[Rises. Cast. Then I'm thy friend, Ernesto. I'd leave the world for him, that hates a woman. Woman, the fountain of all human frailty! What mighty ills have not been done by woman? Who was't betrayed the capitol? A woman. Who lost Marc Antony the world? A woman. Who was the cause of a long ten years war, And laid at last old Troy in ashes? Woman! Destructive, damnable, deceitful woman! Woman to man first as a blessing given, When innocence and love were in their prime; Happy a while in Paradise they lay, But quickly woman longed to go astray; Some foolish, new adventure needs must prove, And the first devil she saw, she changed her love; To his temptations lewdly she inclined Her soul, and for an apple damned mankind! [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I-A Saloon. ACASTO Solus. Acast. BLEST be the morning, that has brought A happy rest has softened pain away, I droop and sigh, I know not why. Dark dreams, To start, and at my feet my sons appeared, But 'twas the effect of my distempered blood; And, when the health's disturbed, the mind's unruly. Enter POLYDore. Good-morning, Polydore. Pol. Heaven keep your lordship. Acust. Have you yet seen Castalio to-day? I cannot think all has gone well to-night; Already up, Monimia! you rose Mon. Whatever are my thoughts, my lord, I have learnt By your example to correct their ills, not; Or if I would, you are so good, I could not. Though I'm deceived, or you are more fair today; For beauty's heightened in your cheeks, and all Your charms seem up, and ready in your eyes. Mon. The little share I have's so very mean, That it may easily admit addition; Though you, my lord, should most of all beware To give it too much praise, and make me proud. Acast. Proud of an old man's praises? no, Monimia ! But if my prayers can work thee any good, Mon. Noise! my good lord! Mon. Indeed, my lord, I don't remember any. Acast. You must, sure! went you early to your rest? Mon. About the wonted hour. Why this enquiry? [Aside. Acast. And went your maid to bed, too? I have seldom known her disobey my orders. Acast. Sure, goblins then, or fairies haunt the dwelling; I'll have enquiry made through all the house, woman, Enter FLORELLA. And wait upon your lordship there. I fear the priest. has played us false; if so, I wonder though he made such haste to leave me ; Maid. Why? Mon. Methinks The scene's quite altered; I am not the same; SCENE II-A Chamber. Enter CASTALIO. the plains VOL. I. And distant mountains, where they feed their flocks, The happy shepherds leave their homely huts, The beasts, that under the warm hedges slept, raise Their voice, and bid their fellow brutes good morrow; The cheerful birds too, on the tops of trees, Looked Hercules, thus to a distaff chained! Enter MONIMIA and MAID. I fly to my adored Castalio's arms, Cast. I am [Looking languishingly on him. Well satisfied, that thou art-Oh-——— Art thou not well, Castalio? Come, lean heart; 'Tis every where it rages like a madness; Mon. Am I not then your wife, your loved I once was so, or I've most strangely dreamed.. What ails my love? Cast. Whate'er thy dreams have been, I'll ever live your most obedient wife! nature's Cast. Wished morning's come! And now upon Beyond your will: for that shall be my law: Indeed I will not. А а And will you leave me thus? help, help, Florella! [He drags her to the door, breaks from her, and exit. Help me to hold this yet loved cruel man. Oh, my heart breaks-I'm dying. Oh-stand off; I'll not indulge this woman's weakness; still Chafed and tormented let my heart swell on, 'Till with its injuries it burst, and shake With the dire blow this prison to the earth. Maid. What sad mistake has been the cause of this? Mon. Castalio! Oh! how often has he swore, Nature should change, the sun and stars grow dark, Ere he would falsify his vows to me! Maid. Unhappy day! Mon. False as the wind, the waters, or the weather; Cruel as tigers o'er their trembling prey: Enter CHAMONT. Cha. In tears, Monimia ! Mon. Whoe'er thou art, [Erit Florella. Leave me alone to my beloved despair. Cha. Lift up thy eyes, and see, who comes to cheer thee. Tell me the story of thy wrongs, and then Cha. Yes, Mominia, if thou thinkest Cha. Ha! Name me that name again! my soul's on fire 'Till I know all. There's meaning in that name; I know he is thy husband: therefore trust me With all the following truth! Mon. Indeed, Chamont, There's nothing in it but the fault of nature; Cha. You use me ill, Monimia; And I might think, with justice, most severely Of this unfaithful dealing with your brother. Mon. Truly, I'm not to blame. Suppose I'm fond, And grieve for what as much may please another? Cha. Not, if I'd cause to think it was a friend. dealing? I ne'er concealed my soul from you before: Bear with me now, and search my wounds no farther; For every probing pains me to the heart. Cha. 'Tis sign there's danger in it, and must be probed. Where's your new husband? Still that thought disturbs you? What! only answer me with tears? Castalio! Nay, now they stream; Cruel, unkind Castalio! Is it not so? Mon. I cannot speak! grief flows so fast upon me, It choaks, and will not let me tell the cause. Oh! Cha. My Monimia, to my soul thou art dear As honour to my name. Dear as the light To cyes but just restored, and healed of blind ness. Why wilt thou not repose within my breast The anguish, that torments thee? Mon. Oh! I dare not. Cha. I have no friend but thee. We must confide In one another. Two unhappy orphans, Mon Oh, shouldst thou know the cause of my lamenting, Thou would'st despise the abject, lost Monimia; I am satisfied, Chamont, that thou wouldst scorn me; No more would praise this hated beauty: but, Which happy lovers taste, my keeper's stripes, Cha. Why wilt thou rack My soul so long, Monimia? Ease me quickly; Or thou wilt run me into madness-first. Cha. Secret as the grave. Mon. But when I have told you, will you keep Within its bonds? Will you not do some rash You would not think how hardly I've been used Cha. I will be calm—but has Castalio wronged thee? Has he already wasted all his love? What has he done? Quickly, for I'm all trembling With expectation of a horrid tale. Mon. Oh! could you think it! Mon. I fear he'll kill me. Cha. Ha! Mon. Indeed I do; he's strangely cruel to me; Which, if it last, I'm sure must break my heart. Cha. What has he done? Mon. Most barbarously used me. Nothing so kind as he, when in my arms! In thousand kisses, tender sighs and joys, Not to be thought again, the night was wasted; At dawn of day he rose, and left his conquest. But, when we met, and I, with open arms, Ran to embrace the lord of all my wishes, Oh, then! Cha. Go on! Cha. So may this arm Throw him to the earth, like a dead dog despised! Lameness and leprosy, blindness and lunacy, Poverty, shame, pride, and the name of villain, Light on me, if, Castalio, I forgive thee! Mon. Nay, now, Chamont, art thou unkind as he is! Didst thou not promise me thou wouldst be calm? Keep my disgrace concealed? Why shouldst thou kill him? By all my love, this arm should do bim vengeance. You have been her father too [Takes Mon. by the hand. Grew sweet to sense, and lovely to the eye; 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, Cha. Married her. Acast. I am sorry for it. By yon blest heaven, there's not a lord Cha. You dare not; all your family combined In one damned falsehood to outdo Castalio, Dare not deny it. Acast. How has Castalio wronged her? Cha. Ask that of him. I say, my sister's wronged: Monimia, my sister, born as high I'll do it. Hark you, my lord! your son Castalio; That may produce bloodshed and horrid murder. None ere shall know: but it shall with me die. I know your heart was never meant for me; Pol. Nay, wonder not; last night I heard I did, Monimia, and cursed the sound. Mon. Banish such fruitless hopes! Mon. Away; what meant my lord Pol. Is that a question now to be demanded? To assault my lodging at the dead of night, Pol. By those eyes It was the same: I spent my time much better: Of springing joy, and everlasting sweetness. Pol. Where is the danger near me? Mon. I fear you are on a rock will wreck your quiet, And drown your soul in wretchedness for ever; A thousand horrid thoughts crowd on my memory. Will you be kind, and answer me one question? Pol. I'll trust thee with my life; on those soft breasts Breathe out the choicest secrets of my heart, Till I have nothing in my heart but love. Mon. Nay, I'll conjure you by the gods and angels, that's most con By the honour of your name, cerned, |