_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.
"Twas 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 pa.s.sion 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 t.i.tle 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_.
SCENE VIII. _The Gallery_.
_Enter_ Falatius _and_ Labree.
_Fal_. Wert thou never valiant, _Labree_?
_Lab_. Yes, Sir, before I serv"d you, and since too: I Am provok"d to give you proofs on"t sometimes; For when I am angry I am a very Hector.
_Fal_. Ay, the Devil when a body"s angry, but that"s Not the Valour in mode; Men fight now a-days Without that, and even embrace whilst they draw Their Swords on one another.
_Lab_. Ay, Sir, those are Men that despise their lives.
_Fal_. Why, that"s it, _Labree_, that I would learn to do, And which I fear, nothing but Poverty will make me do; _Jove_ defend me from that experiment.
_Enter_ Erminia _veil"d with a thin Tiffany_.
_Lab_. What"s the matter, Sir?
Does the fit take you now?
_Fal_. Save us, save us, from the Fiend.
_Lab_. A Ghost, a Ghost! O, O, O!
[_They fall shaking on the ground_.
_Er_. This was a happy mistake, Now I may pa.s.s with safety.
[_Ex_.
_Fal_. Look up, _Labree_, if thou hast any of that Courage thou spakest of but now.
_Lab_. I dare not, Sir, experience yours I pray.
_Fal_. Alas, alas, I fear we are both rank Cowards.
_Lab_. Rise, Sir, "tis gone.
_Fal_. This was worse than the fright _Alcander_ put Me into by much.
[_They rise and go out_.
SCENE IX. Philander"s _Apartments_.
_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 Pa.s.sion, 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?