Which if it last, I'm sure must break my heart. 260

Cha. What has he done?

Mon. Most barbarously us'd me.

Nothing so kind as he when in my arms!

"In thousand kisses, tender sighs and joys,

"Not to be thought again, the night was wasted;"

At dawn of day he rose, and left his conquest.

But when we met, and I with open arms,

Ran to embrace the lord of all my wishes,
Oh, then!

Cha. Go on!

Mon. He threw me from his breast,

Like a detested sin.

Cha. How!

Mon. As I hung too

Upon his knees, and begg'd to know the cause,
He dragg'd me like a slave upon the earth,
And had no pity on my cries.

Cha. How did he

Dash thee disdainfully away; with scorn?

Mon. He did! and more, I fear, will ne'er be friends, Though I still love him with unabated passion. 280 Cha. What, throw thee from him!

Mon. Yes, indeed he did.

Cha. So may this arm

Throw him to th’earth, like a dead dog despis'd.
Lameness and leprosy, blindness and lunacy,
Poverty, shame, pride, and the name of villain,
Light on me, if, Castalio, I forgive thee.

Mon. Nay, now, Chamont, art thou unkind as he is!

Didst thou not promise me thou wouldst be calm ? Keep my disgrace conceal'd? Why shouldst thou kill him?

By all my love, this arm should do him vengeance.
Alas! I love him still, and though I ne'er
Clasp him again within these longing arms,
Yet bless him, bless him, gods! where'er he goes.

Enter ACASTO.

Acast. Sure some ill fate is tow'rds me; in my house

I only meet with oddness and disorder;

"Each vassal has a wild distracted face,

"And looks as full of business as a blockhead

"In times of danger." Just this very moment 300 I met Castalio

Cha. Then you met a villain.

Acast. Hah!

Cha. Yes, a villain.

Acast. Have a care, young soldier,

How thou'rt too busy with Acasto's fame.

I have a sword, my arm's good old acquaintance,
Villain to thee.

Cha. Curse on thy scandalous age,

Which hinders me to rush upon thy throat,
And tear the root up of that cursed bramble!
Acast. Ungrateful ruffian! sure my good old friend
Was ne'er thy father; nothing of him's in thee;
What have I done in my unhappy age,

To be thus us'd? I scorn t'upbraid thee, boy.

But I could put thee in remembrance

Cha. Do.

Acast. I scorn it

Cha. No, I'll calmly hear the story,

For I would fain know all, to see which scale

Weighs most- -Hah! is not that good old Acasto? What have I done? Can you forgive this folly?

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Acast. Why dost thou ask it?

Cha. 'Twas the rude overflowing

Of too much passion. Pray, my lord, forgive me. [Kneels.

Acast. Mock me not, youth, I can revenge a wrong. Cha. I know it well; but for this thought of mine Pity a madman's frenzy, and forget it.

Acast. I will; but henceforth pr'ythee be more [Raises him.

kind.

Whence came the cause?

Cha. Indeed I've been to blame;

"But I'll learn better;" for you've been my father. You've been her father too- [Takes Mon. by the hand. Acast. Forbear the prologue-———

And let me know the substance of thy tale.

Cha. You took her up, a little tender flower, Just sprouted on a bank, which the next frost Had nipp'd; and with a careful loving hand, Transplanted her into your own fair garden, Where the sun always shines. There long she

flourish'd,

Grew sweet to sense, and lovely to the eye, 'Till at the last a cruel spoiler came,

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Cropt this fair rose, and rifled all its sweetness,
Then cast it like a loathsome weed away.

Acast. You talk to me in parables, Chamont,
You may have known that I'm no wordy man;
Fine speeches are the instruments of knaves,

Of fools, that use 'em when they want good sense;
But honesty

Needs no disguise nor ornament. Be plain.

Cha. Your son-

Acast. I've two; and both, I hope, have honour. Cha. I hope so too-but

Acast. Speak.

Cha. I must inform you,

Once more, Castalio!

Acast. Still Castalio!

Cha. Yes.

Your son Castalio has wrong'd Monimia.

Acast. Hah! wrong'd her?

Cha. Marry'd her.

Acast. I'm sorry for❜t.

Cha. Why sorry ?

By yon blest heav'n, there's not a lord

But might be proud to take her to his heart.

Acast. I'll not deny't.

Cha. You dare not, by the gods

You dare not; all your family combin'd

In one damn'd falsehood to outdo Castalio,

Dare not deny't.

Acast. How has Castalio wrong'd her?

360

Cha. Ask that of him. I say, my sister's wrong'd:

Monimia, my sister, born as high

And noble as Castalio-Do her justice,
Or, by the gods, I'll lay a scene of blood

Shall make this dwelling horrible to nature.
I'll do't. Hark you, my lord, your son Castalio,
Take him to your closet, and there teach him manners.

Acast. You shall have justice.

Cha. Nay, I will have justice.

Who'll sleep in safety that has done me wrong ?
My lord, I'll not disturb you to repeat
The cause of this; I beg you (to preserve
Your house's honour) ask it of Castalio.

Acast. I will.

Cha. 'Till then, farewel

Acast. Farewel, proud boy.

Monimia !

Mon. My lord.

Acast. You are my daughter.

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[Exit.

Mon. I am, my lord, if you'll vouchsafe to own me. Acast. When you'll complain to me, I'll prove a fa

ther.

[Exit.

Mon. Now I'm undone for ever. Who on earth

Is there so wretched as Monimia?

First by Castalio cruelly forsaken;

I've lost Acasto now: his parting frowns
May well instruct me, rage is in his heart:
"I shall be next abandon'd to my fortune,
"Thrust out a naked wand'rer to the world,
"And branded for the mischievous Monimia!
"What will become of me?" My cruel brother

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