The Works of Aphra Behn
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Chapter 355 : _Phi_. What Voice is that? [_Turns, sees her, and is frighted_._Er_. 'Tis I, my P
_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.
_Alcan_. By Heaven, and so they did.
[_Both seem frighted_.
--G.o.ds--this is wondrous strange! yet I can bear it, If it were the Devil himself in that fair shape.
_Phi_. And yet thou shakest.
_Alcan_. I do, but know not why.
--Inform us, lovely Spirit, what thou art, A G.o.d--or Devil; if either, thou art welcome.
_Er_. You cannot think, _Alcander_, there be Ghosts.
[_She gives her hands to him and_ Phi. _which they refuse to touch_.
No, give me your hand, and prove mine flesh and blood.
--Sir, you were wont to credit what I said, And I would still merit that kind opinion.
_Phi_. _Erminia_, Soul of Sweetness, is it you?
--How do you ravish with excess of Joys?
_Er_. Softly, dear Sir, do not express that Joy, Lest you destroy it by your doing so.
I fly for sanctuary to your Arms; As yet none knows I live, but poor _Isillia_, Who bathing of my cold face with her tears, Perceiv'd some signs of life, and us'd what means Her Love and Duty did instruct her in; And I in half an hour was so reviv'd, As I had sense of all was past and done; And to prevent a death I yet might fear, If mad _Alcippus_ had return'd again, --Alone I came to you, where I could find Alone my Safety too.
_Phi_. From G.o.ds and Men, _Erminia_, thou art safe, My best and blest _Erminia_.
_Er_. Sir, in my coming hither I met _Aminta_, Who I may fear has alarm'd all the Court; She took me for a Ghost, and ran away, E'er I cou'd undeceive her.
--_Falatius_ too, afrighted even to death--
_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_.
