'Till more be known. Pol. When you, Castalio, cease Cast. It seems you have watched me, then? Cast. Prithee avoid a thing thou mayest repent. Pol. That is henceforward making leagues with you. Cast. Nay, if you are angry, Polydore, goodnight. [Exit. Pol. Good-night, Castalio, if you are in such haste. He little thinks I have overheard the appointment; But to his chamber's gone to wait a while, He soars above me, mount what height I can, you, Pretend to secrecy, cajole and flatter Go to my brother, he is in his chamber now, Dissemble with thy brother! that's one point. But do not leave him, till he is in bed, [Aside. To me; would often set me on his knee, wishes. Here I am alone, and fit for mischief; now Blest heavens, assist me but in this dear hour, [Gives the sign. [Maid at the window.] Who's there? Pol. 'Tis I. Maid. My lord Castalio? Pol. The same. How does my love, my dear Monimia? She wonders much at your unkind delay; Page. Indeed, my lord, 'twill be a lovely morning: Good-night. Commend me to my brother. You never heard the last new song I learned ! Of my lord and my lady, you know who, that were caught Together, you know where. My lord, indeed it is. Cast. You must be whipped, youngster, if you get such songs as those are. What means this boy's impertinence to-night? Page. What, what must I sing, pray, my dear lord? Cast. Psalms, child, psalms. Page. Oh, dear me! boys that go to school learn psalms: But pages, that are better bred, sing lampoons. Cast. Well, leave me. I am weary. Page. Oh! but you promised me, the last time I told you what colour my lady Monimia's stockings were of, and that she gartered them above knee, that you would give me a little horse to go a hunting upon, so you did. I'll tell you no more stories, except you keep your word with me. Cast. Well, go, you trifler, and to-morrow ask me. Page. Indeed, my lord, I can't abide to leave you. Cast. Why, wert thou instructed to attend me? Page. No, no, indeed, my lord, I was not; But I know what I know. Cast. What dost thou know? Death! what↑ Page. Oh! I know who loves somebody. Cast. I will, my child. Page. It is my lady Monimia, look you; but don't you tell her I told you; she'll give me no more play-things then. I heard her say so, as she lay a-bed, man. Cast. Talk'd she of me, when in her bed, Cordelio? Page. Yes, and I sung her the song you made, too; and she did so sigh, and so look with her eyes; and her breasts did so lift up and down, I could have found in my heart to have beat them, for they made me ashamed. Cast. Hark! what's that noise? [Exit Page. Surely it was a noise! hist-only fancy; All the wild herds are in the coverts couched ; The feeling air's at rest, and feels no noise, She hears me not; sure she already sleeps; [Knocks again. Monimia! my angel!-ha!—not yet- Once more Maid. [At the window.] Who's there, Maid. Who are you? What's your name? The lord Castalio has no business here. Cast. Ha! have a care; what can this mean! Whoe'er thou art, I charge thee to Monimia fly; Tell her I'm here, and wait upon my doom. Maid. Whoe'er you are, ye may repent this outrage. My lady must not be disturbed. Good-night. Cast. She must; tell her she shall. Go, I'm in haste, And bring her tidings from the State of Love; Cast. Or this will make me so. Maid. My lady's answer is, you may depart. Maid. Well, 'tis a fine cool evening; and, I hope, May cure the raging fever in your blood. Cast. And farewell all that's just in women! Sure now she's bound me fast, and means to lord it, To rein me hard, and ride me at her will, 'Till by degrees she shape me into fool, Ern. I hate the sex. [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. chapel. Acast. Have you yet seen Castalio to-day? Already up, Monimia! you rose Mon. Whatever are my thoughts, my lord, I have learnt 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. And distant mountains, where they feed their flocks, The happy shepherds leave their homely huts, The beasts, that under the warm hedges slept, Their voice, and bid their fellow brutes good morrow; The cheerful birds too, on the tops of trees, dog 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 'Tis I once was so, or I've most strangely dreamed. Cast. Whate'er thy dreams have been, Thy waking thoughts ne'er meant Castalio well. No more, Monimia, of your sex's arts! They are useless all. I am not that pliant tool, That necessary utensil, you would make me; I know my charter better-I am man, Obstinate man; and will not be enslaved. Mon. You shall not fear it: indeed my nature's I'll ever live your most obedient wife! Cast. Wished morning's come! And now upon Beyond your will: for that shall be my law: Enter CASTALIO. the plains VOL. I. Indeed I will not. A a Oh, kill me here, or tell me my offence! Cast. Away! last night, last night- Mon. Why, do you then repent? Mon. O, heaven! And will you leave me thus? help, help, Florella! [He drags her to the door, breaks from her, and erit. Help me to hold this yet loved cruel man. I'll not indulge this woman's weakness; still 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! Make haste, confusion, then; sun, lose thy light, 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, [Exit 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, Monimia, 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 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. Mon. Why do you then call this unfaithful 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. Cha. My Monimia, to my soul thou art dear 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, Thou would'st despise the abject, lost Monimia; me; No more would praise this hated beauty: but, Which happy lovers taste, my keeper's stripes, |