Chapter 69

_Enter_ Philander _and_ Cleontius.

_Phi_. I know he’s fled to the Camp, For there he only can secure himself.

_Cle_. I do not think it, Sir. He’s too brave to justify an Action Which was the Outrage only of his Passion, That soon will toil it self into a Calm, And then will grow considerate again, And hate the Rashness it provok’d him to.

_Phi_. That shall not serve his turn--go Tell him I’ll get his Pardon of the King, And set him free from other fears of Justice, But those which I intend to execute. If he be brave, he’ll not refuse this offer; If not, I’ll do as he has done by me, And meet his hated Soul by Treachery. [Cle_. goes out_. --And then I’ve nothing more to do but die. --Ah, how agreeable are the thoughts of Death! How kindly do they entertain my Soul, And tell it pretty tales of Satisfaction in the other world, That I shall dwell for ever with _Erminia_?--but stay, That sacred Spirit yet is unreveng’d, --I’ll send that Traitor’s Soul to eternal Night, Then mine shall take its so desired Flight. [_Going out_.

_Enter _Erminia, _calls him_.

_Er_. Return, Philander, whither wouldst thou fly?

_Phi_. What Voice is that? [_Turns, sees her, and is frighted_.

_Er_. ‘Tis I, my Prince, ‘tis I.

_Phi_. Thou--Gods--what art thou--in that lovely shape?

_Er_. A Soul that from Elysium made escape, [_As she comes towards him, he goes back in great amaze_. To visit thee; why dost thou steal away? I’ll not approach thee nearer than I may.

_Phi_. Why do I shake--it is _Erminia’s_ form-- And can that Beauty ought that’s ill adorn? --In every part _Erminia_ does appear, And sure no Devil can inhabit there.

[_He comes on and kneels, one knocks, she steals back in at a door_.

_Alcan_. [_Within_.] My Lord the Prince!

_Phi_. Ha--Oh Gods, I charge thee not to vanish yet! I charge thee by those Powers thou dost obey, Not to deprive me of thy blessed sight.

_Er_. I will revisit thee. [_Ex_.

_Enter_ Alcander.

_Phi_. I’m not content with that. --Stay, stay, my dear _Erminia_.

_Alcan_. What mean you, Sir? [_He rises and looks still afrighted_.

_Phi_. _Alcander_, look, look, how she glides away, Dost thou not see’t?

_Alcan_. Nothing, Sir, not I.

_Phi_. No, now she’s gone again.

_Alcan_. You are disorder’d, pray sit down a while.

_Phi_. No, not at all, _Alcander_; I’m my self, I was not in a Dream, nor in a Passion When she appear’d, her Face a little pale, But else my own _Erminia_, she her self, I mean a thing as like, nay, it spoke too, And I undaunted answer’d it again; But when you knockt it vanisht.

_Alcan_. ‘Twas this _Aminta_ would persuade me to, And, faith, I laught at her, And wish I might have leave to do so now.

_Phi_. You do displease me with your Unbelief.

_Alcan_. Why, Sir, do you think there can indeed be Ghosts?

_Phi_. Pray do not urge my Sense to lose its nature.

_Er_. It is _Alcander_, I may trust him too. [_She peeps in on them, and comes out_.

_Phi_. Look where she comes again, credit thy Eyes, Which did persuade thee that they saw her dead.

_Alcan_. By Heaven, and so they did. [_Both seem frighted_. --Gods--this is wondrous strange! yet I can bear it, If it were the Devil himself in that fair shape.

_Phi_. And yet thou shakest.

_Alcan_. I do, but know not why. --Inform us, lovely Spirit, what thou art, A God--or Devil; if either, thou art welcome.

_Er_. You cannot think, _Alcander_, there be Ghosts. [_She gives her hands to him and_ Phi. _which they refuse to touch_. No, give me your hand, and prove mine flesh and blood. --Sir, you were wont to credit what I said, And I would still merit that kind opinion.

_Phi_. _Erminia_, Soul of Sweetness, is it you? --How do you ravish with excess of Joys?

_Er_. Softly, dear Sir, do not express that Joy, Lest you destroy it by your doing so. I fly for sanctuary to your Arms; As yet none knows I live, but poor _Isillia_, Who bathing of my cold face with her tears, Perceiv’d some signs of life, and us’d what means Her Love and Duty did instruct her in; And I in half an hour was so reviv’d, As I had sense of all was past and done; And to prevent a death I yet might fear, If mad _Alcippus_ had return’d again, --Alone I came to you, where I could find Alone my Safety too.

_Phi_. From Gods and Men, _Erminia_, thou art safe, My best and blest _Erminia_.

_Er_. Sir, in my coming hither I met _Aminta_, Who I may fear has alarm’d all the Court; She took me for a Ghost, and ran away, E’er I cou’d undeceive her. --_Falatius_ too, afrighted even to death--

_Alcan_. Faith, that was lucky, Madam. --Hark, some body knocks, you’d best retire a little. [_Leads her into the door_.

_Enter_ Galatea _and_ Aminta _lighted_.

_Gal_. Ah, Brother, there’s such news abroad--

_Phi_. What, dear Sister, for I am here confin’d, And cannot go to meet it?

_Gal_. _Erminia’s_ Ghost is seen, and I’m so frighted--

_Phi_. You would not fear it though it should appear.

_Gal_. Oh, do not say so; For though the World had nought I held more dear, I would not see her Ghost for all the World.

_Alcan_. But, Madam, ‘tis so like _Erminia_--

_Am_. Why, have you seen it too?

_Alcan_. Yes, _Aminta_.

_Am_. Then there be Ghosts, _Alcander_.

_Phi_. _Aminta_, we’ll convince him. [Phi. _leads out_ Er. _who comes smiling to the_ Princess.

_Gal_. But how, dear Creature, wert thou thus preserv’d?

_Phi_. Another time for that, but now let’s think [Aminta _embraces her_. How to preserve her still. Since all believe her dead, but who are present, And that they may remain in that blest error, I will consult with you; but you, my dearest, Shall as the Spirit of _Erminia_ act, And reap the glory of so good a part: It will advance the new design I have; And, Sister, to your care I must commit the Treasure of my Life.

_Gal_. It was not kind, she came not first to me.

_Er_. Madam, I fear’d the safety of my Prince, And every moment that I found I liv’d, Were more tormenting than those of death, Till I had undeceiv’d his Apprehensions.

_Phi_. ‘Twas like thy self, generous and kind, my Dear, Thou mightst have come too late else.

_Er_. But, Sir, pray where’s my Murderer? for yet A better name I cannot well afford him.

_Gal_. All that we know of him, _Pisaro_ now inform’d me, Who came just as he thought he had murder’d thee, And begg’d he would provide for his own safety. But he who gave him sober promises, No sooner found himself out of his arms, But frantick and i’th’ dark he got away. But out o’th’ Court he knows he cannot pass At this dead time of night; But he believes he is i’th’ Groves or Gardens, And thither he is gone to find him out.

_Alcan_. This is no place to make a longer stay in, The King has many Spies about the Prince, ’.were good you would retire to your Apartment.

_Gal_. We’ll take your Counsel, Sir. --Good night, Brother.

_Phi_. _Erminia_, may thy Dreams be calm and sweet, As thou hast made my Soul; May nothing of the Cruelty that’s past, Approach thee in a rude uneasy thought; Remember it not so much as in thy Prayers, Let me alone to thank the Gods for thee, To whom that Blessing only was ordain’d.

_And when I lose my Gratitude to Heaven, May they deprive me of the Joys they’ve given_.

[_Exeunt_.