ACT V. SCENE I. A Garden. CASTALIO lying on the Ground. Soft Music. "SONG. COME, all ye youths, whose hearts e'er bled By cruel beauty's pride; "Bring each a garland on his head, "Let none his sorrows hide: "But hand in hand around me move, "And see, "Singing the saddest tales of love; "The happiest mortal once was 1; "Though bright as heav'n, whose stamp she bears, See where the deer trot after one another, 20 Calm arbours, lusty health and innocence, gaze Once in a season too they taste of love: Enter ACASTO. Acast. Castalio! Castalio! Cast. Who's there So wretched but to name Castalio? Acast. I hope my message may succeed! Cast. My father! 'Tis joy to see you, though where sorrow's nourish'd. "Acast. I'm come in beauty's cause; you'll guess "the rest. "Cast. A woman! If you love my peace of mind, "Name not a woman to me; but to think "Of woman, were enough to taint my brains "'Till they ferment to madness. Oh, my father! "Acast. What ails my boy? "Cast. A woman is the thing 'I would forget, and blot from my remembrance. "Acast. Forget Monimia ! "Cast. She, to choose: Monimia! "The very sound's ungrateful to my sense. 40 "Acast. This might seem strange, but you, I've "found, will hide "Your heart from me; you dare not trust your fa "ther. "Cast. No more Monimia. "Acast. Is she not your wife? "Cast. So much the worse; who loves to hear of "wife? "When you would give all worldly plagues a name, "Worse than they have already, call 'em wife : "But a new-marry'd wife's a teeming mischief, "Full of herself! Why, what a deal of horror "Has that poor wretch to come, that wedded yester. "day !" Acast. Castalio, you must go along with me, And see Monimia. Cast. Sure my lord but mocks me. Go see Monimia! "Pray, my lord, excuse me, "And leave the conduct of this part of life "To my own choice." Acast. I say, no more dispute. 60 Complaints are made to me, that you have wrong'd her. Cast. Who has complain'd? Acast. Her brother, to my face, proclaim'd her wrong'd, And in such terms they've warm'd me. Cast. What terms? Her brother! Heav'n! Where learn'd she that? What! does she send her hero with defiance He durst not sure affront you! Acast. No, not much. But Cast. Speak, what said he? Acast. That thou wert a villain; Methinks I would not have thee thought a villain. Cast. Shame on th' ill-manner'd brute ! Your age secur'd him; he durst not else have said so. Acast. By my sword, I would not see thee wrong'd, and bear it vilely : Though I have pass'd my word she shall have justice. 80 Cast. Justice! to give her justice would undo her. Think you this solitude I now have chosen, Left joys, just op'ning to my sense, sought here A place to curse my fate in, measur'd out My grave at length, wish'd to have grown one piece With this cold clay, and all without a cause ? Enter CHAMONT. Cha. Where is the hero, famous and renown'd Acast. I guess, Chamont, you come to seek Castalio. Cha. I thought e'er now to've found you For you have wrong'd the dearest part of him. Monimia, young lord, weeps in this heart; And all the tears thy injuries have drawn From her poor eyes, are drops of blood from hence. Cast. Then you are Chamont ? 100 Cha. Yes, and I hope no stranger To great Castalio. Cast. I've heard of such a man That has been very busy with my honour. Cha. Thus I'll thank you. [Draws. Acast. By this good sword, who first presumes to violence, Makes me his foe [Draws and interposes. [To Cast. "Young man, it once was thought "I was fit guardian of my house's honour; "And you might trust your share with me— -For ❝ you, [To Cha. "Young soldier, I must tell you, you have wrong'd me. "I promis'd you to do Monimia right, "And thought my word a pledge, I would not forfeit: "But you, I find, would fright us to performance." Cast. Sir, in my younger years, with care you taught me 120 That brave revenge was due to injur❜d honour; |