"And hardly shall be mad enough to-night "To trust you with my ruin. "Cha. Art thou then "So far concern'd in't? What has been thy office? "Curse on that formal steady villain's face! "Just so do all bawds look: nay, bawds, they say, "Can pray upon occasion, talk of heav'n, "Turn up their goggling eye-balls, rail at vice, "Dissemble, lie, and preach like any priest. "Art thou a bawd? "Chap. Sir, I'm not often us'd thus. "Cha. Be just then. "Cha. So I shall be to the trust "That's laid upon me." Cha. By the reverenced soul 241 Of that great honest man, that gave me being, May this good sword ne'er do me right in battle! That dwells in good and pious men like thee! you. Cha. Wilt thou? Chap. I will; but if it ever 'scape you "That's dear to me, by th' honour of my name, "And by that power I serve, it never shall." 260 Chap. Then this good day, when all the house was busy. When mirth and kind rejoicing fill'd each room, As I was walking in the grove I met them. Cha. What met them in the grove together? Tell me How, walking, standing, sitting, lying, hah! Chap. I, by their own appointment, met them there, Receiv'd their marriage-vows, and join'd their hands. Cha. How marry'd! Chap. Yes, sir. Cha. Then my soul's at peace. But why would you so long delay to give it? Cha. What's the cause I cannot guess, though it is my sister's honour, 28€ Huddled i'th'dark, and done at too much venture; Keep still the secret; for it ne'er shall 'scape me, Enter CASTALIO and MONIMIA. Cast. Young Chamont and the Chaplain? sure 'tis No matter what's contrived, or who consulted, Seems no good boding omen to her bliss; Mon. Castalio, I am thinking what we've done. The heavenly powers were sure displeas'd to-day; For at the ceremony as we stood, And as your hand was kindly join'd with mine ; Tears drown'd my eyes, and trembling seiz'd my soul. What should that mean? Cast. Oh, thou art tender all! Gentle and kind as sympathising nature! "When a sad story has been told, I've seen 300 "Thy little breasts, with soft compassion swell'd, The night's far spent, and day draws on apace; Mon. 'Twill be impossible; [Polydore at the door. You know your father's chamber's next to mine, 320 "Let me behold those eyes; they'll tell me truth. "Hast thou no longing? art thou still the same "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? 341 Cast. Doubtless, well: A cruel beauty, with her conquest pleas'd, Pol. Is she the same Monimia still she was? Though I'm grown weary of this tedious hoping; Pol. Yet may relief be unexpected found, Cast. No; she has still avoided me : Her brother too is jealous of her grown. 360 And has been hinting something to my father. I wish I'd never meddled with the matter: Pol. To what? 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. What are they? Came ye to her window here, |