Act 4 — SCENE VII. The Palace.

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.