but extreams.
When I would tell my love, I seem most rude,
For that informs me how I am subdu'd.
Gods you'r unjust to tyrannize o're me,
When thousands fitter for't then I go free.

[goes out
Fal.
Why what the Devil has possest Alcander.

Ol.
How like you this Aminta?

Am.
Better and better, he's a wondrous man.

[Am. and Ol. goes out
Fa.
'Tis the most unjanty humour that ever I saw;
I, I, he is my Rivall,
No marvell an' he look't so big upon me,
He is damnable valiant, and as Jealous as
He is Valiant, how I shall behave my
Self to him, and these too idle humours of his
I cannot yet determine; the comfort is, he
Knows I am a Coward what ever face I set upon it.
Well, I must either resolve never to provoke
His jealousie, or be able to re'ncounter his
Other fury, his valour; that were a good
Resolve if I be not past all hope.

[Exeunt.