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,

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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?

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

kind.

Whence came the cause?

[Raises him.

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;
Tine speeches are the instruments of knaves,

of fools, that use 'em when they want good sense; ut honesty

eeds no disguise nor ornament.

Cha. Your son

Be plain.

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

Cha. I hope so too—~—

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?

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

ut might be proud to take her to his heart. Acast. I'll not deny't.

Cha. You dare not, by the gods

ou dare not; all your family combin'd

one damn'd falsehood to outdo Castalio,

are not deny't.

Acast. How has Castalio wrong'd her?

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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

Is framing mischiefs too, for ought I know,
That may produce bloodshed and horrid murder.

I would not be the cause of one man's death
To reign the empress of the earth; nay, more,
I'd rather lose for ever my Castalio,

My dear unkind Castalio!

Enter POLYDORE.

Pol. Monimia weeping!

"So morning dews on new-blown roses lodge, "By the sun's am'rous heat to be exhal'd." I come, my love, to kiss all sorrow from thee, What mean these sighs? And why thus beats thy

heart?

Mon. Let me alone to sorrow. 'Tis a cause None e'er shall know: but it shall with me die.

Pol. Happy, Monimia, he to whom these sighs,
These tears, and all these languishings, are paid!
I am no stranger to your dearest secret :

I know your heart was never meant for me,
That jewel's for an elder brother's price.
Mon. My Lord!

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Pol. Nay, wonder not; last night I heard His oaths, your vows, and to my torment saw Your wild embraces; heard the appointment made,

I did, Monimia, and I curs'd the sound.

Wilt thou be sworn, my love? wilt thou be ne'er
Unkind again?

Mon. Banish such fruitless hopes!

H