_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_.
ACT V.
SCENE I. Galatea’s _Apartments_.
_Enter_ Galatea, Erminia, Pisaro, Aminta.
_Gal_. And hast thou found him? Ease my misery.
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