"Let me behold those eyes; they'll tell me truth. "Hast thou no longing? art thou still the same 320 "Cold, icy virgin? No; thou'rt alter'd quite : "Haste, haste to bed, and let loose all thy wishes." Mon. 'Tis but one night, my lord; I pray be rul'd. Cast. Try if thou'st power to stop a flowing tide, Or in a tempest make the seas be calm; And when that's done, I'll conquer my desires. No more, my blessing. What shall be the sign? When shall I come? for to my joys I'll steal, As if I ne'er had paid my freedom for them.

Mon. Just three soft strokes upon the chamber door; And at that signal you shall gain admittance: But speak not the least word; for if you shou'd, 'Tis surely heard, and all will be betray'd.

Cast. Oh! doubt it not, Monimia; our joys Shall be as silent as the ecstatic bliss Of souls, that by intelligence converse. Immortal pleasures shall our senses drown, Thought shall be lost, and ev'ry power dissolv'd. Away, my love; "first take this kiss. Now haste." I long for that to come, yet grudge each minute past.

[Exit Mon.

My brother wand'ring too so late this way !
Pol. Castalio!

Cast. My Polydore, how dost thou ?
How does our father? Is he well recover'd?
Pol. I left him happily repos'd to rest;
He's still as gay as if his life were young.
But how does fair Monimia ?

341

Cast. Doubtless, well:

A cruel beauty, with her conquest pleas'd,
Is always joyful, and her mind in health.

Pol. Is she the same Monimia still she was?
May we not hope she's made of mortal mold?
Cast. She's not woman else:

Though I'm grown weary of this tedious hoping;
We've in a barren desert stray'd too long.

Pol. Yet may relief be unexpected found,
And love's sweet manna cover all the field.
Met ye to-day?

Cast. No; she has still avoided me :
Her brother too is jealous of her grown.
And has been hinting something to my father.
I wish I'd never meddled with the matter:
And would enjoin thee, Polydore

Pol. To what ?

360

Cast. To leave this peevish beauty to herself.
Pol. What, quit my love? As soon I'd quit my post

In fight, and, like a coward, run away.

No, by my stars I'll chase her till she yields

To me, or meets her rescue in another.

Cast. Nay, she has beauty that might shake the

leagues

Of mighty kings, and set the world at odds:
But I have wond'rous reasons on my side,

That wou'd persuade thee, were they known.
Pol. Then speak 'em :

What are they? Came ye to her window here,
To learn 'em now? Castalio, have a care;

Use honest dealing with a friend and brother.
Believe me, I'm not with my love so blinded,
But can discern your purpose to abuse me.
Quit your pretences to her.

Cast. Grant I do;

You love capitulations, Polydore,

And but upon conditions would oblige me.

380

Pol. You say you've reasons; why are they con

ceal'd?

Cast. To-morrow I may tell you.

Pol. Why not now?

Cast. It is a matter of such consequence,

As I must well consult ere I reveal.

But pr'ythee cease to think I would abuse thee,
'Till more be known.

Pol. When you, Castalio, cease,
To meet Monimia unknown to me,
And then deny it slavishly, I'll cease
To think Castalio faithless to his friend.
Did not I see you part this very moment?
Cast. It seems you've watch'd me, then?
Pol. I scorn the office.

Cast. Pr'ythee avoid a thing thou may'st repent.
Pol. That is henceforward making leagues with you.
Cast. Nay, if ye're angry, Polydore, good night.

[Exit.

Pol. Good night, Castalio, if ye're in such haste. He little thinks I've overheard th' appointment; 408

But to his chamber's gone to wait a while,

Then come and take possession of myl ove.

This is the utmost point of all my hopes;
Or now she must, or never can be mine.

O, for a means now, how to counterplot,
And disappoint this happy elder brother:
In every thing we do or undertake

He soars above me, mount what height I can,
And keeps the start he got of me in birth.
Cordelio!

Enter Page.

:

Page. My Lord!

Pol. Come hither, boy.

Thou hast a pretty, forward, lying face,

And may'st in time expect preferment. Canst thou

Pretend to secrecy, cajole and flatter
Thy master's follies, and assist his pleasures ?

Page. My Lord, I could do any thing for you,
And ever be a very faithful boy.
Command, whate'er's your pleasure I'll observe;

Be it to run, or watch, or to convey
A letter to a beauteous lady's bosom;
At least, I am not dull, and soon should learn.

420

Pol. 'Tis pity, then, thou should'st not be employ'd. Go to my brother, he's in his chamber now, Undressing, and preparing for his rest: Find out some means to keep him up awhile; Tell him a pretty story, that may please His ear; invent a tale, no matter what: If he should ask of me, tell him I'm gone To bed, and sent you there to know his pleasure,

F

Whether he'll hunt to-morrow. Well said, Polydore,
Dissemble with thy brother! that's one point. [Aside.
But do not leave him till he's in his bed,
Or if he chance to walk again this way,
Follow and do not quit him, but seem fond
To do him little offices of service.

Perhaps at last it may offend him; then

Retire, and wait till I come in. Away:

44

Succeed in this, and be employ'd again.

Page. Doubt not, my lord. He has been always

kind

To me; would often set me on his knee,
Then give me sweetmeats, call me pretty boy,
And ask me what the maids talked of at nights.
Pol. Run quickly, then, and prosp'rous be thy
wishes.
[Exit Page.

Here I'm alone, and fit for mischief; now
To cheat this brother, will't be honest that?
I heard the sign she order'd him to give.
O, for the art of Proteus, but to change
Th' unhappy Polydore to blest Castalio !
She's not so well acquainted with him yet,
But I may fit her arms as well as he.
Then when I'm happily possess'd of more
Than sense can think, all loosen'd into joy,
To hear my disappointed brother come,
And give th' unregarded signal; Oh,
What a malicious pleasure will that be;
Just three soft strokes against the chamber door;
But speak not the least word, for if you should, 460

1