"First, if the fruit of our detested joy "A child be born, it shall be murder'd "Mon. No; "Sure that may live. "Pol. Why? "Mon. To become a thing 520 "More wretched than its parents, to be branded "With all our infamy, and curse its birth." Pol. "That's well contriv'd.” Then thus I'll go, Full of my guilt, distracted where to roam, "Like the first wretched pair expell'd their Paradise," I'll find some place where adders nest in winter, Loathsome and venomous: where poisons hang Like gums against the walls: where witches meet by night, and feed upon some pamper'd imp, Fat with the blood of babes: There I'll inhabit, And live up to the height of desperation; Desire shall languish like a withering flow'r, "And no distinction of the sex be thought of." Horrors shall freight me from those pleasing harms, And I'll no more be caught with beauty's charms, "But when I'm dying take me in thy arms." [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I. A Garden. CASTALIO lying on the Ground. Soft Music. "SONG. COME, all ye youths, whose hearts e'er bled "Bring each a garland on his head, "Let none 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. Though bright as heav'n, whose stamp she bears, "Think of my fate, and shun her snares." See where the deer trot after one another, 20 Calm arbours, lusty health and innocence, Once in a season too they taste of love : And in that foily 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? "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 66 '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. бо 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 From her poor eyes, are drops of blood from hence. Cast. Then you are Chamont? 100 |