University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

Enter Phillander and Alcander.
[the Prince half undrest.
Phi.
What's a Clock, Alcander.

Alc.
'Tis midnight, Sir, will you not go to bed.

Phi.
To bed, friend; what to do?

Alc.
To sleep, Sir, as you were wont to do.

Phi.
Sleep, and Erminia have abandon'd me,
I'le never sleep again.—

Alc.
This is an honour, Sir, you must forsake.

Phi.
Never, never, oh Alcander.
Dost know where my Erminia lies to night.

Alc.
I guess, Sir.

Phi.
Where, nay prithee speak,
Indeed I shall not be offended at it.

Alc.
I know not why you should, Sir.
She's where she ought, abed with young Alcippus.

Phi.
Thou speak'st thy real thoughts.

Alc.
Why should your Highness doubt it?

Phi.
By Heaven there is no faith in Woman-kind,
Alcander, dost thou know an honest woman?

Alc.
Many Sir.

Phi.
I do not think it; 'tis impossible;
Erminia, if it could have been, were she,
But she has broke her Vows which I held sacred,
And plays the Wanton in anothers Armes.

Alc.
Sir, Do you think it just to wrong her so.

Phi.
Oh would thou couldst perswade me that I did so;
Thou know'st the Oaths and Vows she made to me,
Never to marry other then my self,
And you Alcander wrought me to believe them.
But now her Vows to marry none but me,
Are given to Alcippus, and in his bosom breath'd,
With balmey whispers whilst the ravisht youth,
For every syllable returns a kiss,
And in the height of all his extasie,
Philander's dispossess'd and quite forgotten.
Ah charming maid is this your love to me,
Yet now thou art no maid, nor lov'st not me.
And I the fool to let thee know my weakness.

Alc.
Why do you thus proceed to vex your self,
To question what you list, and answer what you please,
Sir, this is not the way to be at ease.

Phi.
Ah dear Alcander what wouldst have me do?

Alc.
Do that which may preserve you;
Do that which every man in love would do,
Make it your business to possess the object.

Phi.
What meanest thou, is she not marryed—

Alcan.
What then, she'as all about her, that she had,
Of youth and Beauty she is mistress still,
And may dispose it how, and where she will.

Phi.
Pray Heaven I do not think too well of thee,
What means all this discourse, art thou honest?

Alcan.
As most men of my age.

Phi.
And wouldst thou counsell me to such a sin?
For—I do understand—thee.

Alcan.
I know not what you term so.

Phi.
I never thought thou'dst been so great a villaine
To urge me to a crime would damn us all,
Why dost thou smile, hast thou done well in this?

Alcan.
I thought so, or I'd kept it to my self.
Sir ere you grow in rage at what I've said,
Do you think I love you, or believe my life
Were to be valued more then your repose?
You seem to think it is not.

Phi.
Possibly I may.

Alc.
The sin of what I have propos'd to you
You only seem to hate; Sir is it so?
—If such religious thoughts about you dwell,
Why is it that you thus perplex your self?
Self-murther sure, is much the greater sin.
Erminia too, you say has broke her vows,
She that will swear and lye, will do the rest.
And of these evils, this I think the least;
And as for me I never thought it sin.

Phi.
And canst thou have so poor a thought of her.

Alcan.
I hope you'l find her Sir as willing to't
As I am to suppose it, nay believe't,
Shee'l look upon't as want of love and courage
Should you not now attempt it;
You know Sir there's no other remedy,
Take no denyal but the Game pursue,
For what she will refuse, she wishes you.

Phi.
With such pretentions—she may angry grow.

Alc.
I never heard of any that were so,
For though the will to do't, and power they want,
They love to hear, of what they cannot grant.

Phi.
No more,
Is this your duty to your Prince Alcander?
You were not wont to councell thus amiss,
Tis either disrespect or some design,
I could be wondrous angry with thee now,
But that my grief has such possession here,
'Twill make no room for rage.

Alcan.
I cannot Sir repent of what I've said,
Since all the errors which I have committed,
Are what my passion to your interest led me to,
But yet I beg your Highness would recall
That sence which would perswade you 'tis unjust.

Phi.
Name it no more, and I'le forgive it thee.

Alc.
I can obey you Sir.

Phi.
What shall we do to night, I cannot sleep?

Alc.
I'me good at watching, and doing any thing.

Phi.
We'le Serinade the Ladies and the Bride.
—The first we may disturb, but she I fear
Keeps watch with me to night, though not like me.

Enter a Page of the Princes.
Phil.
How now Boy,
Is the Musick ready which I spoke for?

Pag.
They wait your Highness's command.

Phi.
Bid them prepare, I'm coming.
[exeunt Page.
Soft touches may allay the discords here
And sweeten, though not lessen my despair.