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ACT IV. SCENE. VII.
Enter Phillander, Alcander, Gallatea, Aminta, and Falatius.
Fa.
Ah fly, Sir, fly, from what I have to tell you.
Alcan.
What's the news?
Fa.
Ah Sir, the dismall'st heavy news that ere
Was told or heard.
Gall.
No matter, out with it.
Fa.
Erminia, Madam.
Phi.
Erminia, What of her?
Fal.
Is dead, Sir.
Alcan.
What hast thou lost thy wits?
Fa.
I had them not about me, at the sight
I else had been undone: Alass Erminias dead,
Murther'd and dead.
Alcan.
It cannot be, thou ly'st.
Fa.
By Jove, I do not Sir, I saw her dead,
Alass, 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
Harden into a cold benummed statue.
—Methinks—it does—support me—or I fall
And so—shall break to pieces—
[Falls into his arms.
Gall.
Ah lovely maid, was this thy destiny?
Did Heaven create thy beauties to this end?
[he leads him out.
—I must distrust their bounties, who neglected
The best and fairest of their handy-work;
This will encourage sin, when innocence
Must perish thus, and meet with no defence.
Enter the King and Orgulius.
Org.
If murther'd innocence do cry for justice,
Can you, great Sir, make a defence against it?
Kin.
I think I cannot.