Chapter 5

_Castalio discovered lying on the ground; soft music._

_Cas._ See where the deer trot after one another; No discontent they know; but in delightful Wildness and freedom, pleasant springs, fresh herbage, Calm arbours, 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._

_Acas._ Castalio! Castalio!

_Cas._ Who's there So wretched but to name Castalio?

_Acas._ I hope my message may succeed.

_Cas._ My father! 'Tis joy to see you, though where sorrow's nourish'd.

_Acas._ Castalio, you must go along with me, And see Monimia.

_Cas._ Sure my lord but mocks me: Go see Monimia?

_Acas._ I say, no more dispute. Complaints are made to me that you have wrong'd her.

_Cas._ Who has complain'd?

_Acas._ Her brother to my face proclaim'd her wrong'd, And in such terms they've warm'd me.

_Cas._ What terms? Her brother! Heaven! Where learn'd he that? What, does she send her hero with defiance? He durst not sure affront you?

_Acas._ No, not much: But----

_Cas._ Speak, what said he?

_Acas._ That thou wert a villain: Methinks I would not have thee thought a villain.

_Cas._ Shame on the ill-manner'd brute! Your age secur'd him; he durst not else have said.

_Acas._ 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.

_Cas._ Justice! to give her justice would undo her. Think you this solitude I now have chosen, Wish'd to have grown one piece With this cold day, and all without a cause?

_Enter Chamont._

_Cham._ Where is the hero, famous and renown'd For wronging innocence, and breaking vows; Whose mighty spirit, and whose stubborn heart, No woman can appease, nor man provoke?

_Acas._ I guess, Chamont, you come to seek Castalio?

_Cham._ I come to seek the husband of Monimia.

_Cas._ The slave is here.

_Cham._ I thought ere now to have found you Atoning for the ills you've done Chamont: For you have wrong'd the dearest part of him. Monimia, young lord, weeps in this heart; And all the tears thy injuries have drawn From her poor eyes, are drops of blood from hence.

_Cas._ Then you are Chamont?

_Cham._ Yes, and I hope no stranger To great Castalio.

_Cas._ 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.

_Cham._ Thus I'll thank you. [_draws._

_Acas._ By this good sword, who first presumes to violence, Makes me his foe. [_draws and interposes._

_Cas._ Sir, in my younger years with care you taught me 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.

_Cham._ 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.

_Cas._ 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.

_Cham._ 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.

_Acas._ 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 arms----

_Cham._ Has not been wrong'd.

_Cas._ It shall not.

_Cham._ No, nor shall Monimia, though a helpless orphan, destitute Of friends and fortune, though the unhappy sister Of poor Chamont, whose sword is all his portion, Be oppress'd by thee, thou proud, imperious traitor!

_Cas._ Ha! set me free.

_Cham._ Come, both.

_Cas._ Sir, if you'd have me think you did not take This opportunity to show your vanity, Let's meet some other time, when by ourselves We fairly may dispute our wrongs together.

_Cham._ Till then I am Castalio's friend. [_exit._

_Acas._ Would I'd been absent when this boist'rous brave Came to disturb thee thus. I'm griev'd I hinder'd Thy just resentment----But, Monimia----

_Cas._ Damn her!

_Acas._ Don't curse her.

_Cas._ Did I?

_Acas._ Yes.

_Cas._ I'm sorry for't.

_Acas._ Methinks, if, as I guess, the fault's but small, It might be pardon'd.

_Cas._ No.

_Acas._ What has she done?

_Cas._ That she's my wife, may heaven and you forgive me.

_Acas._ Be reconcil'd then.

_Cas._ No.

_Acas._ For my sake, Castalio, and the quiet of my age.

_Cas._ Why will you urge a thing my nature starts at?

_Acas._ Pr'ythee, forgive her.

_Cas._ 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 wondrous beauty of her own, My heart might break, but it should never soften.

_Acas._ Did you but know the agonies she feels-- She flies with fury over all the house; Through every room of each department, crying, "Where's my Castalio! Give me my Castalio!" Except she sees you, sure she'll grow distracted!

_Cas._ Ha! will she? Does she name Castalio? And with such tenderness? Conduct me quickly To the poor lovely mourner.

_Acas._ Then wilt thou go? Blessings attend thy purpose!

_Cas._ I cannot hear Monimia's soul's in sadness, And be a man: my heart will not forget her.

_Acas._ Delay not then; but haste and cheer thy love.

_Cas._ Oh! I will throw my 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. Monimia! Oh! [_exeunt._