Alcip. All that I have is so intirely thine,
And such a Captive thou hast made my Will,
Thou needst not be at the expence of wishing
For what thou canst desire that I may grant;
Why are thy Eyes declin’d?
Er. To satisfy a little modest scruple; I beg you would permit me, Sir—
Alcip. To lie alone to night, is it not so, Erminia?
Er. It is—
Alcip. That’s too severe, yet I will grant it thee? But why, Erminia, must I grant it thee?
Er. The Princess, Sir, questions my Power, and says, I cannot gain so much upon your Goodness.
Alcip. I could have wish’d some other had oblig’d thee to’t.
Er. You would not blame her if you knew her reason.
Alcip. Indeed I do not much, for I can guess
She takes the party of the Prince her Brother;
And this is only to delay those Joys,
Which she perhaps believes belong to him.
—But that, Erminia, you can best resolve;
And ‘tis not kindly done to hide a truth,
The Prince so clearly own’d.
Er. What did he own?