my house

your fury

Cha. Why wilt thou rack

Yet bless him, bless him, gods! where'er he goes. My soul so long, Monimia? Ease me quickly; Or thou wilt run me into madness-first.

Enter ACASTO. Mon. Could you be secret?

Acast. Sure some ill fate is towards me; in Cha. Secret as the grave. Mon. But when I have told you, will you keep I only meet with oddness and disorder ;

Each vassal has a wild distracted face, Within its bonds? Will you not do some rash And looks as full of business as a blockhead And horrid mischief? For indeed, Chamont, In times of danger. Just this very moment You would not think how hardly I've been used I met CastalioFrom a near friend, from one, that has my soul Cha. Then you met a villain. A slave, and therefore treats it like a tyrant. Acast. Ha ! Cha. I will be calm—but has Castalio wronged Cha. Yes, a villain. thee?

Acast. Have a care, young soldier, Has he already wasted all his love?

How thou art too busy with Acasto's fame. What has he done? Quickly, for I'm all trem- I have a sword, my ariu's good old acquaintance; bling

Villain to thee ! With expectation of a horrid tale.

Cha. Curse on thy scandalous age, Mon. Oh! could you think it!

Which hinders me to rush upon thy throat, Cha. What?

And tear the root up of that cursed bramble ! Mon. I fear he'll kill me.

Acast. Ungrateful ruffian! sure my good old Cha. Ha!

friend Mon. Indeed I do; he's strangely cruel to me; Was ne'er thy father; nothing of him is in thee. Which, if it last, I'm sure must break iny heart.

What have I done in my unhappy age, Cha. What has he done?

To be thus used? I scorn to upbraid thee, boy; Mon. Most barbarously used me.

But I could put thee in remembranceNothing so kind as he, when in my arms !

Cha. Do. In thousand kisses, tender sighs and joys,

Acast. I scorn it Not to be thought again, the night was wasted ; Cha. No, I'll calınly hear the story, At dawn of day he rose, and left his conquest. For I would fain know all, to see which scale But, when we inet, and I, with open arms, Weighs most-IIa! is not that good old Acasto? Ran to embrace the lord of all my wishes, What have I done? Can you forgive this folly? Oh, then!

Acast. Why dost thou ask it? Cha. Go on!

Cha. 'Twas the rude overflowing Mon. He threw me from his breast,

Of too much passion. Pray, my lord, forgive me. Like a detested sin.

[Knecls. Cha. How!

Acast. Mock me not, youth! I can revenge a Mon. As I hung too

wrong. Upon his knees, and begged to know the cause, Cha. I know it well; but, for this thought of He dragged me like a slave upon the earth,

mine, And had no pity on my cries.

Pity a madman's frenzy, and forget it. Cha. How! did he

Acast. I will; but henceforth prithee be more Dash thee disdainfully away? with scorn?

kind.

[Raises him. Hon. He did ! and more, I fear, will ne'er be Whence came the cause? friends,

Cha. Indeed I have been to blame; Though I still love him with unabated passion. But I'll learn better; for you have been my faChe. What, throw thee from him!

ther. Mon. Yes, indeed he did.

You have been her father too Cha. So may this arm

[Takes Mon. by the hand. Throw him to the earth, like a dead dog despised! Acust. Forbear the prologueLameness and leprosy, blindness and lunacy, And let me know the substance of thy tale, Poverty, shame, pride, and the name of villain, Cha. You took her up, a little tender Hlower, Light on me, if, Castalio, I forgive thee! Just sprouted on a bank, which the next frost Mor. Nay, now, Chamont, art thou unkind as Had nipped; and, with a careful loving hand, he is!

Transplanted her into your own fair garden, Didst thou not promise me thou wouldst be Where the sun always shines. There long sle calm?

fogrished, Keep my disgrace concealed? Why shouldst thou Grew sweet to sense, and lovely to the eye ;, kill him?

'Till at the last a cruel spoiler camc, By all my love, this arm should do him vengeance. Cropt this fair rose, and ritled all its sweetness, Alas! I love himn still, and though I ne'er

Then cast it, like a loathsome weed, away. Clasp him again within these longing arms, Acast. You talk to me in parables, Chamont,

You may have known, that I am no wordy man; | Is framing mischiefs too, for aught I know,
Fine speeches are the instruments of knaves, That may produce bloodshed and horrid murder.
Of fools, that use them, when they want good I would not be the cause of one man's death
sense ;

To reign the empress of the earth; nay, more, But honesty

I would rather lose, for ever, my Castalio, Needs no disguise nor ornament. Be plain.

My dear unkind Castalio! Cha. Your son

Enter POLYDORE. Acast. I have two; and both, I hope, have honour.

Pol. Monimia, weeping ! Cha. I hope so too-but

So morning dews on new-blown roses lodge, Acast. Speak.

By the sun's amorous heat to be exhaled. Cha. I must inform you,

I come, my love, to kiss all sorrow from thee: . Once more, Castalio

What mean these sighs? And why thus beats thy Acast. Still Castalio!

heart? Cha. Yes.

Mon. Let me alone to sorrow. 'Tis a cause Your son Castalio has wronged Monimia. None ere shall know: but it shall with me die. Acast. Ha! wronged her?

Pol. Happy, Monimia, he, to whom these sighs, Cha. Married her.

These tears, and all these languishings, are paid ! Acast. I am sorry for it.

I am no stranger to your dearest secret : Cha. Why sorry?

I know your heart was never meant for me; By yon blest heaven, there's not a lord

That jewel's for an elder brother's price.
But might be proud to take her to his heart! Mon. My lord !
Acast. I'll not deny it.

Pol. Nay, wonder not; last night I heard
Cha. You dare not; all your family combined His oaths, your vows, and to my torment saw
In one damned falsehood to outdo Castalio, Your wild embraces; heard the appointment
Dare not deny it.

made; Acast. How has Castalio wronged her? I did, Monimia, and cursed the sound. Cha. Ask that of him. I say, my sister's Wilt thou be sworn, my love? wilt thou be ne'er wronged :

Unkind again? Monimia, my sister, born as high

Mon. Banish such fruitless hopes!
And noble as Castalio-Do her justice,

Have you swore constancy to my undoing?
Or, by the gods, I'll lay a scene of blood, Will you be ne'er my friend again?
Shall make this dwelling horrible to nature. Pol. What means my love?
I'll do it. Hark you, my lord! your son Castalio; Mon. Away; what meant my lord
Take him to your clošet, and there teach him Last night?
manners.

Pol. Is that a question now to be demanded? Acast. You shall have justice.

I hope Monimia was not much displeased. Cha. Nay, I will have justice.

Mon. Was it well done to treat me like a Who'll sleep in safety, that has done me wrong? prostitute? My lord, I'll not disturb you to repeat

To assault my lodging at the dead of night, The cause of this; I beg you (to preserve And threaten me, if I denied admittance Your house's honour) ask it of Castalio.

You said you were CastalioAcast. I will.

Pol. By those eyes Cha. "Till then, farewell.

(Exit. It was the same : I spent my time much better : Acast. Parewell, proud boy.

I tell thee, ill-natured fair one, I was posted Monimia!

To more advantage, on a pleasant hill Mon. My lord.

Of springing joy, and everlasting sweetness. Acast. You are my daughter.

Mon. Ha-have a care-
Mon. I am, my lord, if you'll vouchsafe to Pol. Where is the danger near me?

Mon. I fear you are on a rock will wreck your Acast. When you complain to me, I'll prove quiet, a father

(Exit. And drown your soul in wretchedness for ever; Mon. Now, I am undone for ever.

A thousand horrid thoughts crowd on my memory. earth

Will you be kind, and answer me one question? Is there so wretched as Monimia?

Pol. I'll trust thee with my life; on those soft First by Castalio cruelly forsaken;

breasts I have lost Acasto now: his parting frowns Breathe out the choicest secrets of my heart, May well instruct me, rage is in his heart: Till I have nothing in my heart but love. I shall be next abandoned to my fortune,

Mon. Nay, I'll conjure you by the gods and Thrust out a naked wanderer to the world,

angels, And branded for the mischievous Monimia! By the honour of your name, that's most conWhat will become of me? my cruel brother

Own me.

Who on

a load

To tell me, Polydore, and tell me truly,

Pol. It may be yet a secret; I'll go try Where did you rest last night?

To reconcile and bring Castalio to thee; Pol. Within thy arms

Whilst from the world I take myself away, I triumphed ! rest had been my foe.

And waste my life in penance for my sin. Mon. 'Tis done

[She faints.

Mon. Then thou wouldst more undo me; heap Pol. She faints! No help! who waits! A curse Upon my vanity, that could not keep

Of added sins upon my wretched head. The secret of my happiness in silence.

Wouldst thou again have me betray thy brother, Confusion! we shall be surprised anon, And bring pollution to his arms? Curst thought! And consequently all must be betrayed.

Oh, when shall I be mad indeed! Monimia! She breathes Monimia

Pol. Nay, then, Mon. Well

Let us embrace, and from this very moment Let mischiefs multiply! Let every hour Vow an eternal misery together. Of my loathed life yield me increase of horror! Mon. And wilt thou be a very faithful wretch? Oh, let the sun to these unhappy eyes

Never grow fond of cheerful peace again? Ne'er shine again, but be eclipsed for ever; Wilt thou with me study to be unhappy, May every thing, I look on, seem a prodigy, And find out ways how to increase affliction? To fill my soul with terrors, till I quite

Pol. We'll institute new arts, unknown before, Forget I ever had humanity,

To vary plagues, and make them look like new ones. And grow a curser of the works of nature ! First, it the fruit of our detested joy, Pol. What means all this?

A child, be born, it shall be murdered-
Mon. Oh, Polydore, if all

Mon. No;
The friendship e'er you vowed to good Castalio Sure that may live.
Be not a falsehood; if you ever loved

Pol. Why?
Your brother, you have undone yourself and me. Mon. To become a thing
Pol. Which way can ruin reach the man that's More wretched than its parents, to be branded
rich,

With all our infamy, and curse its birth. As I am, in possession of thy sweetness ?

Pol. That's well contrived. Mon. Oh! I'm his wife.

Then thus I'll go, Pol. What says Monimia ! ha!

Full of my guilt, distracted where to roam, Speak that again.

Like the first wretched pair expelled their paraMon. I am Castalio's wife.

dise. Pol. His married, wedded wife?

I'll find some place, where adders nest in winter, Mon. Yesterday's sun

Loathsome and venomous: where poisons hang, Saw it performed

Like gums, against the walls: where witches meet Pol. And then, have I enjoyed

By night, and feed upon some pampered imp, My brother's wife?

Fät with the blood of babes : There I'll inhabit, Mon. As surely as we both

And live up to the height of desperation; Must taste of misery, that guilt is thine.

Desire shall languish like a withering flower, Pol. Must we be miscrable then?

And no distinction of the sex be thought of. Mon. Oh!

Horrors shall fright me from those pleasing harms, Pol. Oh! thou mayst yet be happy.

And I'll no more be caught with beauty's charms, Mon. Couldst thou be

But, when I'm dying, take me in thy arms. Happy, with such a weight upon thy soul ?

[Ercunt.

SCENE I.-A Garden.
CASTALIO lying on the ground.-Soft music.

SONG.
Come, all ye youths, whose hearts e'er bled

By cruel beauty's pride ;
Bring each a garland on his head,

Let none his sorrows hide :
But hand in hand around me move,
Singing the saddest tales of love ;

And see, when your complaints ye join,
If all your wrongs can equal mine.

The happiest mortal once was I;

My heart no sorrows knew;
Pity the pain with which I die,

But ask not whence it grew.
Yet if a tempting fair you find,
That's very lovely, very kind

Though bright us heaven, whose stamp she bears,

Think of my fate, and shun her snares.
See, where the deer trot after one another,
Male, female, father, daughter, mother, son,
Brother and sister, mingled all together.
No discontent they know; but in delightful

said so.

Wildness and freedom, pleasant springs, fresh Acast. No, not much.
herbage,

But
Calm arbours, lusty health and innocence, Cast. Speak, what said he?
Enjoy their portion; if they see a man,

Acast. That thou wert a villain;
How will they turn together all, and gaze Methinks I would not have thee thought a villain.
Upon the monster-

Cast. Shame on the ill-mannered brute ! Once in a season too they taste of love :

Your age secured him; he durst not else have Only the beast of reason is its slave, And in that folly drudges all the year.

Acast. By my sword,

I would not see wronged, and bear it vilely: Enter ACASTO.

Though I have passed my word she shall have Acast. Castalio! Castalio!

justice. Cast. Who's there

Cast. Justice ! to give her justice would undo So wretched but to name Castalio?

her. Acast. I hope my message may succeed! Think you this solitude I now have chosen, Cast. My father!

Left joys, just opening to my sense, sought here 'Tis joy to see you, though where sorrow's nou- A place to curse my fate in, measured out rished.

My grave at length, wished to have grown one Acast. I'm come in beauty's cause; you'll guess piece the rest.

With this cold clay, and all without a cause ? Cast. A woman! If you love my peace of

Enter CHAMONT. mind, Name not a woman to me; but to think

Cha. Where is the hero, famous and renowned Of woman, were enough to taint my brains, For wronging innocence and breaking vows ? Till they feriment to madness. Oh, my father! Whose mighty spirit, and whose stubborn heart, Acast. What ails my boy?

No woman can appease, nor man provoke? Cast. A woman is the thing

Acast. I guess, Chamont, you come to seek I would forget, and blot from my remembrance. Castalio. Acast. Forget Monimia!

Cha. I come to seek the husband of Monimia. Cast. She, to chuse : Monimia!

Cast. The slave is here. The very sound's ungrateful to my sense.

Cha. I thought ere now to have found you Acast. This might seem strange, but you, I've Atoning for the ills you have done Chamont; found, will hide

For you have wronged the dearest part of him. Your heart from me; you dare not trust your fa- Monimia, young lord, weeps in this heart; ther.

And all the tears, thy injuries have drawn Cast. No more Monimia.

Froin her poor eyes, are drops of blood from Acast. Is she not your wife?

hence,
Cast. So much the worse; who loves to hear Cast. Then you are Chamont?
of wife?

Cha. Yes, and I hope no stranger
When you would give all worldly plagues a name, To great Castalio.
Worse than they have already, call them wife: Cast. I have heard of such a man,
But a new-married wife's a teeming mischief, That has been very busy with my honour.
Full of herself! Why, what a deal of horror I own, I'm much indebted to you, sir,
Has that poor wretch to come, that wedded yes- And here return the villain back again,
terday!

You sent me by my father.
Acast. Castalio, you must go along with me, Cha. Thus I'll thank

you.

(Draws. And see Monimia.

Acast. By this good sword, who first presumes Cast. Sure my lord but mocks me.

to violence, Go see Monimia ! Pray, my lord, excuse me, Makes me his foe (Draws and interposes. And leave the conduct of this part of life Young inan, it once was thought [To Cast. To my own choice.

I was fit guardian of my house's honour; Acast. I say, no more dispute.

And you might trust your share with me

-For Complaints are made to ine, that you have you,

[To Cha. wronged her.

Young soldier, I must tell you, you have wronged Cast. Who has complained?

me. Acast. Her brother, to my face, proclaimed her I promised you to do Monimia right, wronged,

And thought my word a pledge, I would not forAnd in such terms they have warmed me.

feit: Cast. What terms? Her brother ! Heaven! But you, I find, would fright us to performance. Where learned she that?

Cast. Sir, in my younger years, with care you What! does she send her hero with defiance?

taught me, He durst not sure affront you !

That brave revenge was due to injured honour;

Lest you

arms

Oppose not then the justice of my sword, That was your business ;

should make me jealous of your love. No artful prostitute, in falsehoods practised, Chá. Into thy father's arms thou fliest for To make advantage of her coxcomb's follies, safety,

Could have done more.—Disquiet vex her for it! Because thou knowest that place is sanctified Cha. Farewell.

[Exit Cha. and Ser. With the remembrance of an ancient friendship. Cast. Farewell —My father, you seem troubled.

Cast. I am a villain, if I will not seek thee, Acast. Would I'd been absent, when this Till I may be revenged for all the wrongs,

boisterous brave Done me by that ungrateful fair, thou pleadest for. Came to disturb thee thus. I'm grieved I Cha. She wronged thee! by the fury in my

hindered
heart,

Thy just resentment. But Monimia-
Thy father's honour's not above Monimia's; Cast. Damn her.
Nor was thy mother's truth and virtue fairer. Acast. Don't curse her.

Acast. Boy, don't disturb the ashes of the dead Cast. Did I?
With thy capricious follies. The remembrance Acast. Yes.
Of the loved creature, that once filled these Cast. I'm sorry for it.

Acast. Methinks, if, as I guess, the fault's but Cha. Has not been wronged.

small, Cast. It shall not.

It might be pardoned. Cha. No, nor shall

Cast. No. Monimia, though a helpless orphan, destitute Acast. What has she done? Of friends and fortune, though the unhappy sister Cast. That she's my wife, may heaven and you Of poor Chamont, whose sword is all his portion, forgive me. Be opprest by thee, thou proud imperious traitor. Acast. Be reconciled then. Cast. Ha! set me free.

Cast. No. Cha. Come both.

Acast. Go see her.

Cast. No.
Enter SerinA.

Acast. I'll send and bring her hither.
Ser. Alas! alas!

Cast. No.
The cause of these disorders ! my Chamont, Acast. For my sake,
Who is't has wronged thee?

Castalio, and the quiet of my age.
Cast. Now, where art thou fled

Cast. Why will you urge a thing my nature For shelter?

starts at? Cha. Come from thine, and see what safeguard Acast. Prithee forgive her. Shall then betray my fears.

Cast. Lightnings first shall blast me. Ser. Cruel Castalio,

I tell you, were she prostrate at my feet, Sheath up thy angry sword, and don't affright me. Full of her sex's best dissembled sorrows, Chamont, let once Serina calm thy breast : And all that wond'rous beauty of her own, If any of my friends have done thee injuries, My heart might break, but it should never soften. I'll be revenged, and love thee better for it.

Enter FLORELLA. Cast. Sir, if you'd have me think you did not take

Flor. My lord, where are you ! Oh, Castalio! This opportunity to shew your vanity,

Acast. Hark. Let's meet some other time, when by ourselves Cast. What's that? We fairly may dispute our wrongs together. Flor. Oh, shew me quickly, where's Castalio! Cha. Till then, I am Castalio's friend.

Acast. Why, what's the business? Cast. Serina,

Flor. Oh, the poor Monimia !
Farewell: I wish much happiness attend you.

Cast. Ha !
Ser. Chamont's the dearest thing I have on earth; Acast. What's the matter?
Give me Chamont, and let the world forsake me. Flor. Hurried by despair,

Cha. Witness the gods, how happy I'm in thee! She flies with fury over all the house,
No beauteous blossom of the fragrant spring, Through every room of each apartment, crying,
Though the fair child of nature, newly born, 'Where's my Castalio? Give me my Castalio!
Can be so lovely. Angry, unkind Castalio, Except she see you, sure she'll grow

distracted. Suppose I should a while lay by my passions,

Cast. Ha! will she? Does she name Castalio? And be a beggar in Monimia’s cause,

And with such tenderness? Conduct me quickly Might I be heard ?

To the poor lovely mourner. Oh, my father! Cast. Sir, 'twas my last request,

Acast. Then wilt thou go? Blessings attend You would, though I find you will not be satisfi- thy purpose. !

Cast. I cannot hear Monimia's soul's in sadness, So, in a word, Monimia is my scorn;

And be a man; my heart will not forgot her; She basely sent you here to try my fears; But do not tell the world you saw this of me.

ed;