to continue the journey alone.  Isillia, Erminia’s woman, has already admitted Philander to her mistress’ chamber, when the lovers are surprised by the arrival of Alcippus on the scene.  The prince is concealed, although the meeting had been purely innocent, but he is betrayed owing to the fact of his inadvertently leaving his hat and sword upon a table.  He departs unmolested, but once he is gone Alcippus, beside himself with blind fury, strangles Erminia with an embroidered garter—­Pisaro, coming in a few moments after, reproaches him with the murder but hurries him away to concealment.  The deed, however, is discovered and noised abroad by Falatius, a busy coxcomb courtier.  Orgulius demands Alcippus’ life from the King, but Galatea, heart-broken, pleads for the man she loves.  Philander is distraught with grief, and the King decides that if he harms himself Alcippus shall straightway pay the forfeit.  The prince is about to wreak his vengeance on the cruel husband when he is met by Erminia herself, who, owing to her maid’s attentions, has recovered from the swoon Alcippus took for death.  It is resolved that Alcippus, who is now torn with agony and remorse, must be fittingly punished, and accordingly as he lies sick at heart in his chamber Erminia enters as a spirit, and so looking over his shoulder into a mirror wherein he is gazing tells him plainly of Galatea’s love.  The princess then passes by as it were a phantom, and after a masque, which he takes for a dream, he is conducted to a room draped in black wherein is placed a catafalque.  Here he encounters Philander and as they are at hot words the King, who has been privy to the whole design, enters and the two are reconciled.  Erminia next appears, and the happy accident explained, Erminia is bestowed upon the dauphin, whilst the princess is united to the favourite.

There is a slight underplot which deals with the amours of Aminta, sister to Pisaro, and Alcander.  She is also courted by the cowardly fop, Falatius.

SOURCE.

The Forc’d Marriage; or, The Jealous Bridegroom is the earliest, and most certainly one of the weakest of Mrs. Behn’s plays.  This is, however, far from saying that it is not a very good example of the Davenant, Howard, Porter, Stapylton school of romantic tragi-comedy.  But Aphara had not yet hit upon her brilliant vein of intrigue.  In The Forced Marriage she seems to have remembered The Maid’s Tragedy.  The situation between Alcippus and Erminia, Act ii, III, has some vague resemblance to that of Amintor and Evadne, Act ii, I. Aminta also faintly recalls Dula, whilst the song ‘Hang love, for I will never pine’ has a far-off echo of ‘I could never have the power.’  But Mrs. Behn has not approached within measuring distance of that supreme masterpiece.

THEATRICAL HISTORY.