[Rises. Cast. Then I'm thy friend, Ernesto. I'd leave the world for him, that hates a woman. Woman, the fountain of all human frailty! What mighty ills have not been done by woman? Who was't betrayed the capitol? A woman. Who lost Marc Antony the world? A woman. Who was the cause of a long ten years war, And laid at last old Troy in ashes? Woman! Destructive, damnable, deceitful woman! Woman to man first as a blessing given, When innocence and love were in their prime; Happy a while in Paradise they lay, But quickly woman longed to go astray; Some foolish, new adventure needs must prove, And the first devil she saw, she changed her love; To his temptations lewdly she inclined Her soul, and for an apple damned mankind! [Exeunt. ACT IV. SCENE I-A Saloon. ACASTO solus. Acast. Have you yet seen Castalio to-day? Pol. My lord, 'tis early day; he's hardly risen. Acast. Go, call him up, and meet me in the [Exit Polydore. chapel. I cannot think all has gone well to-night; Already up, Monimia! you rose Mon. Whatever are my thoughts, my lord, I have learnt For beauty's heightened in your cheeks, and all Your charms 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 man's praises? no, Monimia ! But if my prayers can work thee any good, Mon. Noise! my good lord! Mon. Indeed, my lord, I don't remember any. Acast. You must, sure! went you early to your rest? Mon. About the wonted hour. Why this enquiry? [Aside. Acast. And went your maid to bed, too? I have seldom known her disobey my orders. Acast. Sure, goblins then, or fairies haunt the dwelling; I'll have enquiry made through all the house, woman, Enter FLORELLA. And wait upon your lordship there. I fear the priest has played us false; if so, I wonder though he made such haste to leave me ; Maid. Why? Mon. Methinks The scene's quite altered; I am not the same; SCENE II-A Chamber. Enter CASTALIO. And distant mountains, where they feed their flocks, The happy shepherds leave their homely huts, The beasts, that under the warm hedges slept, Their voice, and bid their fellow brutes good- . morrow; The cheerful birds too, on the tops of trees, Looked Hercules, thus to a distaff chained! Enter MONIMIA and MAID. I fly to my adored Castalio's arms, Cast. I am [Looking languishingly on him. Well satisfied, that thou art-Oh- Art thou not well, Castalio? Come, lean 'Tis Mon. Am I not then your wife, your loved I once was so, or I've most strangely dreamed. Cust. Whate'er thy dreams have been, Thy waking thoughts ne'er meant Castalio well. No more, Monimia, of your sex's arts! They are useless all. I am not that pliant tool, That necessary utensil, you would make me; I know my charter better-I am man, | Obstinate man; and will not be enslaved. Mon. You shall not fear it: indeed my nature's easy; I'll ever live your most obedient wife! Nor ever any privilege pretend Cast. Wished morning's come! And now upon Beyond your will: for that shall be my law : the plains Indeed I will not. VOL. I. A a And will you leave me thus? help, help, Florella! [He drags her to the door, breaks from her, and erit. Help me to hold this yet loved cruel man. Oh, my heart breaks-I'm dying. Oh-stand off; I'll not indulge this woman's weakness; still Chafed and tormented let my heart swell on, 'Till with its injuries it burst, and shake With the dire blow this prison to the earth. Maid. What sad mistake has been the cause of this? Mon. Castalio! Oh! how often has he swore, Nature should change, the sun and stars grow dark, Ere he would falsify his vows to me! Make haste, confusion, then; sun, lose thy light, And stars drop dead with sorrow to the earth; For iny Castalio's false. Maid. Unhappy day! Mon. False as the wind, the waters, or the weather; Cruel as tigers o'er their trembling prey : Enter CHAMONT. Cha. In tears, Monimia ! Mon. Whoe'er thou art, [Exit Florella. Leave me alone to my beloved despair. Cha. Lift up thy eyes, and see, who comes to cheer thee. Tell me the story of thy wrongs, and then Cha. Yes, Monimia, if thou thinkest Cha. Ha! Name me that name again! my soul's on fire | 'Till I know all. There's meaning in that name; I know he is thy husband: therefore trust me With all the following truth! Mon. Indeed, Chamont, There's nothing in it but the fault of nature; Cha. You use me ill, Monimia; And I might think, with justice, most severely Mon. Truly, I'm not to blame. Suppose I'm fond, And grieve for what as much may please another? Cha. Not, if I'd cause to think it was a friend. I ne'er concealed my soul from you before: Bear with me now, and search my wounds no farther; For every probing pains me to the heart. Cha. 'Tis sign there's danger in it, and must be probed. Where's your new husband? Still that thought disturbs you? What! only answer me with tears? Castalio! Cruel, unkind Castalio! Is it not so? Mon. I cannot speak! grief flows so fast upon Cha. Why wilt thou rack My soul so long, Monimia? Ease me quickly; Mon. Could you be secret? Mon. But when I have told you, will you keep your fury Within its bonds? Will you not do some rash You would not think how hardly I've been used Cha. I will be calm-but has Castalio wronged thee? Has he already wasted all his love? What has he done? Quickly, for I'm all trembling With expectation of a horrid tale. Mon. Oh! could you think it! Mon. I fear he'll kill me. Cha. Ha! Mon. Indeed I do; he's strangely cruel to me; Which, if it last, I'm sure must break my heart. Cha. What has he done? Mon. Most barbarously used me. Nothing so kind as he, when in my arms! In thousand kisses, tender sighs and joys, Not to be thought again, the night was wasted; At dawn of day he rose, and left his conquest. But, when we met, and I, with open arms, Ran to embrace the lord of all my wishes, Oh, then! Cha. Go on! Mon. He threw me from his breast, Like a detested sin. Cha. How! Mon. As I hung too Upon his knees, and begged to know the cause, He dragged me like a slave upon the earth, And had no pity on my cries. Cha. How did he Dash thee disdainfully away? with scorn? Mon. He did! and more, I fear, will ne'er be friends, Though I still love him with unabated passion. Cha. So may this arm Throw him to the earth, like a dead dog despised! Lameness and leprosy, blindness and lunacy, Poverty, shame, pride, and the name of villain, Light on me, if, Castalio, I forgive thee! Mon. Nay, now, Chamont, art thou unkind as he is! Didst thou not promise me thou wouldst be calm? Keep my disgrace concealed? Why shouldst thou kill him? By all my love, this arm should do him vengeance. I only meet with oddness and disorder; Cha. Then you met a villain. Cha. Yes, a villain. Acast. Have a care, young soldier, How thou art too busy with Acasto's fame. Cha. Curse on thy scandalous age, friend You have been her father too [Takes Mon. by the hand. Grew sweet to sense, and lovely to the eye; Acast. You talk to me in parables, Chamont, Cha. Married her. Acast. I am sorry for it. By yon blest heaven, there's not a lord Cha. You dare not; all your family combined In one damned falsehood to outdo Castalio, Dare not deny it. Acast. How has Castalio wronged her? Cha. Ask that of him. I say, my sister's wronged: Monimia, my sister, born as high I'll do it. Hark you, my lord! your son Castalio; Is framing mischiefs too, for aught I know, Enter POLYDORE. Pol. Monimia, weeping! So morning dews on new-blown roses lodge, Mon. Let me alone to sorrow. 'Tis a cause None ere 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! 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 cursed the sound. Mon. Banish such fruitless hopes! Mon. Away; what meant my lord 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? To assault my lodging at the dead of night, Pol. By those eyes [Exit. It was the same: I spent my time much better: I tell thee, ill-natured fair one, I was posted Mon. I am, my lord, if you'll vouchsafe to To more advantage, on a pleasant hill Pol. Where is the danger near me? Mon. I fear you are on a rock will wreck your quiet, And drown your soul in wretchedness for ever; A thousand horrid thoughts crowd on my memory, Will you be kind, and answer me one question! Pol. I'll trust thee with my life; on those soft breasts Breathe out the choicest secrets of my heart, Till I have nothing in my heart but love. Mon. Nay, I'll conjure you by the gods and angels, By the honour of your name, that's most concerned, |