[Er. _puts her self between_.

_Er_. Ah, hold, Sir, hold, the Prince has no defence,
And you are more than arm'd; [_To_ Alcip.
What honour is't to let him murder you? [_To the_ Prince.
--Nor would your Fame be lessen'd by retreat.

_Phi_. Alas, I dare not leave thee here with him.

_Er_. Trust me, Sir, I can make him calm again.

_Alcip_. She counsels well, and I advise you take it.

_Phi_. I will, but not for fear of thee or Death,
But from th'assurance that her Power's sufficient
To allay this unbecoming Fury in thee,
And bring thee to repentance.

[_He gives him his Sword_; Philander _goes out_,
Alcippus _locks the door after him_.

_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 mo