Er.  Alcippus, what do you mean?

Alcip.  To know where ’twas you learn’d this Impudence? 
Which you’re too cunning in,
Not to have been a stale practitioner.

Er.  Alas, what will you do?

Alcip.  Preserve thy Soul, if thou hast any sense Of future Joys, after this vile damn’d Action.

Er.  Ah, what have I done?

Alcip.  That which if I should let thee live, Erminia,
Would never suffer thee to look abroad again. 
—­Thou’st made thy self and me—­
Oh, I dare not name the Monsters.—­
But I’ll destroy them while the Gods look down,
And smile upon my Justice.

[He strangles her with a Garter, which he snatches
from his Leg, or smothers her with a pillow.

Er.  Hold, hold, and hear my Vows of Innocence.

Alcip.  Let me be damn’d as thou art, if I do;
            [Throws her on a Bed, he sits down in a Chair. 
—­So now, my Heart, I have redeem’d thee nobly,
Sit down and pause a while—­
But why so still and tame, is one poor Murder
Enough to satisfy thy storm of Passion? 
If it were just, it ought not here to end;
—­If not—­I’ve done too much—­

[One knocks, he rises after a little pause,
and opens the door; enter Page.

Page.  My Lord, Pisaro—­

Alcip.  Pisaro,—­Oh, that Name has wakened me,
A Name till now had never Terror in’t! 
—­I will not speak with him.

Page.  My Lord, he’s here.
                    [Page goes out.

    Enter Pisaro.

Pis.  Not speak with me! nay then I fear the worst.

Alcip.  Not for the world, Pisaro—­

        [Hides his face with his hand, Pis. sees Erminia.

Pis.  Thy guilt is here too plain,
I need not read it in thy blushing face,
She’s dead and pale:  Ah, sweet Erminia!

Alcip.  If she be dead, the fitter she’s for me,
She’ll now be coy no more, nor cry I cannot love,
And frown and blush, when I but kiss her hand: 
Now I shall read no terror in her Eyes,
And what is better yet, shall ne’er be jealous.

Pis.  Why didst thou make such haste to be undone? 
Had I detain’d thee but an hour longer,
Thou’dst been the only happy of thy Sex. 
—­I knew thou didst dissemble when we parted,
And therefore durst not trust thee with thy Passions: 
I only staid to gather from my Sister
What news I might concerning your affairs,
Which I with joy came to impart to you,
But most unfortunately came too late: 
Why didst thou yield obedience to that Devil,
Which urg’d thee to destroy this Innocent?

Alcip.  Pisaro, do not err;
I found the Prince and she alone together,
He all disorder’d like a Ravisher,
Loose and unbutton’d for the amorous play;
O that she had another Life to lose!