"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 : "Paul. Oh, that's a royal sport! "We yet may see the old man in a morning, 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, 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 ! 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 Pol. No, let me purchase in my youth renown, Has ta'en himself a surfeit of the world, 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? 100 Cast. Have I a thought my Polydore should not know? What can this mean? Pol. Nay, I'll conjure you too; By all the strictest bonds of faithful friendship, As 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? Pol. Suppose you should not, brother? 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 I lov'd her first, and cannot quit the claim, But will preserve the birth-right of my passion. Pol. You will. 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. 140 Cast. No; Not with my Polydore; though I must own Pol. But for a toy you would, a woman's toy; Unjust Castalio ! Cast. Pr'ythee, where's my Pol. You love Monimia. Cast. Yes. fault? 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 Pol. I doat upon Monimia. Cast. Love her still; Win and enjoy her. Pol. Both of us cannot. Cast. No matter 160 Whose chance it prove; but let's not quarrel for't. Pol. You would not wed Monimia, would Cast. Wed her! No; were she all desire could wish, as fair you As would the vainest of her sex be thought, With wealth beyond what woman's pride could waste, 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? No, let me live at large, and when I die- If he survives me; if not, my king, Who may bestow't again on some brave man, Cast. By yon Heav'n, I love My Polydore beyond all worldly joys; 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 : |