Pol. Nay, I'll conjure you too;

120 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.

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

140 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.

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!

: 160
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
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.

200 Whose shall Monimia be ?

Cast. No matter whose.
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.

Urge all thy pow'rs to make thy passion prosper :
But wrong not mine.

Pol. Heaven blast me if I do.

Cast. If't prove thy fortune, Polydore, to conquer, (For thou hast all the arts of soft persuasion) Trust me, and let me know thy love's success, That I may ever after stifle mine.

Pol. Though she be dearer to my soul than rest
To weary pilgrims, or to misers gold,
To great men pow'r, or wealthy cities pride,
Rather than wrong Castalio, I'd forget her.

For if ye pow'rs have happiness in store, 220
When ye would show'r down joys on Polydore,
In one great blessing all your bounty send,
That I may never lose so dear a friend.

[Exeunt Castalio and Polydore.

220

Enter MONIMIA. Mon. So soon return'd from hunting? This fair day Seems as if sent to invite the world abroad. Pass'd not Castalio and Polydore this way?

Page. Madam, just now.

Mon. Sure some ill fate's upon me.
Distrust and heaviness sit round my heart,
And apprehension shocks my timorous soul.
Why was not I laid in my peaceful grave
With my poor parents, and at rest as they are ?
Instead of that, I'm wand'ring into cares.
Castalio! Oh, Castalio! thou hast caught

My foolish heart; and, like a tender child,
That trusts his play-thing to another hand,
I fear its harm, and fain would have it back.
Come near, Cordelio. I must chide you, sir.

Page. Why, madam, have I done you any wrong?

Mon. I never see you now; you have been kinder ? Sat by my bed, and sung me pretty songs; 241 Perhaps I've been ungrateful. Here's money for you : Will you oblige me? Shall I see you oft'ner ?

Page. Madam, I'd serve you with my soul : “ But in the morning when you call me to you, “ As by your bed I stand, and tell you stories, “ I am asham'd to see your swelling breasts,

It makes me blush, they are so very white.

“ Mon. Oh, men! for fatt'ry and deceit renown'd! « Thus, when y'are young, ye learn it all like him, “ 'Till as your years increase, that strengthens too, “ T’undo pour maids, and make our ruin easy." Tell me, Cordelio, for thou oft hast heard Their friendly converse, and their bosom secrets ; Sometimes, at least, have they not talk'd of me?

Page. Oh, madam, very wickedly they have talk'd! But I am afraid to name it; for, they say, Boys must be whipp'd that tell their master's secrets.

Mon. Fear not, Cordelio; it shall ne'er be known; For I'll preserve the secret as 'twere mine. Polydore cannot be so kind as I. I'll furnish thee with all thy harmless sports, With pretty toys, and thou shalt be my page.

Page. And truly, madam, I had rather be so.