_Enter_ Philander, Alcander, Galatea, Aminta, _and_ Falatius.
_Fal_. Ah, fly, Sir, fly from what I have to tell you.
_Alcan_. What’s the news?
_Fal_. Ah, Sir, the dismal’st heavy news that e’er was told or heard.
_Gal_. No matter, out with it.
_Fal. Erminia_, Madam--
_Phi. Erminia_, what of her?
_Fal_. Is dead, Sir.
_Alcan_. What, hast thou lost thy Wits?
_Fal_. I had them not about me at the sight,
I else had been undone: Alas, _Erminia’s_ dead,
Murder’d, and dead.
_Alcan_. It cannot be, thou ly’st.
_Fal_. By _Jove_, I do not, Sir, I saw her dead:
Alas, I ran as I was wont to do,
Without demanding licence, to her Chamber,
But found her not, as I was wont to do, [_The Women weep_.
In a gay humour, but stone-dead and cold.
_Phi. Alcander_, am I awake?--or being so,
Dost not perceive this senseless Flesh of mine
Hardened into a cold benumbed Statue?
--Methinks--it does--support me--or I fall;
And so--shall break to pieces--
[_Falls into his Arms. He leads him out_.
_Gal_. Ah, lovely Maid, was this thy destiny?
Did Heaven create thy Beauties to this end?
--I must distrust their Bounties, who neglected
The best and fairest of their handy-work;
This will incourage Sin, when Innocence
Must perish thus, and meet with no defence.
_Enter the_ King _and_ Orgulius.
_Org_. If murder’d Innocence do cry for Justice,
Can you, great Sir, make a defence against it?
_King_. I think I cannot.
_Org_. Sir, as you are pious, as you are my King,
The Lover and Protector of your People,
Revenge _Erminia’s_ Murder on _Alcippus_.
_Gal_. If e’er my Mother, Sir, were dear to you,
As from your Tears I guest whene’er you nam’d her;
If the remembrance of those Charms remain,
Whose weak resemblance you have found in me,
For which you oft have said you lov’d me dearly;
Dispense your mercy, and preserve this Copy,
Which else must perish with th’.riginal.
_King_. Why all this Conjuration, _Galatea_?
_Gal_. To move you, Sir, to spare _Alcippus’. Life.
_King_. You are unjust, if you demand a Life
Must fall a Sacrifice to _Erminia’s_ Ghost,
That is a debt I have ingag’d to pay.
_Gal_. Sir, if that Promise be already past,
And that your Word be irrevocable,
I vow I will not live a moment after him.
_King_. How, _Galatea_! I’d rather hop’d you’d join’d
Your Prayers with his.
_Gal_. Ah, Sir, the late Petition which I made you
Might have inform’d you why these Knees are bow’d;
’.was but this night I did confess I lov’d him,
And you would have allow’d that Passion in me,
Had he not been _Erminia’s_:
And can you question now what this Address meant?
_Org_. Remember, Sir, _Erminia_ was my Daughter.
_Gal_. And, Sir, remember that I am your Daughter.
_Org_. And shall the Traitor live that murder’d her?
_Gal_. And will you by his Death, Sir, murder me?
In dear _Erminia’s_ Death too much is done;
If you revenge that Death, ‘tis two for one.
_Org_. Ah, Sir, to let him live’s unjust in you.
_Gal_. And killing me, you more injustice do.
_Org. Alcippus_, Madam, merits not your Love,
That could so cruel to _Erminia_ prove.
_Gal_. If Lovers could be rul’d by Reason’s Laws,
For this complaint on him we’ad had no cause.
’.was Love that made him this rash act commit;
Had she been kind, ‘t had taught him to submit.
--But might it not your present Griefs augment,
I’d say that you deserve this punishment,
By forcing her to marry with the General;
By which you have destroy’d _Philander_ too,
And now you would _Alcippus’. Life undo.
_Org_. That was a fault of duty to your Majesty.
_King_. Though that were honest, ‘twere not wisely done;
For had I known the passion of my Son,
And how essential ‘twas to his content
I willingly had granted my consent;
Her Worth and Beauty had sufficient been
T’ave rais’d her to the Title of a Queen.
Did not my glorious Father, great _Gonzal_,
Marry the Daughter of his Admiral?
And I might to my Son have been as kind,
As then my Father did my Grandsire find.
_Org_. You once believ’d that I had guilty been,
And had the Punishment, but not the Sin;
I suffer’d when ‘twas thought I did aspire,
And should by this have rais’d my crimes yet higher.
_King_. How did _Philander_ take _Erminia’s_ death?
_Gal_. My own surprize and grief was so extream,
I know not what effects it had in him;
But this account of him, I’m forc’d to give,
Since she is dead, I know he cannot live.
_King_. I’ll know _Philander’s_ fate e’er I proceed;
And if he die, _Alcippus_ too shall bleed.
[_Exeunt_.