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 nor.e his sorrows hide:
" But hand in hand around me move,
“ Singing the saddest tales of love ;

“ And see, when your complaints ye join,
“ If all your wrongs can equal mine.

“ The happiest mortal once was l;

" My heart no sorrows knew,
“ Pity the pain with which I die;

“ But ask not whence it grew. “ Yet if a tempting fair you find, “ That's very lovely, very kind,

“ Though bright as heavin, whose stamp she bears,
6. Think of my fate, and shun her snares."

See where the deer trot after one another,
Male, female, father, daughter, mother, son,
Brother and sister, mingled all together.
No discontent they know; but in delightful 20
Wildness and freedom, pleasant springs, fresh her.

Calm arbours, lusty health and innocence,
Enjoy their portion; if they see a man,
How will they turn together all, and gaze
Upon the monster-
Once in a season too they taste of love :
Only the beast of reason is its slave :
And in that folly drudges all the year.

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?

40 “ Cast. A woman is the thing "I would forget, and blot from my remembrance. “ Acast. Forget Monimia !

“ Cast. She, to choose: Monimial "The very sound's ungrateful to my sense. “ 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

us 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

66 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.
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-

life

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 : Thoughl 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
For wronging innocence and breaking vows,
Whose mighty spirit, and whose stubborn heart,
No woman can appease, nor man provoke ?

Acast. I guess, Chamont, you come to seek Castalio.
Cha. I come to seek the husband of Monimia.
Cast. The slave is here.
Cha. I thought e'er now to've found you
Atoning for the ills you've done Chamont;
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.
I own, I'm much indebted to you, sir,
And here return the villain back again
You sent me by my father.
Cha. Thus I'll thank you.

Draws. Acast. By this good sword, who first presumes to

violence, Makes me his foe

[Draws and interposes. “ Young man, it once was thought [To Cast. “ 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

That brave revenge was due to injur'd honour; Oppose not then the justice of my sword, 120 Lest you should make me jealous of your love.

Cha. Into thy father's arms thou fly'st for safety,
Because thou know'st that place is sanctify'd
With the remembrance of an ancient friendship.

Cast. I am a villain, if I will not seek thee,
Till I may be reveng'd for all the wrongs
Done me by that ungrateful fair thou plead'st for.