Volume Iii Part 107 (1/2)

_Phi_. What Voice is that? [_Turns, sees her, and is frighted_.

_Er_. 'Tis I, my Prince, 'tis I.

_Phi_. Thou--G.o.ds--what art thou--in that lovely shape?

_Er_. A Soul that from Elysium made escape, [_As she comes towards him, he goes back in great amaze_.

To visit thee; why dost thou steal away?

I'll not approach thee nearer than I may.

_Phi_. Why do I shake--it is _Erminia's_ form-- And can that Beauty ought that's ill adorn?

--In every part _Erminia_ does appear, And sure no Devil can inhabit there.

[_He comes on and kneels, one knocks, she steals back in at a door_.

_Alcan_. [_Within_.] My Lord the Prince!

_Phi_. Ha--Oh G.o.ds, I charge thee not to vanish yet!

I charge thee by those Powers thou dost obey, Not to deprive me of thy blessed sight.

_Er_. I will revisit thee. [_Ex_.

_Enter_ Alcander.

_Phi_. I'm not content with that.

--Stay, stay, my dear _Erminia_.

_Alcan_. What mean you, Sir?

[_He rises and looks still afrighted_.

_Phi_. _Alcander_, look, look, how she glides away, Dost thou not see't?

_Alcan_. Nothing, Sir, not I.

_Phi_. No, now she's gone again.

_Alcan_. You are disorder'd, pray sit down a while.

_Phi_. No, not at all, _Alcander_; I'm my self, I was not in a Dream, nor in a Pa.s.sion When she appear'd, her Face a little pale, But else my own _Erminia_, she her self, I mean a thing as like, nay, it spoke too, And I undaunted answer'd it again; But when you knockt it vanisht.

_Alcan_. 'Twas this _Aminta_ would persuade me to, And, faith, I laught at her, And wish I might have leave to do so now.

_Phi_. You do displease me with your Unbelief.

_Alcan_. Why, Sir, do you think there can indeed be Ghosts?

_Phi_. Pray do not urge my Sense to lose its nature.

_Er_. It is _Alcander_, I may trust him too.

[_She peeps in on them, and comes out_.

_Phi_. Look where she comes again, credit thy Eyes, Which did persuade thee that they saw her dead.