Cast. This to thy heart, then, tho' my mother bore thee. [Fight; Polydore drops his sword, and runs on Castalio's.] Pol. Now my Castalio is again my friend. Cast. What have I done? my sword is in thy breast. Pol. So I would have it be, thou best of men, Thou kindest brother, and thou truest friend. Cast. Ye gods, we're taught that all your works are justice, Ye're painted merciful, and friends to innocence: Pol. Blame not the heav'ns; here lies thy fate, Th' are not the gods, 'tis Polydore has wrong'd thee; I've stain'd thy bed; thy spotless marriage joys Have been polluted by thy brother's lust. Cast. By thee! Pol. By me, last night, the horrid deed Was done, when all things slept but rage and incest. Cast. Now where's Monimia? Oh! Enter MONIMIA. Mon. I'm here, who calls me ? Methought I heard a voice Sweet as the shepherd's pipe upon the mountains, When all his little flock's at feed before him. But what means this? Here's blood. Cast. Ay, brother's blood. Art thou prepar'd for everlasting pains? Pol. Oh, let me charge thee, by th' eternal justice, Hurt not her tender life! Cast. Not kill her?"Rack me "Ye pow'rs above, with all your choicest torments, "And wreak revenge some way yet never known." Cast. Tell me that story, And thou wilt make a wretch of me indeed. Pol. Hadst thou, Castalio, us'd me like a friend, Hearing th' appointment made, enrag'd to think Cast. And all this is the work of my own fortune; None but myself could e'er have been so curs'd! My fatal love, alas! has ruin'd thee, Thou fairest, goodliest frame the gods e'er made, Or ever human eyes and hearts ador'd. I've murder'd too my brother. K Why wouldst thou study ways to damn me farther ? And force the sin of parricide upon me? 541 Pol. 'Twas my own fault, and thou art innocent ; Forgive the barbarous trespass of my tongue; 'Twas a hard violence: I could have died With love of thee, e'en when I us'd thee worst ; Nay, at each word that my distraction utter'd, My heart recoil'd, and 'twas half death to speak 'em. Mon. Now, my Castalio, the most dear of men, Wilt thou receive pollution to thy bosom, And close the eyes of one that has betray'd thee? Cast. Oh, I'm th' unhappy wretch, whose cursed fate Has weigh'd thee down into destruction with him. Mon. When I am laid low i'th'grave, and quite forgotten, Mayst 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 busy with my fame, don't hear me wrong'd; 560 'Twill be a noble justice to the memory Of a poor wretch, once honour'd with thy love. How my head swims! 'tis very dark. Good night. [Dies. Cast. If I survive thee-what a thought was that? Thank Heav'n, I go prepar'd against that curse. Enter CHAMONT, disarmed and seiz'd by Acasto and servants. Cha. Gape earth, and swallow me to quick destruction, If I forgive your house! if I not live An everlasting plague to thee, Acasto, And all thy race. Ye've o'erpower'd me now; Strike bolts thro' me, and through the curs'd Castalio. "Acast. My Polydore ! "Pol. Who calls? "Acast. How cam'st thou wounded?" Cast. Stand off, thou hot-brain'd, boist'rous, noisy ruffian, And leave me to my sorrows. Cha. By the love I bore her living, I will ne'er forsake her; 580 But here remain, 'till my heart burst with sobbing. Cast. Vanish, I charge thee, or- [Draws a dagger. Cha. Thou canst not kill me; That would be kindness, and against thy nature. Tell me, I beg you, tell me the sad cause Pol. That must be my task: But 'tis too long for one in pains to tell; You'll in my closet find the story written Of all our woes. Castalio's innocent, And so's Monimia; only I'm to blame. Enquire 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: Cha. What? Cast. First, thyself, As I do, and the hour that gave thee birth: Acast. Have patience. Cast. Patience! preach it to the winds, The roaring seas, or raging fires! the knaves 6co [Stabs himself. |