upon, so you did. I'll tell you no more stories, except you keep your word with me.

Cast. Well, go, you trifler, and to-morrow ask me. Page. Indeed, my lord, I can't abide to leave you. Cast. Why, wert thou instructed to attend me! Page. No, no, indeed, my lord, I was not;

But I know what I know.

Cast. What dost thou know? Death! what can all

this mean?

Page. Oh! I know who loves somebody.

Cast. What's that to me, boy?

Page. Nay, I know who loves you too.

Cast. That's a wonder! pr'ythee tell it me.
Page. 'Tis-'tis-I know who-but will

You give me the horse, then?

Cast. I will, my child.

520

Page. It is my lady Monimia, look you; but don't You tell her I told you; she'll give me no more play-things then. I heard her say so, as she lay a-bed, man.

Cast. Talk'd she of me when in her bed, Cordelio ? Page. Yes, and I sung her the song you made, too; and she did so sigh, and so look with her eyes; and her breasts did so lift up and down, I could have found in my heart to have beat 'em, for they made me asham'd.

Cast. Hark! what's that noise?

Take this, begone, and leave me.

You knave, you little flatterer, get you gone.

540

[Exit Page.

Surely it was a noise! hist-only fancy;
For all is hush'd, as nature were retir'd,
"And the perpetual motion standing still,"
So much she from her work appears to cease;
And ev'ry warring element's at peace:
All the wild herds are in the coverts couch'd;
The fishes to their banks or ouze repair'd,
And to the murmurs of the waters sleep;
The feeling air's at rest, and feels no noise,
Except of some soft breeze among the trees,
Rocking the harmless birds that rest upon 'em.
'Tis now, that, guided by my love, I go
To take possession of my Monimia's arms.
Sure Polydore's by this time gone to bed.
At midnight thus the us'rer steals untrack'd,
To make a visit to his hoarded gold,

And feasts his eyes upon the shining mammon. [Knocks.
She hears me not; sure she already sleeps,
Her wishes could not brook so long delay,
And her poor heart has beat itself to rest.

569

[Knocks again.

"Monimia! my angel-hah—not yet-
"How long's the shortest moment of delay,
"To a heart impatient of its pangs like mine,
"In sight of ease, and panting to the goal."

Once more

[Knocks again.

Maid. [At the window.] Who's there? That comes thus rudely to disturb our rest? Cast. 'Tis I.

Maid. Who are you? What's your name?
Cast. Suppose the lord Castalio.

Maid. I know you not.

The lord Castalio has no business here.

Cast. Ha! have a care; what can this mean? Whoe'er thou art, I charge thee to Monimia fly; Tell her I'm here, and wait upon my doom.

Maid. Whoe'er you are, ye may repent this outrage. My lady must not be disturbed. Good night.

580

Cast. She must; tell her she shall. Go, I'm in haste, And bring her tidings from the state of love; They're all in consultation met together, How to reward my truth, and crown her vows. Maid. Sure the man's mad!

Cast. Or this will make me so.

Obey me, or by all the wrongs I suffer,
I'll scale the window, and come in by force,
Let the sad consequence be what it will!
This creature's trifling folly makes me mad!
Maid. My lady's answer is, you may depart.
she knows you; you are Polydore,

She
says
Sent by Castalio, as you were to-day,

T'affront and do her violence again.

Cast. I'll not believe't.

Maid. You may, sir.

Cast. Curses blast thee!

Maid. Well, 'tis a fine cool ev'ning; and, I hope

May cure the raging fever in your blood.

Good-night.

Cast. And farewel all that's just in women!

This is contriv'd; a studied trick, to abuse

My easy nature, and torment my mind.

600

"Sure now she's bound me fast, and means to lord it, “ To rein me hard, and ride me at her will,

" "Till by degrees she shape me into fool,
"For all her future uses. Death and torment!"
'Tis impudence to think my soul will bear it.
"Oh, I could grow ev'n wild, and tear my hair !”
'Tis well, Monimia, that thy empire's short;
Let but to-morrow, but to-morrow come,

And try if all thy arts appease my wrong;

'Till when, be this detested place my bed. [Lies down.

Where I will ruminate on woman's ills;

Laugh at myself, and curse th' inconstant sex:
Faithless Monimia! Oh, Monimia !

Enter ERNESTO.

Ern. Either

My sense has been deluded, or this way,

I heard the sound of sorrow; 'tis late night,

And none, whose mind's at peace, would wander now.

Cast. Who's there?

"Ern. A friend.

"Cast. If thou'rt so, retire,

"And leave this place; for I would be alone."

620

Ern. Castalio! my lord, why in this posture, Stretch'd on the ground? Your honest, true old servant, Your poor Ernesto, cannot see you thus.

Rise, I beseech you.

Cast. If thou art Ernesto,

As by thy honesty thou seem'st to be,
Once leave me to my folly.

Ern. I can't leave you,

And not the reason know of your disorders.
Remember how, when young, I in my arms
Have often borne you, pleas'd you in your pleasures,
And sought an early share in your affection :-
Do not discard me now, but let me serve you.

Cast. Thou canst not serve me.

Ern. Why?

Cast. Because my thoughts

Are full of woman; thou, poor wretch, art past 'em.

Ern. I hate the sex.

Cast. Then I'm thy friend, Ernesto.

[Rises.

I'd leave the world for him that hates a woman. 641

Woman, the fountain of all human frailty!

What mighty ills have not been done by woman?
Who was❜t betray'd the capitol? A woman.
Who lost Mark Anthony the world? A woman.
Who was the cause of a long ten years war,
And laid at last old Troy in ashes? Woman!
Destructive, damnable, deceitful woman!
Woman, to man first as a blessing giv'n;
When innocence and love were in their prime,
Happy a while in Paradise they lay,

But quickly woman long'd to go astray;

Some foolish, new adventure needs must prove, And the first devil she saw, she chang'd her love; To his temptations lewdly she inclin'd

Her soul, and for an apple damn'd mankind. [Exeunt.