Cha. She wrong'd thee! by the fury in my heart,
Thy father's honour's not above Monimia's;
Nor was thy mother's truth and virtue fairer.

Acast Boy, don't disturb the ashes of the dead
With thy capricious follies. The remembrance
Of the lov'd creature that once fill'd these arms-
Cha. Has not been wrong'd.

Cast. It shall not.

Cha. No, nor shall

Monimia, though a helpless orphan, destitute
Of friends and fortune, though th' unhappy sister
Of poor Chamont, whose sword is all his portion,
B'opprest by thee, thou proud imperious traitor. 140
Cast. Hah! set me free.

The cause of these disorders; my Chamont,

Who is't has wrong'd thee?

Cast. Now, where art thou fled

For shelter?

Cha. Come from thine, and see what safeguard Shall then betray my fears.

Ser. Cruel Castalio,

Sheath up thy angry sword, and don't affright me.
Chamont, let once Serina calm thy breast:

If any of my friends have done thee injuries,
I'll be reveng'd, and love thee better for't.
Cast. Sir, if you'd have me think you did not take

This opportunity to shew your vanity,

Let's meet some other time, when by ourselves
We fairly may dispute our wrongs together.

Cha. Till then, I am Castalio's friend.
Cast. Serina,

Farewel, I wish much happiness attend you.

160

Ser. Chamont's the dearest thing I have on earth; Give me Chamont, and let the world forsake me. Cha. Witness the gods, how happy I'm in thee! "No beauteous blossom of the fragrant spring "Though the fair child of nature newly born, "Can be so lovely." Angry, unkind Castalio, Suppose I should a while lay by my passions, And be a beggar in Monimia's cause, Might I be heard ?

Cast. Sir, 'twas my last request,

You would, though I find you will not be satisfy'd;
So, in a word, Monimia is my scorn;

She basely sent you here to try my fears;
That was your business;

"No artful prostitute, in falsehoods practis'd,

"To make advantage of her coxcomb's follies,

"Could have done more.".

Cha. Farewel.

-Disquiet vex her for`t.

[Exit Cha. and Ser.

Cast. Farewel-My father, you seem troubled. 180 Acast. Would I'd been absent when this boisterous

brave

Came to disturb thee thus. I'm griev'd I hinder'd Thy just resentment- -But Monimia

Cast. Damn her.

Acast. Don't curse her.

Cast. Did I ?

Acast. Yes.

Cast. I'm sorry for't.

Acast. Methinks, as if I guess, the fault's but small, It might be pardon'd.

Cast. No.

Acast. What has she done?

Cast. That she's my wife, may Heav'n and you for

give me.

Acast. Be reconcil'd then.

Cast. No.

Acast. Go see her.

Cast. No.

Acast. I'll send and bring her hither.

Cast. No.

Acast. For my sake,

Castalio, and the quiet of my age.

200

Cast. Why will you urge a thing my nature starts at ?

Acast. Pr'ythee forgive her.

Cast. Lightnings first shall blast me.

I tell you, were she prostrate at my feet,
Full of her sex's best dissembled sorrows,
And all that wond'rous beauty of her own,
My heart might break, but it should never soften.

Enter FLORELLA.

Flor. My lord, where are you? "Oh, Castalio!

"Acast. Hark.

"Cast. What's that?"

I

Flor. Oh, shew me quickly, where's Castalio.
Acast. Why, what's the business?

220

She flies with fury over all the house,
Through every room of each apartment, crying,
Where's my Castalio? Give me my Castalio!
Except she see you, sure she'll grow distracted.
Cast. Hah! will she? Does she name Castalio?
And with such tenderness? Conduct me quickly
To the poor lovely mourner.
"Oh, my father "
Acast. Then wilt thou go? Blessings attend thy

purpose.

Cast. I cannot hear Monimia's soul's in sadness, And be a man; my heart will not forget her; "But do not tell the world you saw this of me." Acast. Delay not then, but haste and cheer thy love. Cast. Oh! I will throw m' impatient arms about her, In her soft bosom sigh my soul to peace, Till through the panting breast she finds the way To mould my heart, and make it what she will. Monimia! oh! [Exeunt Acasto and Cast.

SCENE II.

Enter MONIMIA.

A Chamber.

Mon. Stand off, and give me room,

I will not rest till I have found Castalio,
My wish's lord, comely as the rising day,
Amidst ten thousand eminently known!

Flowers spring up where-e'er he treads, his eyes
Fountains of brightness, cheering all about him! 240
When will they shine on me?—Oh, stay my soul !
I cannot die in peace till I have seen him.

CASTALIO within.

Cast. Who talks of dying with a voice so sweet, That life's in love with it?

Mon. Hark! 'tis he that answers.

So, in a camp, though at the dead of night, "If but the trumpet's cheerful noise is heard, "All at the signal leap from downy rest, "And every heart awakes, as mine does now." Where art thou?

Cast. [Entering.] Here, my love.

Mon. No nearer, lest I vanish.

Cast. Have I been in a dream, then, all this while? And art thou but the shadow of Monimia?

Why dost thou fly me thus?

Mon. Oh, were it possible that we could drown In dark oblivion but a few past hours,

We might be happy.

Cast. Is't then so hard, Monimia, to forgive

A fault, where humble love like mine, implores thee?
For I must love thee, though it prove my ruin. 261
Which
way shall I court thee?

What shall I do to be enough thy slave,