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.  —­Gods—­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 God—­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 Gods 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.

Am.  Then there be Ghosts, Alcander.

Phi. Aminta, we’ll convince him. [Phi. leads out Er. who comes smiling to the Princess.