Volume Iii Part 101 (1/2)

_Alcip_. Ah, do not weep, a tear or two's enough For the Completion of your Cruelty, That when it fail'd to exercise your will, Sent those more powerful Weapons from your Eyes, And what by your severity you mist of, These (but a more obliging way) perform.

Gently, _Erminia_, pour the Balsam in, That I may live, and taste the sweets of Love.

--Ah, should you still continue, as you are, Thus wondrous good, thus excellently fair, I should retain my growing name in War, And all the Glories I have ventur'd for, And fight for Crowns to recompense thy Bounty.

--This can your Smiles; but when those Beams are clouded, Alas, I freeze to very Cowardice, And have not Courage left to kill my self.

_Er_. A Fate more glorious does that Life attend, And does preserve you for a n.o.bler end.

_Alcip. Erminia_, do not sooth my easy Heart, For thou my Fate, and thou my Fortune art; Whatever other blessings Heaven design, Without my dear _Erminia_, I'll decline.

Yet, Madam, let me hope before I go, In pity that you ought to let me do: 'Tis all you shall allow m'impatient heart.

_Er_. That's what against my will I must impart: But wish it please the G.o.ds, when next we meet, We might as Friends, and not as Lovers greet.

[_Exeunt_.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. _The Palace_.

_Enter_ Galatea _and_ Aminta, _met by_ Philander _and_ Alcander.

_Phi_. So hasty, Sister!

_Gal_. Brother, I am glad to meet you.

_Aminta_ has some welcome News for you.

_Am_. My Lord!

_Erminia_ yet is hardly brought to yield; She wants but some encouragement from you, That may a.s.sist her weakness to subdue, And 'twas but faintly she deny'd to see you.

_Phi_. However, I will venture, She can but chide, and that will soon be past: A Lover's Anger is not long to last.

_Am. Isillia_ I have won to give you entrance.

_Phi_. Love furnish me with powerful Arguments: Direct my Tongue, that my disorder'd Sense May speak my Pa.s.sion more than Eloquence. [_Aside_.

_Gal_. But is _Alcippus_ gone?

_Alcan_. Madam, an hour since.

_Phi_. 'Tis well; and Sister, Whilst I persuade _Erminia_ to this flight, Make it your business to persuade the King, Hang on his neck, and kiss his willing cheek: Tell him how much you love him, and then smile, And mingle Words with Kisses; 'twill o'ercome him Thou hast a thousand pretty Flatteries, Which have appeas'd his highest fits of Pa.s.sion: A Song from thee has won him to that rest, Which neither Toil nor Silence could dispose him to.

Thou know'st thy power, and now or never use it.

_Gal_. 'Twas thither I was going.

_Phi_. May'st thou be prosperous.