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"Is grown a rebel, and has broke his chain,

121

"And now he walks there like a lord at large. "Mon. Am I not then your wife, your lov'd

Monimia?

"I once was so, or I've most strangely dream'd. "What ails my love?

"Cast. Whate'er thy dreams have been,

"Thy waking thoughts ne'er meant Castalio well."
No more, Monimia, of your sex's arts,
They're useless all. I'm not that pliant tool,
That necessary utensil you'd make me;
I know my charter better-I am man,
Obstinate man; and will not be enslav'd.

Mon. You shall not fear't: indeed my nature's easy; I'll ever live your most obedient wife!

Nor ever any privilege pretend

Beyond your will: for that shall be my law :

Indeed I will not.

Cast. Nay, you shall not, madam ;

By yon bright heav'n you shall not. All the day
I'll play the tyrant, and at night forsake thee;
'Till by afflictions, and continued cares,
I've worn thee to a homely household drudge.
Nay, if I've any too, thou shalt be made
Subservient to my looser pleasures,
For thou hast wrong'd Castalio.

Mon. No more;

Oh, kill me here, or tell me my offence,

I'll never quit you else; but on these knees,
Thus follow you all day, 'till they're worn bare,

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And hang upon you like a drowning creature.
Castalio..

Cast. Away! last night, last night—

Mon. It was our wedding night.

Cast. No more; forget it.

Mon. Why, do you then repent?

Cast. I do.

Mon. O, Heaven!

And will you leave me thus ? help, help, Florella! [He drags her to the door, breaks from her, and exit. Help me to hold this yet lov'd cruel man.

still

Oh, my heart breaks-I'm dying. Oh-" stand off; "I'll not indulge this woman's weakness; "Chaf'd and fomented let my heart swell on, ""Till with its injuries it burst, and shake "With the dire blow this prison to the earth. "Maid. What sad mistake has been the cause of this?"

Mon. Castalio! Oh! how often has he swore, Nature should change, the sun and stars grow dark, Ere he would falsify his vows to me!

Make haste, confusion, then; sun, lose thy light,
And stars drop dead with sorrow to the earth;
For my Castalio's false.

"Maid. Unhappy day!"

Mon. False as the wind, the waters, or the weather; Cruel as tigers o'er their trembling prey :

I feel him in my breast, he tears my heart,

And at each sigh he drinks the gushing blood;

Must I be long in pain? [Sits down.] [Exit Florellą.

Enter CHAMONT.

Cha. In tears, Monimia !

Mon. Whoe'er thou art,

Leave me alone to my belov'd despair.

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Cha. Lift up thy eyes, and see who comes to cheer

thee.

Tell me the story of thy wrongs, and then

See if my soul has rest, 'till thou hast justice.
Mon. My brother!

Cha. Yes, Monimia, if thou think’st

That I deserve the naine, I am thy brother.
Mon. Oh, Castalio!

Cha. Hah!

Name me that name again! my soul's on fire
'Till I know all. There's meaning in that name,
I know he is thy husband: therefore trust me
With all the following truth-

Mon. Indeed, Chamont,

There's nothing in it but the fault of nature;
I'm often thus seiz'd suddenly with grief,

I know not why.

Cha. You use me ill, Monimia;

And I might think, with justice, most severely
Of this unfaithful dealing with your brother.

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Mon. Truly, I'm not to blame. Suppose I'm fond, And grieve for what as much may please another? Should I upbraid the dearest friend on earth For the first fault? You would not do so; would ye? Cha. Not, if I'd cause to think it was a friend,

Mon. Why do you then call this unfaithful dealing! I ne'er conceal'd my soul from you before:

Bear with me now, and search my wounds no farther; For every probing pains me to the heart.

Cha. 'Tis sign there's danger in't, and must be probed.

Where's your new husband? Still that thought disturbs you?

What! only answer me with tears? Castalio!

Nay, now they stream;

Cruel, unkind Castalio! Is't not so?

Mon. I cannot speak? "grief flows so fast upon me, "It choaks, and will not let me tell the cause." Oh!

Cha. My Monimia, to my soul thou'rt dear As honour to my name. Dear as the light

"To eyes but just restor'd, and heal'd of blindness." Why wilt thou not repose within my breast

The anguish that torments thee?

Mon. Oh! I dare not.

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Cha. I have no friend but thee. We must confide

In one another. Two unhappy orphans,

Alas, we are, and when I see thee grieve,

Methinks, it is a part of me that suffers.

"Mon. Oh, shouldst thou know the cause of my lamenting,

"Thou wouldst despise the abject, lost Monimia, ‹‹ I am satisfy'd, Chamont, that thou wouldst scorn

me;

"No more would praise this hated beauty; but

"When in some cell distracted, as I shall be, "Thou seest me lie; these unregarded locks "Matted like furies tresses; my poor limbs "Chain'd to the ground, and, 'stead of the delights "Which happy lovers taste, my keeper's stripes, "A bed of straw, and a coarse wooden dish "Of wretched sustenance; when thus thou seest me, "Pr'ythee have charity and pity for me :

"Let me enjoy this thought.

"Cha. Why wilt thou rack

"My soul so long, Monimia? Ease me quickly; "Or thou wilt run me into madness first."

Mon. Could you be secret?

Cha. Secret as the grave.

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Mon. But when I've told you, will you keep your fury

Within its bonds? Will you not do some rash
And horrid mischief? For indeed, Chamont,
You would not think how hardly I've been us'd
From a near friend, from one that has my soul
A slave, and therefore treats it like a tyrant.

Cha. I will be calm, but has Castalio wrong'd thee? Has he already wasted all his love?

What has he done? Quickly, for I'm all trembling With expectation of a horrid tale.

Mon. Oh! could you think it!

Cha. What?

Mon. I fear he'll kill me.

Cha. Hah!

Mon. Indeed I do; he's strangely cruel to me;

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