_Phi_. Stay, shall I let her go? shall her Commands, Though they have power to take my Life away, Have force to suffer me to injure her? Shall she be made a prey, and I permit it, Who only have the interest to forbid it? --No, let me be accurst then. [_Offers to follow_. _Alcan_. What mean you, Sir? _Phi_. Force the bold Ravisher to resign my Right. _Alcander_, is not she my Wife, and I his Prince? _Alcan_. ‘Tis true, Sir: And y’ave both power and justice on your side; And there are times to exercise ‘em both. _Phi_. Fitter than this, _Alcander_? _Alcan_. This night _Erminia’s_ Promise may repose you; To morrow is your own-- Till then I beg you’d think your interest safe. _Phi. Alcander_, thou hast peace about thee, and canst judge Better than I, ‘twixt what is just and fit. [_Puts up his Sword_. I hitherto believ’d my Flame was guided By perfect Reason: so we often find Vessels conducted by a peaceful Wind, And meet no opposition in their way, Cut a safe passage through the flattering Sea: But when a Storm the bounding Vessel throws, It does each way with equal rage oppose; For when the Seas are mad, could that be calm Like me, it wou’d be ruin’d in the Storm. [_Exeunt_. ACT III. SCENE I. _The apartments of_ Alcippus. _Enter_ Alcippus _and_ Pisaro. _Pis_. ‘Tis much, my Lord, you’ll not be satisfy’d. _Alcip_. Friendship’s too near a-kin to Love, _Pisaro_, To leave me any Peace, whilst in your Eyes I read Reserves, which ‘tis not kind to hide; --Come, prithee tell me what the quarrel was, And who ‘twas with; thou shalt, my dear _Pisaro_. _Pis_. Nay, now you urge me to impossibility: Good faith, I cannot tell, but guess the Prince. _Alcip_. ‘Tis true, _Pisaro_, ‘twas indeed the Prince. But what was th’occasion? _Pis_. He call’d me Spy, and I return’d th’affront, But took no notice that he was my Prince: It was a Folly I repented of; But ‘twas in a damn’d melancholy Mood. _Alcip_. Was it a going in or coming out? _Pis_. From whence? _Alcip. Erminia’s_ Chamber; prithee let me know, For I have fears that take away my sleep, Fears that will make me mad, stark mad, _Pisaro_. _Pis_. You do not well to fear without a cause. _Alcip_. O Friend, I saw what thou canst ne’er conceive; Last night I saw it when I came from thee: And if thou go’st about t’impose upon me, I’ll cast thee from my Soul. Come out with it, I see thy breast heave with a generous ardour, As if it scorn’d to harbour a reserve, Which stood not with its Amity to me. Could I but know my Fate, I could despise it: But when ‘tis clad in Robes of Innocence, The Devil cannot ‘scape it: Something Was done last night that gnaws my heart-strings; And many things the Princess too let fall, Which, Gods! I know not how to put together. And prithee be not thou a Ridler too: But if thou knew’st of ought that may concern me, Make me as wise as thou art.