Who, without spleen, could see a hot-brained atheist, Thanking a surly doctor for his sermon ? Or a grave counsellor meet a smooth young lord, Squeeze him by the hand, and praise his good complexion? Pol. Courts are the places, where best manners flourish; Where the deserving ought to rise, and fools Make shew. Why should I vex and chafe my spleen, To see a gaudy coxcomb shine, when I Acast. Who merit, ought indeed to rise in the But no wise man, that's honest, should expect it. What man of sense wold rack his generous mind, To practise all the base formalities And forms of business? force a grave starched face, When he is a very libertine in his heart? Seem not to know this or that man in public, When privately perhaps they meet together, And lay the scene of some brave fellow's ruin ? Such things are done. Cast. Your lordship's wrongs have been Acast. Go to, ye are fools, and know me not; Long since, to bear. revenge, or scorn my wrongs, You both would fain be great, and to that end Corruption, envy, discontent, and faction, Yet now pine under want, whilst selfish slaves, That e'en would cut their throats, whom now they fawn on, Like deadly locusts, eat the honey up, Pol. So would I, And I am at least her brother by adoption; Ser. Monimia, thou hast told me men are false, Acast. Thus happy, who would envy pompous power, The luxury of courts, or wealth of cities? Cha. I have no business there; And thank the lord, that wronged me, for his fa- | One fate surprised them, and one grave received Pol. And I; both would. [To his sons. He needs not any servants such as you. He could not do a wrong. How would you serve Cast. I would serve him with my fortune here And serve him with my person in his wars, Pol. Die for him, As every true-born loyal subject ought. them; My father, with his dying breath, bequeathed Then pressed me close, and, as she observed my Kissed them away. Said she, 'Chamont, my son, Kissed me again; so blessed us, and expired. Acast. It speaks an honest nature. Cha. The friend heaven raised was you; you took her up An infant, to the desart world exposed, Acast. Let me embrace you both. Now, by And proved another parent. the souls Acast. I have not wronged her. Cha. My lord, my nature's jealous, and you'l bear it. Acast. Go on. Cha. Great spirits bear misfortunes hardly. Pay over-price. Acast. I cannot guess your drift; Cha. No, but I fear her weakness Acast. Then first charge her; and if the of- Within my reach, though it should touch my na- In my own offspring, by the dear remembrance Cha. I thank you from my soul. [Exit. What have I done? and why do you abuse me? Cha. Prithee, why dost thou talk so? roughly, I should but weep, and answer you with sobbing; Cha. Fear nothing; I will shew myself a bro- | With different coloured rags, black, red, white, ther, A tender, honest, and a loving brother. You have not forgot our father? Mon. I shall never. Cha. Then you'll remember too, he was a man, He could not have forgiven it to himself. You have soiled this gem, and taken from its value, How will you account with me? Mon. I challenge envy, Cha. I'll tell thee, then; three nights ago, as I My bed shook under me, the curtains started, I found my weapon had the arras pierced, Cha. Have a care! Hear all, and then let justice hold the scale. Cold palsy shook her head, her hands seemed withered, And o'er her crooked shoulders had she wrapped yellow, And seemed to speak variety of wretchedness. Mon. The common cheat of beggars; every day They flock about our doors, pretend to gifts As in it bore great circumstance of truth: Mon. Ha! Cha. What, altered! does your courage fail you! Now, by my father's soul, the witch was honest. Mon. I will, I must, so hardly my misfortune loads me; Mon. Though they both with earnest vows Have pressed my heart, if e'er in thought I yield ed To any but Castalio Cha. But Castalio! Mon. Still will you cross the line of my dis- Yes, I confess, that he has won my soul Thy virtue white, without a blot, untainted? Mon. When I'm unchaste may Heaven reject my prayers! Or more, to make me wretched, may you know it! Cast. Monimia, Monimia!She's gone; Fast bound in chains, to be chastised at will. Enter POLYDORE and Page at the door. If he should chance to meet Monimia, make [Exit Pol. Enter MONIMIA and CASTALIÒ. Cast. Monimia, my angel! 'twas not kind To leave me like a turtle here alone, To droop and mourn the absence of my mate. When thou art from me, every place is desert, And I, methinks, am savage and forlorn; Thy presence only 'tis can make me blest, Heal my unquiet mind, and tune my soul. Mon. Oh, the bewitching tongues of faithless men! 1 'Tis thus the false hyæna makes her moan, To draw the pitying traveller to her den. Your sex are so, such false dissemblers all, With sighs and plaints ye entice poor women's hearts, And all, that pity you, are made your prey. Cast. What means my love? Oh, how have I This language, from the sovereign of my joys? Mon. Oh, you are false, Castalio, most forsworn! Attempt no farther to delude my faith; Profane the sacred business of my love? Mon. And was your love so very tame, to shrink? Or, rather than lose him, abandon me? Cast. I, knowing him precipitate and rash, To calm his heat, and to conceal my happiness, Seemed to comply with his unruly will; Talked as he talked, and granted all he asked; Lest he in rage might have our loves betrayed, And I for ever had Monimia lost. Mon. Could you then? did you? can you own it too? 'Twas poorly done, unworthy of yourself! And I can never think you meant me fair. Cast. Is this Monimia? surely no; till now I ever thought her dove-like, soft, and kind. Who trusts his heart with woman is surely lost. You were made fair on purpose to undo us, While greedily we snatch the alluring bait, And ne'er distrust the poison, that it hides. Mon. When love ill-placed would find a means to break Cast. It never wants pretences or excuse. Mon. Man therefore was a lord-like creature made, Rough as the winds, and as inconstant too; Cast. Who can hear this and bear an equal mind! Since you will drive me from you, I must go; But, oh, Monimia! When thou hast banished me, No creeping slave, though tractable and dull No tongue my pleasure nor my pain can tell, Mon. Castalio, stay! we must not part. I find My rage ebbs out, and love flows in apace. These little quarrels, love must needs forgive, They rouse up drowsy thoughts, and wake the soul. Oh! charm me with the music of thy tongue! I'm ne'er so blest, as when I hear thy vows, And listen to the language of thy heart. Pol. WERE they so kind? Express it to me all In words; 'twill make me think I saw it too. Page. At first I thought they had been mortal foes; Monimia raged, Castalio grew disturbed; Each thought the other wronged; yet both so haughty, They scorned submission: though love all the while The rebel played, and scarce could be contained. Pol. But what succeeded? Page. Oh, 'twas wondrous pretty! For, of a sudden, all the storm was past, A gentle calm of love succeeded it; Monimia sighed and blushed, Castalio swore; As you, my lord, I well remember, did To my young sister, in the orange grove, When I was first preferred to be your page. Pol. Happy Castalio! Now, by my great soul, My ambitious soul, that languishes for glory, I'll have her yet, by my best hopes I will! She shall be mine, in spite of all her arts. But for Castalio why was I refused? Has he supplanted me by some foul play? Traduced my honour? Death! he durst not do it. It must be so we parted, and he met her, Half to compliance brought by me; surprised Her sinking virtue, till she yielded quite. So poachers basely pick up tired game, While the fair hunter is cheated of his prey. Boy! Page. My lord! Pol. Go to your chamber, and prepare your lute: Find out some song to please me, that describes Women's hypocrisies, their subtle wiles, Betraying smiles, feigned tears, inconstancies; Their painted outsides, and corrupted minds; The sum of all their follies, and their falsehoods. Enter Servant. His eyes distorted grew; his visage pale; Enter ACASTO, leaning on two. Acast. Support me; give me air; I'll yet reco ver. 'Twas but a slip decaying nature made; Serv. My lord, I've searched, as you commanded, all the house; He and Monimia are not to be found. Acust. Not to be found! then where are all my friends? 'Tis well; I hope they'll pardon an unhappy fault Enter CASTALIO and MONIMIA. Cust. Angels preserve my dearest father's life, Bless it with long uninterrupted days! Oh, may he live till time itself decay, 'Till good men wish him dead, or I offend him! Acast. Thank you, Castalio; give me both your hands, And bear me up; I'd walk.-So, now, methinks, Cast: My lord, your chaplain. Enter Chaplain. Chap. Heaven guard your lordship, and restore Acast. I have provided for thee, if I die. Serv. Oh, the unhappiest tidings tongue e'er Only to sweet Monimia I have bequeathed told! Pol. The matter! Serv. Oh! your father, my good master, As with his guests he sat, in mirth raised high, And chased the goblet round the joyful board, A sudden trembling seized on all his limbs; Ten thousand crowns; a little portion for her, Be not less friends because you are brothers; shun The man that's singular; his mind's unsound, His spleen o'erweighs his brains; but, above all, |