Acast. My heart's darling!

Ser. Let my knees

Fix to the earth. Ne'er let my eyes

have rest,

But wake and weep, till Heaven restore my father. Acast. Rise to my arms, and thy kind pray'rs are answer'd.

For thou'rt a wond'rous extract of all goodness,
Born for my joy, and no pain's felt when near thee.
Chamont!

Enter CHAMONT.

Cha. My Lord, may't prove not an unlucky omen. Many I see are waiting round about you,

And I am come to ask a blessing too!
Acast. May'st thou be happy!

Cha. Where?

Acast. In all thy wishes.

Cha. Confirm me so, and make this fair one mine; I am unpractis'd in the trade of courtship,

And know not how to deal love out with art :
Onsets in love seem best like those in war,
Fierce, resolute, and done with all the force;
So I would open my whole heart at once,
And pour out the abundance of my soul.

120

Acast. What says Serina? Canst thou love a soldier ?

One born to honour, and to honour bred?

One that has learn'd to treat e'en foes with kindness; To wrong no good man's fame, nor praise himself? Ser. Oh! name not love, for that's ally'd to joy, And joy must be a stranger to my heart,

When you're in danger. May Chamont's good fortune
Render him lovely to some happier maid!
Whilst I at friendly distance see him blest,

Praise the kind gods, and wonder at his virtues.
Acast. Chamont, pursue her, conquer and possess
her,

And, as my son, a third of all my fortune

Shall be thy lot.

But keep thy eyes from wand'ring, man of frailty.
Beware the dangerous beauty of the wanton;
Shun their enticements; ruin like a vulture
Waits on their conquests: falsehood too's their busi-
ness,

They put false beauty off to all the world,

Use false endearments to the fools that love 'em, 140
And when they marry, to their silly husbands,
They bring false virtue, broken fame and fortune.
Mon. Hear ye that, my Lord?

Pol. Yes, my fair monitor, old men always talk thus. Acast. Chamont, you told me of some doubts that press'd you,

Are you yet satisfy'd that I'm your friend?

Cha. My lord, I would not lose that satisfaction For any blessing I could wish for.

As to my fears, already I have lost 'em;

They ne'er shall vex me more, nor trouble you.

Acast. I thank you. Daughter you must do so too.

My friends, 'tis late;

Now my disorder seems all past and over,
And, I, methinks, begin to feel new health.

Cast. Would you but rest, it might restore you quite. Acast. Yes, I'll to bed; old men must humour

weakness:

Let me have music then, to lull and chase

This melancholy thought of death away.

Good-night, my friends; Heav'n guard ye all! goodnight!

To-morrow early we'll salute the day,

Find out new pleasures, and redeem lost time.

160

[Exeunt all but Chamont and Chaplain. Cha. Hist, hist, Sir Gravity, a word with you. Chap. With me, sir!

Cha. If you're at leisure, sir, we'll waste an hour. 'Tis yet too soon to sleep, and 'twill be charity To lend your conversation to a stranger. Chap. Sir, you're a soldier ?

Cha. Yes.

Chap. I love a soldier.

And had been one myself, but that my parents Would make me what you see me : yet I'm honest, For all I wear black.

Cha. And that's a wonder.

Have you had long dependence on this family?

Chap. I have not thought it so, because my time's Spent pleasantly. My lord's not haughty nor imperious,

Nor I gravely whimsical; he has good-nature,
And I have manners.

His sons too are civil to me, because

I do not pretend to be wiser than they are.

180

I meddle with no man's business but my own;
I rise in a morning early, study moderately,
Eat and drink cheerfully, live soberly,

Take my innocent pleasures freely;

So meet with respect, and am not the jest of the family.
Cha. I'm glad you are so happy.

A pleasant fellow this, and may be useful.
Knew you my father, the old Chamont ?

[Aside.

Chap. I did, and was most sorry when we lost him. Cha. Why, didst thou love him?

Chap. Ev'ry body lov'd him; besides he was my master's friend.

Cha. I could embrace thee for that very notion. If thou didst love my father, I could think

Thou wouldst not be an enemy to me.

Chap. I can be no man's foe.

Cha. Then pr'ythee tell me,

Think'st thou the lord Castalio loves my sister?

"Nay, never start. Come, come, I know thy office

Opens thee all the secrets of the family.

"Then if thou'rt honest, use this freedom kindly."

Chap. Love your sister!

Cha. Ay, love her.

"Chap. Sir, I never ask'd him,

"And wonder you should ask it me.

201

"Cha. Nay, but thou'rt an hypocrite; is there not

"one

"Of all thy tribe that's honest? In your schools
"The pride of your superiors make ye slaves;
"Ye all live loathsome, sneaking, servile lives;

50

"Not free enough to practice gen'rous truth, "Though ye pretend to teach it to the world.

"Chap. I would deserve a better thought from you. "Cha. If thou wouldst have me not contemn thy

"office

"And character, think all thy brethren knaves, "Thy trade a cheat, and thou its worst professor, "Inform me; for I tell thee, priest, I'll know.” Chap. Either he loves her, or he much has wrong'd

her.

Cha. How! wrong'd her? Have a care, for this

may lay

A scene of mischief to undo us all.

But tell me, wrong'd her, saidst thou?

Chap. Ay, sir, wrong'd her.

220

Cha. This is a secret worth a monarch's fortune: What shall I give thee for't? Thou dear physician Of sickly souls, unfold this riddle to me,

And comfort mine

Chap. I would hide nothing from you willingly.
"Cha. Nay, then again thou'rt honest.

"thou tell me?

"Chap. Yes, if I durst.

"Cha. Why, what affrights thee ?

"Chap. You do.

Would'st

"Who are not to be trusted with the secret.'

"Cha. Why, I am no fool.

"Chap. So indeed you say.

"Cha. Pr'ythee be serious then.

"Chap. You see I am so,