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. 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; And feasts his eyes upon the shining mammon. [Knocks. 569 [Knocks again. "Monimia! my angel-hah—not yet- 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? 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, She 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, 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: 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, Ern. I can't leave you, And not the reason know of your disorders. 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? 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. |