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.

[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

I 20

That brave revenge was due to injur'd honour;
Oppose not then the justice of my sword,
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.

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 armsCha. 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.

Cha. Come both.

Enter SERINA.

Ser. Alas! alas!

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

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

1

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

Flor. Oh, the poor Monimia!

Cast. Hah!

Acast. What's the matter?

Flor. Hurry'd by despair,

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.

Acast. Then wilt thou go?

purpose.

220

"Oh, my father!" Blessings attend thy

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.
Monimial oh!

[Exeunt Acasto and Cast.

• Mon. Stand off, and give me room,