"With the brave, noble, honest, gallant man, "To throw herself away on fools and knaves.

"Ern. They both have forward, gen'rous, active

spirits.

"'Tis daily their petition to their father,
"To send them forth where glory's to be gotten:
"They cry, they're weary of their lazy home,
"Restless to do something that fame may talk of.
"To-day they chas'd the boar, and near this time
"Should be return'd.

"Paul. Oh, that's a royal sport !
"We yet may see the old man in a morning,
" Lusty as health, come ruddy to the field,
"And there pursue the chase, as if he meant
"To o'ertake time, and bring back youth again."

80

[Exit.

SCENE II.

A Garden. Enter CASTALIO, POLYDORE, and PAGE.

Cast. Polydore, our sport

Has been to-day much better for the danger;

When on the brink the foaming boar I met,
And in his side thought to have lodg'd my spear,
The desperate savage rush'd within my force,

And bore me headlong with him down the rock.
Pol. But then-

Cast. Ay, then, my brother, my friend Polydore, Like Perseus mounted on his winged steed,

Came on, and down the dangerous precipice leap'd To save Castalio. 'Twas a godlike act!

Pol. But when I came, I found you conqueror.

Oh, my heart danc'd to see your danger past 1
The heat and fury of the chase was cold,
And I had nothing in my mind but joy.

Cast. So, Polydore, methinks we might in war
Rush on together; thou shouldst be my guard,
And I be thine; what is't could hurt us then?
Now half the youth of Europe are in arms,
How fulsome must it be to stay behind,

100

And die of rank diseases here at home?

Pol. No, let me purchase in my youth renown,
To make me lov'd and valu'd when I am old;
I would be busy in the world, and learn,
Not like a coarse and useless dunghill weed,
Fix'd to one spot, and rot just as I grow.
Cast. Our father-

-Has ta'en himself a surfeit of the world,
And cries, it is not safe that we should taste it :
I own I have duty very pow'rful in me;
And though I'd hazard all to raise my name,
Yet he's so tender, and so good a father,
I could not do a thing to cross his will.

Pol. Castalio, I have doubts within my heart,
Which you, and only you can satisfy.
Will you be free and candid to your friend?

Cast. Have I a thought my Polydore should not Pol. Nay, I'll conjure you too,

By all the strictest bonds of faithful friendship,
To shew your heart as naked in this point,

As you would purge you of your sins to Heav'n.
Cast. I will.

120

Pol. And should I chance to touch it nearly, bear it With all the suff'rance of a tender friend.

Cast. As calmly as the wounded patient bears

The artist's hand that minister's his cure.

Pol. That's kindly said. You know our father's

ward,

The fair Monimia. Is your heart at peace?
Is it so guarded that you could not love her?

Cast. Suppose I should ?

Pol. Suppose you should not, brother ?
Cast. You'd say, I must not.

Pol. That would sound too roughly

*Twixt friends and brothers, as we two are. Cast. Is love a fault ?

Pol. In one of us it may be.

What if I love her?

Cast. Then I must inform you

2

I lov'd her first, and cannot quit the claim,
But will preserve the birth-right of my passion.

Pol. You will.

140

Cast. I will.

Pol. No more, I've done.

Cast. Why not?

Pol. I told you I had done :

But you, Castalio, would dispute it.

Cast. No;

Not with my Polydore; though I must own
My nature obstinate, and void of suff'rance:
Love reigns a very tyrant in my heart,
Attended on his throne by all his guards
Of furious wishes, fears, and nice suspicions.
I could not bear a rival in my friendship,
I am so much in love, and fond of thee.
Pol. Yet you will break this friendship.
Cast. Not for crowns.

Pol. But for a toy you would, a woman's toy;

Unjust Castalio I

Cast. Pr'ythee, where's my fault?

Pol. You love Monimia.

Cast. Yes.

Pol. And you would kill me,

If I'm your rival.

Cast. No, sure we're such friends,

So much one man, that our affections too
Must be united, and the same as we are.

Pol. I doat upon Monimia.

Cast. Love her still;

Win and enjoy her.

Pol. Both of us cannot.

Cast. No matter

16.

Whose chance it prove; but let's not quarrel for't.
Pol. You would not wed Monimia, would you?
Cast. Wed her!

No; were she all desire could wish, as fair
As would the vainest of her sex be thought,

With wealth beyond what woman's pride could waste, She should not cheat me of my freedom. Marry! 180 When I am old, and weary of the world,

I may grow desperate,

And take a wife to mortify withal.

Pol. It is an elder brother's duty so

To propagate his family and name:

You would not have yours die and buried with you?
Cast. Mere vanity, and silly dotage all.

No, let me live at large, and when I die-
Pol. Who shall possess th' estate you leave?
Cast. My friend,

If he survives me; if not, my king,
Who may bestow't again on some brave man,
Whose honesty and services deserve one.
Pol. 'Tis kindly offer'd.
Cast. By yon Heav'n, I love
My Polydore beyond all worldly joys;
And would not shock his quiet, to be blest
With greater happiness than man e'er tasted.
Pol. And by that Heaven eternally I swear
To keep the kind Castalio in my heart.

Whose shall Monimia be?

Cast. No matter whose.

200

Pol. Were you not with her privately last night?
Cast. I was, and should have met her here again;

But th' opportunity shall now be thine;
Myself will bring thee to the scene of love:
But have a care, by friendship I conjure thee,
That no false play be offer'd to thy brother.