Knaves of Conscience And cheat believing Fools that think ye honest Serin My Father Acasto My heart's Darling Serina Let my Knees Fix to the Earth Ne're let my Eyes have rest But wake and weep till Heaven restore my Father Acast. Rise to my Arms and thy kind prayers are answer'd For thou' rt a wondrous extract of all Goodness Born for my joy and no pain 's felt when near thee Chamont Cham. My Lord may 't prove not an unlucky Omen Many I see are waiting round about you And I am come to ask a Blessing too Acasto May'st thou be happy Cham. Where Acast. In all thy wishes Cham. Confirm me so and make this Fair One mine I am unpractis'd in the Trade of Courtship And know not how to deal Love out with Art Onsets in Love seem best like those in War Fierce resolute and done with all the force So I would open my whole heart at once And pour out the abundance of my Soul Acast. What says Serina canst thou love a Souldier One born to Honour and to Honour bred One that has learnt to treat ev'n Foes with kindness To wrong no good mans Fame nor praise himself Serin Oh! name not Love for that 's ally'd to joy And joy must be a stranger to my heart When you 're in danger May Chamonts good Fortune Render him lovely to some happier Maid Whilst I at Friendly distance see him blest Praise the kind Gods and wonder at his Virtues Acast. Chamont pursue her conquer and possess her And as my Son a third of all my Fortune Shall be thy Lot But keep thy Eyes from wandring man of frailty Beware the dangerous Beauty of the wanton Shun their enticements Ruin like a Vulture Waits on their Conquests Falsehood too 's their business They put false Beauty off to all the World Use false endearments to the Fools that love 'em And when they marry to their silly Husbands They bring false Virtue broken Fame and Fortune Monim Hear ye that my Lord Polyd. Yes my fair Monitor old men always talk thus Acast. Chamont you told me of some doubts that prest you Are you yet satisfied that I am your Friend Cham. My Lord I would not lose that satisfaction For any blessing I could wish for As to my fears already I have lost 'em They ne're shall vex me more nor trouble you Acast. I thank you Daughter you must do so too My Friends 't is late or we would yet be company For my disorder seems all past and over And I methinks begin to feel new health Cast. Would you but rest it might restore you quite Acast. Yes I 'll to Bed old men must humour weakness Let me have Musick then to lull and chase This melancholly thought of Death away Good-night my Friends Heaven guard ye all good night To morrow early we 'll salute the day Find out new pleasures and redeem lost time Ex. all but Chamont and Chaplain Cham. Hist hist Sir Gravity a word with you Chap. With me Sir Cham. If you 're at leasure Sir we 'll wast an hour 'T is yet too soon to sleep and 't will be charity To lend your Conversation to a Stranger Chap. Sir you are a Souldier Cham. Yes Chap. I love a Souldier And had been one my self but my old Parents Would make me what you see of me yet I 'm honest For all I wear black Cham. And that 's a wonder Have you had long dependance on this Family Chap. I have not thought it so because my time 's Spent pleasantly My Lord 's not haughty nor imperious Nor I gravely whimsical he has good nature And I have manners His Sons too are civil to me because I do not pretend to be wiser than they are I meddle with no mans business but my own I rise in a morning early study moderately Eat and drink chearfully live soberly Take my innocent pleasures freely So I meet with respect and am not the jest of the Family Cham. I 'm glad you are so happy A pleasant fellow this and may be useful Knew you my Father the old Chamont Chap. I did and was most sorry when we lost him Cham. Why didst thou love him Ch. Ev'ry body lov'd him besides he was my masters Friend Cham. I could Embrace thee for that very Notion If thou didst love my Father I could think Thou wouldst not be an Enemy to me Chap. I can be no mans Foe Cham. Then prithee tell me Thinkst thou the Lord Castalio loves my Sister Nay never start Come come I know thy Office Opens thee all the Secrets of the Family Then if thou art honest use this Freedom kindly Chap. Love your Sister Cham. Ay Love her Chap. Sir I never askt him And wonder you should ask it me Cham. Nay but th' art an Hypocrite is there not one Of all thy Tribe that 's honest in your Schools The pride of your Superiours makes ye Slaves Ye all live loathsome sneaking servile lives Not free enough to practise generous Truth Though ye pretend to teach it to the World Chap. I would deserve a better thought from you Cham. If thou would'st have me not contemn thy Office And Character think all thy Brethren Knaves Thy Trade a Cheat and thou its worst Professour Inform me for I tell thee Priest I 'll know Chap. Either he loves her or he much has wrong'd her Cham. How wrong'd her have a care for this may lay A Scene of mischief to undo us all But tell me wrong'd her say'dst thou Chap. Ay Sir wrong'd her Cham. This is a secret worth a Mon archs Fortune What shall I give thee for 't thou dear Physitian Of sickly Souls unfold this Riddle to me And comfort mine Chap. I would hide nothing from you willingly Cha. Nay then again thou' rt honest Would'st thou tell me Chap. Yes If I durst Cham. Why what affrights thee Chap. You do VVho are not to be trusted with the Secret Cham VVhy I am no Fool. Chap. So indeed you say Cham. Prithee be serious then Chap. You see I am so And hardly shall be mad enough to Night To trust you with my Ruin Cham. Art thou then So far concern'd in 't What has been thy Office Curse on that formal steady Villains Face Just so do all Bawds look Nay Bawds they say Can pray upon occasion talk of Heav'n Turn up their Gogling Eye-balls rail at Vice Dissemble lye and preach like any Priest Art thou a Bawd Chap. Sir I 'm not often us'd thus Cham. Be just then Chap. So I will be to the trust That 's laid upon me Cham. By the rev'renc'd Soul Of that great honest man that gave me Being Tell me but what thou know'st concerns my Honour And if I e're reveal it to thy wrong May this good Sword ne're do me right in Battel May I ne're know that blessed peace of mind That dwells in good and pious men like thee Chap. I see your temper 's mov'd and I will trust you
can this mean Who e're thou art I charge thee to Monimia fly Tell her I 'm here and wait upon my doom Maid Who e're you are you may repent this outrage My Lady must not be disturb'd Good Night Cast. She must tell her she shall go I 'm in haste And bring her tydings from the state of Love Th' are all in consultation met together How to reward my Truth and Crown her Vows Maid Sure the man's mad Cast. Or this will make me so Obey me or by all the wrongs I suffer I 'll scale the Window and come in by force Let the sad Consequence be what it will This Creatures trifling folly makes me mad Maid My Ladies answer is you may depart She says she knows you You are Polydore Sent by Castalio as you were to day T' affront and do her violence again Cast. I 'll not believ 't Maid You may Sir Cast. Curses blast thee Maid Well 't is a fine cool Evening and I hope May cure the raging Feaver in your Blood Good night Casta. And farewell all that 's just in Woman This is contriv'd a studyed Trick to abuse My easie nature and torment my mind Sure now sh' has bound me fast and means to Lord it To rein me hard and ride me at her will Till by degrees she shape me into Fool. For all her future use's Death and Torment 'T is impudence to think my Soul will bear it Oh I could grow ev'n wild and tear my hair 'T is well Monimia that thy Empire 's short Let but to morrow but to morrow come And try if all thy Arts appease my wrong Till when be this detested place my Bed Layes down Where I will ruminate on Womans Ills Laugh at my self and curse th' inconstant Sex Faithless Monimia Oh Monimia Enter Ernesto Ernesto Either My sense has been deluded or this way I heard the sound of sorrow 't is late night And none whose mind 's at peace would wander now Cast. Who 's there Ern. A Friend Cast. If thou art so retire And leave this place for I would be alone Ern. Castalio My Lord why in this posture Stretch'd on the Ground Your honest true old Servant Your poor Ernesto cannot see you thus Rise I beseech you Cast. If thou art Ernesto As by thy honesty thou seemest to be Once leave me to my folly Ern. I can't leave you And not the reason know of your disorders Remember how when young I m my Arms Have often born you pleas'd you in your pleasures And sought an early share in your Affection Do not discard me now but let me serve you Cast. Thou canst not serve me Ern. Why Cast. Because my thoughts Are full of Woman thou poor Wretch art past 'em Ern. I hate the Sex Cast. Then I'm thy Friend Ernesto Rises I 'd leave the world for him that hates a Woman Woman the Fountain of all Humane Frailty VVhat mighty Ills have not been done by VVoman VVho was 't betray'd the Capitol A VVoman VVho lost Mark Anthony the VVorld A Woman VVho was the cause of a long ten years War And laid as last Old-Troy in Ashes Woman Destructive damnable deceitful Woman Woman to Man first as a Blessing giv'n VVhen Innocence and Love were in their prime Happy a while in Paradise they lay But quickly VVoman long'd to go astray Some foolish new Adventure needs must prove And the first Devil she saw she chang'd her Love To his Tempations lewdly she inclin'd Her Soul and for an Apple damn'd Mankind ACT IV. SCENE I. Acasto solus Acast. BLest be the morning that has brought me health A happy rest has softned pain away And I 'll forget it though my mind 's not well A heavy melancholly cloggs my heart I droop and sigh I know not why Dark-dreams Sick Fancies Children have been over-busie And all the Night play'd Farces in my Brains Methought I heard the Midnight-Raven cry Wak'd with th' imagin'd Noise my Curtains seem'd To start and at my Feet my Sons appear'd Like Ghosts all pale and stiff I strove to speak But could not suddenly the Forms were lost And seem'd to vanish in a bloudy Cloud 'T was odd and for the present shook my thoughts But was th' effect of my distemper'd bloud And when the Health 's disturb'd the mind 's unruly Enter Polydore Good Morning Polydore Pol. Heaven keep your Lordship Acast. Have you yet seen Castalio to day Pol. My Lord 't is early day he 's hardly risen Acast. Go call him up and meet me in the Chapel Ex. Pol. I cannot think all has gone well to night For as I waking lay and sure my sense Was then my own methought I heard my Son Castalio's Voice but it seem'd low and mournful Under my Window too I thought I heard it M' untoward fancy could not be deceiv'd In every thing and I will search the truth out Enter Monimia and her Maid Already up Monimia you Rose Thus early surely to out-shine the Day Or was there any thing that crost your rest They were naughty thoughts that wou'd not let you sleep Mon. What ever are my thoughts my Lord I 've learn't By your Example to correct their Ills And Morn and Evening give up th' Account Acast. Your Pardon Sweet one I upbraid you not Or if I would you are so good I could not Though I 'm deceiv'd or you are more fair to Day For Beauty 's heighten'd in your Cheeks and all Your Charmes seem up and ready in your Eyes Mon. The little share I have's so very mean That it may easily admit Addition Though you my Lord should most of all beware To give it too much praise and make me proud Acast. Proud of an Old mans praises No Monimia But if my Pray'rs can work thee any good Thou shalt not want the largest share of 'em Heard you no Noise to Night Mon. Noise my good Lord Acast. Ay! about Midnight Mon. Indeed my Lord I do'nt remember any Acast. You must sure went you early to rest Mon. About the wonted Hour Why this enquiry Aside Acast. And went your Maid to bed too Mon. My Lord I guess so I 've seldom known her disobey my Orders Acast. Sure Goblins then Fairyes haunt the dwelling I 'll have inquiry made through all the House But I 'll find out the Cause of these Disorders Good Day to thee Monimia I 'll to Chapel Ex. Acasto Mon. I 'll but dispatch some orders to my Woman And wait upon your Lordship there I fear the Priest has plaid us false if so My poor Castalio loses all for me I wonder though he made such haste to leave me Was 't not unkind Florella surely ' t was He scarce afforded one kind parting Word But went away so cold The kiss he gave me Seem'd the forc'd Complement of fated Love Would I had never marry'd Maid Why Mon. Methinks The Scene 's quite alter'd I am not the same I 've bound up for my self a weight of Cares And how the burden
kiss all sorrow from thee What mean these sighs and why thus beats thy Heart Mon. Let me alone to sorrow 'T is a cause None e're shall know but it shall with me dye 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. Pol. Nay wonder not last Night I heard His Oaths your Vows and to my torment saw Your wild Embraces heard th' appointment made I did Monimia and I curst the sound Wilt thou be sworn my Love wilt thou be ne're Unkind again Mon. Banish such fruitless hopes Have you sworn constancy to my undoing Will you be ne're my Friend again Pol. What means my Love Mon. Away what meant my Lord Last Night Pol. Is that a question now to be demanded I hope Monimia was not much displeased Mon. Was it well done to treat me like a Prostitute T' assault my Lodging at the dead of night And threaten me if I deny'd admittance You said you were Castalio Pol. By those eyes It was the same I spent my time much better I tell thee ill natur'd Fair One I was posted To more advantage on a pleasant hill Of springing Joy and everlasting sweetness Mon. Hah have a care Pol. Where is the danger near me Mon. I fear y' are on a Rock will wreck your Quiet And drown your soul in wretchedness for ever A thousand horrid thoughts crow'd on my memory Will you be kind and answer me one question Pol. I 'd trust thee with my life on those soft Breasts Breath out the Choicest secrets of my heart Till I had nothing in it left but Love Mon. Nay I 'll Conjure you by the Gods and Angels By the honour of your name that 's most concern'd To tell me Polydore and tell me truly Where did you rest last Night Pol. Within thy arms I triumpht Rest had been my Foe Mon. 'T is done She faints Pol. She faints no help who waits a curse Upon my Vanity that could not keep The secret of my happiness in silence Confusion we shall be surpriz'd anon And consequently all must be betray'd Monimia she breaths Monimia Mon. Well Let mischiefs multiply Let every hour Of my loath'd life yield me increase of horror Oh let the Sun to these unhappy eyes Ne're shine again but be eclips'd for ever May every thing I look on seem a prodigy To fill my Soul with terrors till I quite Forget I ever had Humanity And grow a Curser of the works of Nature Pol. What means all this Mon. Oh Polydore it all The friendship e're you vow'd to good Castalio Be not a falsehood if you every lov'd Your Brother you 've undone your self and me Pol. Which way can Ruin reach the man that 's Rich As I am in possession of thy Sweetness Mon. Oh I'm his Wife Pol. What says Monimia hah Speak that again Mon. I am Castalio's Wife Pol. His marry'd wedded Wife Mon. Yester-dayes Sun Saw it perform'd Pol. And then have I enjoy'd My Brothers Wife Mon. As surely as we both Must taste of misery that guilt is thine Pol. Must we be miserable then Mon. Oh! Pol. Oh! thou may'st yet be happy Mon. Couldst thou be Happy with such a weight upon thy Soul Pol. It may be yet a secret I 'll go try To reconcile and bring Castalio to thee Whilst from the VVorld I take my self away And Waste my life in Penance for my Sin Mon. Then thou wouldst more undo me heap a load Of added Sins upon my wretched head Wouldst thou again have me betray thy Brother And bring pollution to his Arms curst thought Oh when shall I be mad indeed Pol. Nay then Let us embrace and from this very Moment Vow an Eternal misery together Mon. And wilt thou be a very faithful wretch Never grow fond of chearful peace again Wilt with me study to be unhappy And find out ways how to encrease affliction Pol. We 'll institute new Arts unknown before To vary plagues and make 'em look like new ones 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 More wretched than its Parents to be branded With all our Infamy and Curse its Birth Pol. That 's well contriv'd then thus let 's go together Full of our guilt distracted where to roam Like the first Wretched Pair expell'd their Paradise Let 's find some place where Adders nest in VVinter Loathsome and Venemous VVhere poisons hang Like Gums against the VValls where VVitches meet By night and feed upon some pamper'd Imp Fat with the Blood of Babes There we 'll inhabit And live up to the height of desperation Desire shall languish like a withering Flower And no distinction of the Sex be thought of Horrors shall fright me from those pleasing harms And I 'll no more be caught with Beauties Charms But when I 'm dying take me in thy Armes ACT V. SCENE I. Castalio lying on the ground SONG COme all ye Youths whose Hearts e're bled By cruel Beauties Pride 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 joyn If all your Wrongs can equal mine 2 The happyest Mortal once was I My heart no Sorrows knew Pity the Pain with which I dye But ask not whence it grew Yet if a tempting Fair you find That 's very lovely very kind Though bright as Heaven whose stamp she bears Think of my Fate and Shun her Snares Castal 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 VVildness and freedom pleasant Springs fresh Herbage Calm Harbours 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. VVho 's there So wretched but to name Castalio Acast. I hope my message may succeed Cast. My Father 'T is Joy to see you though where sorrow 's Nourisht Acast. I 'm come in Beauties Cause you 'l 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 foment to madness Oh! my Father Acast. VVhat Ayles 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 sence Acast. This might seem strange but you I 've found will Hide your heart from me you dare not trust
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 chear thy Love Cast. Oh I will throw m'impatient Armes 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! Ex. Acast. Cast. Enter Monimia Mon. Stand off and give me Room I will not rest till I have found Castalio My wishes Lord comely as rising day Amidst ten thousand eminently known Flowers spring wherehe e're treads his Eyes Fountains of brightness cheering all about him VVhen will they shine on me Oh stay my Soul I cannot dye in peace till I have seen him Castalio re-Enters Cast. VVho talks of dying with a Voice so sweet That life 's in love with it Mon. Heark 't is he that answers So in a Camp though at the dead of night If but the Trumpets chearful noise is heard All at the signal leap from downey rest And every heart awakes as mine does now VVhere art thou Cast. 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 doest 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 Which way shall I Court thee What shall I do to be enough thy Slave And satisfy the lovely pride that 's in thee I 'll kneel to thee and weep a flood before thee Yet prithee Tyrant break not quite my heart But when my task of Penitence is done Heal it again and Comfort me with Love Mon. If I am dumb Castalio and want words To pay thee back this mighty tenderness It is because I look on thee with horror And cannot see the man I so have wrong'd Cast. Thou hast not wrong'd me Mon. Ah! alas thou talk'st Just as thy poor Heart thinks have not I wrong'd thee Cast. No. Mon. Still thou wander'st in the dark Castalio But wilt e're long stumble on horrid danger Cast. What means my Love Mon. Couldst thou but forgive me Cast. What Mon. For my fault last night Alas thou canst not Cast. I can and do Mon. Thus Crawling on the Earth Would I that Pardon meet the only thing Can make me view the Face of Heaven with hope Cast. Then let 's draw near Mon. Ah me Cast. So in the Fields When the destroyer has been out for prey The scatter'd Lovers of the Feather'd kind Seeking when danger 's past to meet again Make moan and call by such degrees approach 'Till joying thus they bill and spread their wing Murmuring Love and Joy their fears are over Mon. Yet have a care be not too fond of peace Lest in Pursuance of the goodly quarry Thou meet a disappointment that distracts thee Cast. My better Angel then do thou inform me What danger threatens me and where it lyes Why didst thou prithee smile and tell me why When I stood waiting underneath the Window Quaking with fierce and violent desires The dropping dews fell cold upon my head Darkness enclos'd and the Winds whistl'd round me Which with my mournful sighs made such sad Musick As might have mov'd the hardest heart Why wert thou Deaf to my Cryes and senseless of my pains Mon. Did I not beg thee to forbear inquiry Read'st thou not something in my face that speaks Wonderful change and horror from within me Cast. Then there is something yet which I 've not known What dost thou mean by horrour and forbearance Of more inquiry tell me I beg thee tell me And do not betray me to a second madness Mon. Must I Cast. If labouring in the pangs of death Thou wouldst do any thing to give me ease Unfold this riddle e're my thoughts grow wild And let in fears of ugly form upon me Mon. My heart won't let me speak it but remember Monimia poor Monimia tells you this We ne're must meet again Cast. What means my destiny For all my good or evil Fate dwells in thee Ne're meet again Mon. No never Cast. Where 's the pow'r On Earth that dares not look like thee and say so Thou art my hearts inheritance I serv'd A long and painful faithful slavery for thee And who shall rob me of the dear bought blessing Mon. Time will clear all but now let this content you Heav'n has decreed and therefore I 've resolv'd VVith Torment I must tell it thee Castalio Ever to be a stranger to thy Love In some far distant Country waste my life And from this day to see thy Face no more Cast. Where am I sure I wander midst Inchantment And never more shall find the way to rest But oh Monimia art th' indeed resolv d To punish me with everlasting absence Why turn'st thou from me I 'm alone already Methinks I stand upon a naked beach Sighing to winds and to the Seas complaining Whilst afar off the Vessel sailes away VVhere all the Treasure of my Soul 's embarqu'd VVilt thou not turn Oh could those eyes but speak I shou'd know all for Love is pregnant in 'em They swell they press their beams upon me still VVilt thou not speak if we must part for ever Give me but one kind word to think upon And please my self withal whilst my heart 's breaking Ex. Mon. Mon. A poor Castalio Cast. Pity by the Gods She pity's me then thou wilt go Eternally VVhat means all this why all this stir to plague A single wretch If but your word can shake This world to Atomes why so much ado VVith me think me but dead and lay me so Enter Polydore Pol. To live and live a Torment to my self VVhat Dog would bear 't that knew but his Condition VVe have little knowledge and that makes us Cowards Because it cannot tell us what 's to come Cast. VVho 's there Pol. VVhy what art thou Cast. My Brother Polydore Polyd. My Name is Polydore Cast. Canst thou inform me Polyd. Of what Cast. Of my Monimia Polyd. No. Good-day Cast. In haste Methinks my Polydore appears in sadness Polyd. Indeed and so to me does my Castalio Cast. Do I Polyd. Thou dost Cast. Alas I 've wondrous reason I 'm strangely alter'd Brother since I saw thee Polyd. Why Cast. Oh to tell thee would but put thy heart To pain let me embrace thee but a little And weep upon thy Neck I would repose VVithin thy friendly bosom all my Follies For thou wilt pardon 'em because th' are mine Polyd. Be not too credulous consider first Friends may be false Is there no
upon Monimia Cast. Love her still Win and enjoy her Pol. Both of us cannot Cast. No matter Whose chance it proves but let 's not quarrel for 't Pol. You would not wed Monimia would you Cast. Wed her No! were she all desire could wish as fair As would the vainest of her Sex be thought With Wealth beyond what Woman pride could waste She should not cheat me of my Freedom Marry When I am old and weary of the World I may grow desperate And take a Wife to mortify withall Pol. It is an elder Brothers duty so To propagate his family and name You would not have yours dye and bury'd with you Cast. Meer Vanity and silly dotage all No let me live at large and when I dye Pol. Who shall possess th' estate you leave Cast. My Friend If he survives me or if not my King Who may bestow 't again on some brave man Whose Honesty and Services deserve one Pol. 'T is kindly offer'd Cast. By yon Heaven I love My Polydor beyond all wordly Joyes And would not shock his quiet to be blest With greater happiness than man e're tasted Pol. And by that heaven eternally I swear To keep the kind Castalio in my heart Whose shall Monimia be Cast. No matter who 's Pol. Were you not with her privately last night Cast. I was and should have met her here again But th' opportunity shall now be thine My self will bring thee to the Scene of Love But have a care by Friendship I conjure thee That no false Play be offer'd to thy Brother Urge all thy pow'rs to make thy Passion prosper But wrong not mine Pol. Heav'n blast me if I do Cast. If 't prove thy Fortune Polidor to conquer For thou hast all the Arts of fine perswasion Trust me and let me know thy Loves success That I may ever after stifle mine Pol. Though she be dearer to my soul than Rest To weary Pilgrims or to Misers Gold To great men Pow'r or wealthy Cities Pride Rather than wrong Castalio I 'd forget her For if ye pow'rs have happiness in store When ye would shower down joyes on Polydor In one great blessing all your bounty send That I may never lose so dear a Friend Ex. Cast. Pol. manet Page Enter Monimia Mon. So soon return'd from hunting This fair Day Seems as if sent t' invite the World abroad Past not Castalio and Polydor this way Pag. Madam just now Mon. Sure some ill Fate 's upon me Distrust and heaviness sits round my heart And Apprehension shocko my timerous Soul Why was I not lain in my peaceful Grave With my poor Parents and at Rest as they are Instead of that I am wand'ring into cares Castalio oh Castalio thou hast caught My foolish heart and like a tender Child That trusts his play-thing to another hand I fear its harm and fain would have it back Come near Cordelio I must chide you Sir Pag. Why Madam have I done you any wrong Mon. I never see you now you have been kinder Sate by my Bed and sung me pretty Songs Perhaps I 've been ungrateful here 's Mony for you Will you oblige me shall I see you oft'ner Pag. Madam indeed I 'd serve you with my Soul But in a morning when you call me to you As by your bed I stand and tell you stories I am asham'd to see your swelling Breasts It makes me blush they are so very white Mon. Oh men for flattery and deceit renown'd Thus when y' are young ye learn it all like him Till as your years encrease that strengthens too T' undo poor Maids and make our ruin easie Tell me Cordelio for thou hast oft heard Their friendly Converse and their bosome secrets Sometimes at least have they not talkt of me Pag. Oh Madam very wickedly they have talkt But I 'm afraid to name it for they say Boys must be whipt that tell their Masters secrets Mon. Fear not Cordelio it shall ne're be known For I 'll preserve the secret as 't were mine Polydor cannot be so kind as I. I 'll furnish thee for all thy harmless sports VVith pretty Toys and thou shalt be my Page Pag. And truly Madam I had rather be so Methinks you love me better than my Lord For he was never half so kind as you are VVhat must I do Mon. Inform me how th' hast heard Castalio and his Brother use my Name Pag. VVith all the tenderness of Love You were the Subject of their last discourse At first I thought it would have Fatal prov'd But as the one grew hot the other coold And yielded to the frailty of his Friend At last after much strugling 't was resolv'd Mon. VVhat good Cordelio Pag. Not to quarrel for you Mon. I would not have 'em by my dearest hopes I would not be the argument of strife But surely my Castalio wo'nt forsake me And make a Mockery of my easie Love VVent they together Pag. Yes to seek you Madam Castalio promis'd Polydor to bring him VVhere he alone might meet you And fairly try the Fortune of his wishes Mon. Am I then grown so cheap just to be made A common stake a prize for love in jest VVas not Castalio very loth to yield it Or was it Polydor's unruly Passion That heighten'd the debate Pag. The fault was Polydor's Castalio play'd with love and smiling shew'd The pleasure not the pangs of his desire He said no Womans smiles shou'd buy his Freedom And Marriage is a mortifying thing Mon. Then am I ruin'd if Castalio's false Where is their Faith or Honour to be found Ye Gods that Guard the Innocent and guid The weak protect and take me to your care Oh! but I love him There 's the Rock will wrack me Why was I made with all my Sexes softness Yet want the Cunning to conceal its follies I 'll see Castalio tax him with his falsehoods Be a true Woman rail protest my wrongs Resolve to hate him and yet love him still Enter Castalio and Polydor. He comes the Conquerour comes lye still my Heart And learn to bear thy injuries with scorn Cast. Madam my Brother begs he may have leave To tell you something that concerns you nearly I leave you as becomes me and withdraw Mon. My Lord Castalio Cast. Madam Mon. Have you purpos'd To abuse me palpably What means this usage Why am I left with Polydor alone Cast. He best can tell you Business of importance Calls me away I must attend my Father Mon. Will you then leave me thus Cast. But for a moment Mon. It has been otherwise the time has been When business might have stay'd and I been hear'd Cast. I could for ever hear thee but this time Matters of such odd circumstances press me That I must go Mon. Then go and if 't be possible for ever Ex. Cast Well my Lord Polydor I guess your business And read the ill-natur'd purpose in your eyes Pol. If to desire you more than Misers Wealth Or dying men
Cham. Wilt thou Chap. I will but if it ever 'scape you Cham. It never shall Chap. Swear then Cham. I do by all That 's dear to me by th' Honour of my Name And that Power I serve it never shall Chap. Then this good day when all the house was busie When mirth and kind rejoycing fill'd each Room As I was walking in the Grove I met them Cham. VVhat met them in the Grove together tell me How walking standing sitting lying hah Chap. I by their own appointment met them there Receiv'd their Marriage vows and joyn'd their hands Cham. How married Chap. Yes Sir Cham. Then my Soul 's at peace But why would you delay so long to give it Chap. Not knowing what reception it may find With old Acasto may be I was too Cautious To trust the secret from me Cham. What 's the cause I cannot guess though 't is my Sisters Honour I do not like this Marriage Hudl'd i' th' dark and done at too much Venture The business looks with an unlucky Face Keep still the secret for it ne're shall 'scape me Not ev'n to them the new matcht Paire Farewell Believe my Truth and know me for thy Friend Exeunt Enter Castalio and Monimia Cast. Young Chamont and the Chaplain sure 't is they No matter what 's contriv'd or who consulted Since my Monimia's mine tho' this sad Look Seems no good boading Omen to our Bliss Else prithee tell me why that Look cast down Why that sad sigh as if thy heart were breaking Mon. Castalio I am thinking what we 've done The Heavenly Powers were sure displeas'd to day For at the Ceremony as we stood And as your Hand was kindly joyn'd with mine As the good Priest pronounc't the Sacred Words Passion grew bigg and I could not forbear Tears drown'd my eyes and trembling seiz'd my Soul What should that mean Cast. Oh thou art tender all Gentle and kind as sympathizing Nature When a sad story has been told I 've seen Thy little breasts with soft Compassion swell'd Shove up and down and heave like dying Birds But now let fear be banisht think no more Of danger for there 's safety in my Arms Let them receive thee Heav'n grow Jealous now Sure she 's too good for any Mortal Creature I could grow wild and praise thee ev'n to madness But wherefore do I dally with my Bliss The Night 's far spent and day draws on apace To bed my Love and wake till I come thither Pol. So hot my Brother Polydore at the Door Mon. 'T will be impossible You know your Fathers Chamber 's next to mine And the least noise will certainly alarm him Cast. Impossible Impossible alas Is 't possible to live one hour without thee Let me behold those Eyes they 'l tell me truth Hast thou no longing Art thou still the same Cold Joy Virgin No th' art alter'd quite Haste haste to Bed and let loose all thy wishes Mon. 'T is but one Night my Lord I pray be rul'd Cast. Try if th' ast Pow'r to stop a flowing Tide Or in a Tempest make the Seas be Calm And when that 's done I 'll Conquer my desires No more my Blessing What shall be the sign When shall I come Fot to my Joyes I 'll steal As if I ne're had paid my Freedom for them Mon. Just three soft stroakes upon the Chamber door And at that Signal you shall gain Admittance But speak not the least word for if you should 'T is surely heard and all will be betray'd Cast. Oh! doubt it not Monimia our Joyes Shall be as silent as the Extatick bliss Of Souls that by Intelligence converse Immortal pleasures shall our senses drown Thought shall be lost and every Pow'r dissolv'd Away my Love first take this kiss Now haste I long for that to come yet grudge each minute past Ex. Mon. My Brother wandring too so late this way Pol Castalio Cast. My Polydore how dost thou How does Our Father is he well recover'd Pol. I left him happily repos'd to Reft He 's still as gay as if his life were young But how does fair Monimia Cast. Doubtless well A Cruel Beauty with her conquests pleas'd Is always joyful and her mind in health Pol. Is she the same Monimia still she was May we not hope she 's made of mortal Mould Cast. She 's not VVoman else Tho' I 'm grown weary of this tedious hoping VV 'ave in a barren desart stray'd too long Pol. Yet may relief be unexpected found And Loves sweet Manna cover all the field Met ye to day Cast. No She has still avoided me Her Brother too is jealous of her grown And has been hinting something to my Father I wish I 'd never medl'd with the matter And would enjoyn thee Polidore Pol. To what Cast. To leave this Peevish Beauty to her self Pol. What quit my Love as soon I 'd quit my Post In fight and like a Coward run away No by my Stars I 'll chase her till she yields To me or meets her Rescue in Another Cast. Nay she has Beauty that might shake the Leagues Of mighty Kings and set the World at odds But I have wond'rous Reasons on my side That would perswade thee were they known Pol. Then speak ' em What are they Came ye to her Window here To learn 'em now Castalio have a care Use honest dealing with your Friend and Brother Believe me I 'm not with my Love so blinded But can discern your purpose to abuse me Quit your pretences to her Cast. Grant I do You love Capitulation Polydore And but upon Conditions would oblige me Pol. You say yo 've Reasons Why are they Concealed Cast. To Morrow I may tell you It is a matter of such Circumstance As I must well Consult e're I reveal But prithee cease to think I would abuse thee Till more be known Pol. When you Castalio cease To meet Monimia unknown to me And then deny it slavishly I 'll cease To think Castalio Faithless to his Friend Did I not see you part this very moment Cast. It seems yo 've watch't me then Pol. I scorn the Office Cast. Prithee avoid a thing thou may'st repent Pol. That is henceforward making Leagues with you Cast. Nay if y' are angry Polydore good Night Pol. Good Night Castalio if y' are in such haste He little thinks I've overheard th' Appointment But to his Chamber 's gone to wait a while Then come and take possession of my Love This is the utmost Point of all my Hope Or now she must or never can be mine Oh! for a means now how to Counterplot And disappoint this happy Elder Brother In ev'ry thing we do or undertake He soars above me mount what height I can And keeps the start he got of me in Birth Cordelio Enter Page Pag. My Lord Pol. Come hither Boy Thou hast a pretty forward Lying face And may'st in time Expect preferment canst thou Pretend to sectesie Cajole and Flatter Thy Masters
whose cursed Fate Has weigh'd thee down into destruction with him Why then thus kind to me Mon. When I 'm laid low in the Grave and quite forgotten Maist thou be happy in a fairer Bride But none can ever love thee like Monimia When I am dead as presently I shall be For the grim Tyrant grasps my heart already Speak well of me and if thou find ill tongues Too busie with my fame do'nt hear me wrong'd 'T will be a noble Justice to the memory Of a poor wretch once honour'd with thy Love How my head swims T is very dark Good night Dyes Cast. If I survive thee what a thought was that Thank Heav'n I go prepar'd against that Curse Enter Chamont disarm'd and seiz'd by Acasto and Servants Cham. Gape Hell and swallow me to quick Damnation If I forgive your House If I not live An Everlasting plague to thee Acasto And all thy Race Y' have o're power'd me now But hear me Heav'n Ah here 's the Scene of Death My Sister my Monimia Breathless Now Ye Powers above if y'have Justice strike Strike Bolts through me and through the curst Castalio Acast. My Ploydore Pol. Who calls Acast. How cam'st thou wounded Cast. Stand off thou hot-brain'd boistrous noisy Ruffian And leave me to my sorrows Cham. By the love I bore her living I will ne're forsake But here remain till my heart bursts with sobbing Cast. Vanish I charge thee or Draws a Dagger Cham. Thou canst not kill me That would be kindness and against thy Nature Acast. What means Castalio Sure thou wilt not pull More sorrows on thy Aged Fathers head Tell me I beg you tell me the sad cause Of all this ruin Pol. That must be my Task But 't is too long for one in pains to tell You 'l in my Closet find the story written Of all our woes Castalio's innocent Andso's Monimia only I 'm to blame Inquire no farther Cast. Thou unkind Chamont Unjustly hast pursu'd me with thy hate And sought the life of him that never wrong'd thee Now if thou wilt embrace a noble vengeance Come joyn with me and curse Cham. What Cast. First thy self As I do and the hour that gave thee birth Confusion and disorder seize the World To spoyl all trust and converse amongst men 'Twixt Families ingender endless fewds In Countrys needless fears in Cities factions In States Rebellion and in Churches Schism Till all things move against the course of Nature Till Form's dissolv'd the Chain of Causes broken And the Originals of Being lost Acast. Have Patience Cast. Patience preach it to the Winds To roaring Seas or raging Fires the Knaves That teach it laugh at ye when ye believe'em Strip me of all the common needs of life Scald me with Leprosie let Friends forsake me I 'll bear it all but curst to the degree That I am now 't is this must give me patience Thus I find rest and shall complain no more Stabs himself Pol. Castalio Oh! Cast. 〈◊〉 me Chamont to thee my birth-right I bequeath Comfort my Mourning Father heal his griefs Acasto faints into the Arms of a Servant For I perceive they fall with weight upon him And for Monimia's sake whom thou wilt find I never wrong'd be kind to poor Serina Now all I beg is lay me in one Grave Thus with my Love Farewel I now am nothing Dies Cham. Take care of good Acasto whilst I go To search the means by which the Fates have plagu'd us 'T is thus that Heaven it's Empire does maintain It may Afflict but man must not Complain Epilogue YOu 've seen one Orphan ruin'd here and I May be the next if old Acasto dye Should it prove so I 'd fain amongst you find Who 't is would to the fatherless be kind To whose protection might I safely go Is there amongst you no good Nature No. What should I do should I the Godly seek And go a Conventicling twice a Week Quit the lewd Stage and its prophane pollution Affect each Form and Saint-like Institution So draw the Brethren all to Contribution Or shall I is I guess the Poet may Within these three days fairly run away No to some City Lodgings I 'll retire Seem very grave and privacy desire Till I am thought some Heiress rich in Lands Fled to escape a cruel Guardian 's hands Which may produce a Story worth the telling Of the next Sparks that go a Fortune-stealing FINIS