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_ ACT IV - SCENE I.
The Border of a Grove.Enter TENESCO to PHILIP and CHEKITAN.
TENESCO.
The Troops are all assembled, some have march'd,
Perhaps are now engag'd, and warm in Battle;
The rest have Orders where to bend their Course.
Each Tribe is headed by a valiant Chief,
Except the Bulls which fall to one of you;
The other stays to serve the State at home,
Or back us, should our Forces prove too weak.
PHILIP.
The Bulls are brave, had they a brave Commander,
They'd push the Battle home with sure Success.
I'd choose of all the Troops to be their Leader;
For tho' I'd neither Courage, Skill, nor Strength,
Honour attends the Man who heads the Brave;
Many are dubb'd for Heroes in these Times,
Who owe their Fame to those whom they commanded.
TENESCO.
But we shall ne'er suspect your Title false;
Already you've confirm'd your Fame and Courage,
And prov'd your Skill and Strength as a Commander.
PHILIP.
Still I'll endeavour to deserve your Praise,
Nor long delay the Honour you propose.
CHEKITAN.
But this will interfere with your Design,
And oversets the Scheme of winning Hendrick.
PHILIP.
Ah true--and kills your Hope--This Man 's in Love.
[To TENESCO. ]
TENESCO.
Indeed! In Love with whom? King Hendrick's Daughter?
PHILIP.
The same; and I've engag'd to win her Father.
TENESCO.
This may induce him to espouse our Cause,
Which likewise you engag'd should be effected.
PHILIP.
But then I can't command as was propos'd,
I must resign that Honour to this Lover,
While I conduct and form this double Treaty.
TENESCO.
I am content if you but please yourselves
By Means and Ways not hurtful to the Public.
CHEKITAN.
Was not the Public serv'd, no private Ends
Would tempt me to detain him from the Field,
Or in his stead propose myself a Leader;
But every Power I have shall be exerted:
And if in Strength or Wisdom I should fail,
I dare presume you'll ever find me faithful.
TENESCO.
I doubt it not--You'll not delay your Charge;
The Troops are all impatient for the Battle.
[Exeunt TENESCO and PHILIP.]
CHEKITAN
[solus].
This is not to my Mind--But I must do it--
If Philip heads the Troops, my Hopes are blown--
I must prepare, and leave the Event to Fate
And him--'Tis fix'd--There is no other Choice;
Monelia I must leave, and think of Battles--
She will be safe--But, Oh! the Chance of War--
Perhaps I fall--and never see her more--
This shocks my Soul in spite of Resolution--
The bare Perhaps is more than Daggers to me--
To part for ever! I'd rather stand against
Embattled Troops than meet this single Thought;
A Thought in Poison dipp'd and pointed round;
Oh! how it pains my doubting trembling Heart!
I must not harbour it--My Word is gone--
My Honour calls--and, what is more, my Love.
[Noise of MONELIA striving behind the scene.]
What Sound is that?--It is Monelia's Voice;
And in Distress--What Monster gives her Pain?
[Going towards the sound, the Scene opens and
discovers the PRIEST with her.] _
Read next: Act 4 - Scene 2
Read previous: Act 3 - Scene 3
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