Laugh at the kind words and mystical contrivement;
If such a time shall come,
Know I am sighing then thy absence, Iphigene,
And weeping o'er the false but pleasing image.15
Enter Almerin
Alm. Francelia, Francelia,
Rise, rise, and save thyself! the enemy
That does not know thy worth, may else destroy it.[Throws open the door
Ha! mine eyes grow sick:
A plague has through them stol'n into my heart,20
And I grow dizzy! Feet, lead me off again,
Without the knowledge of my body! I
Shall act, I know not what else.[Exit
Fran. How came he in?
Dear Iphigene, we are betray'd!25
Let's raise the castle, lest he should return.
Iph. That were to make all public. Fear not;
I'll satisfy his anger: I can do it.
Fran. Yes, with some quarrel!
And bring my honour and my love in danger.30
Re-enter Almerin
Look, he returns; and wrecks of fury,
Like hurried clouds over the face of heaven
Before a tempest, in his looks appear.
Alm. If they would question what our rage doth act,
And make it sin, they would not thus provoke men.35
I am too tame.
For, if they live, I shall be pointed at.
Here I denounce a war to all the world;
And thus begin it.[Runs at Iphigene
Iph. What hast thou done?[She falls40
Fran. Ah me, help, help![Almerin wounds her
Iph. Hold!
Alm. 'Tis too late.
Iph. [aside]. My fond deceits involve the innocent.
Rather than she shall suffer, I will discover45
All.
Alm. Ha! what
Will he discover?
Iph. That which shall make thee curse
The blindness of thy rage—I am a woman!
