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This is contriv'd; a studied trick, to abuse

My easy nature, and torment my mind.

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"Sure now she's 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 uses. Death and torment!" 'Tis impudence to think my soul will bear it. "Oh, I could grow ev'n wild, and tear my hair !” 'Tis 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. [Lies down. Where I will ruminate on woman's ills;

Laugh at myself, and curse th' inconstant sex :
Faithless Monimia! Oh, Monimia!

Enter ERNESTO.

Ern. Either

My sense has been deluded, or this way,

I heard the sound of sorrow; 'tis late night,

And none, whose mind's at peace, would wander now.

Cast. Who's there?

"Ern. A friend.

"Cast. If thou'rt so, retire,

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"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 seem'st 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 in my arms

Have often borne 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. 641

Woman, the fountain of all human frailty!

What mighty ills have not been done by woman ?.
Who was❜t betray'd the capitol? A woman,
Who lost Mark Anthony 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 giv'n;
When innocence and love were in their prime,
Happy a while in Paradise they lay,

But quickly woman 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 temptations lewdly she inclin'd

Her soul, and for an apple damn'd mankind. [Exeunt.

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ACT IV. SCENE 1.

A Saloon.

Acasto.

BLEST be the morning that has brought me health;
A happy rest has soften'd pain away,

And I'll forget it, though my mind's not well;
A heavy melancholy clogs my heart;

I droop and sigh, I know not why.

Dark dreams,

Sick fancy's children, have been over-busy,
And all the night play'd farces in my brain..
Methought I heard the midnight raven cry;
Wak'd with th' imagin'd noise, my curtain 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 bloody cloud.

'Twas odd, and for the present, shook my thoughts;
But 'twas th' effect of my distemper'd blood;
And when the health's disturb'd, the mind's unruly.

Enter POLYDORE.

Good-morning, Polydore.

Pol. Heav'n keep your Lordship.

Acast. Have you yet seen Castalio to-day?

Pol. My Lord, 'tis early day; he's hardly risen. 20 Acast. Go, call him up, and meet me in the chapel. [Exit Polydore.

I cannot think all has gone well to-night;
For as I waking lay (and sure my sense
Was then my own) I thought 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.

Already up, Monimia! you rose

Thus early, sure, to outshine the day:

Or was there any thing that cross'd your rest?

They were naughty thoughts that would not let you

sleep.

Mon. Whatever are my thoughts, my lord, I've learnt

By your example to correct their ills,

And morn and evening give up the account.

Acast. Your pardon, sweet one, I upbraid you not; Or if I would, you are so good, I could not. "Though I'm deceived, or you're more fair to-day; "For beauty's heightened in your cheeks, and all 40 "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,

"Thou shalt not want the largest share of 'em."

Heard you no noise to-night?

Mon. Noise! my good lord !

Acast. About midnight.

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?

Acast. And went your maid to bed, too!
Mon. My Lord, I guess so;

I've seldom known her disobey my orders.

[Aside.

Acast. Sure, goblins then, or fairies haunt the dwelling;

I'll have enquiry made through all the house,
But I'll find out the cause of these disorders.
Good-day to thee, Monimia-I'll to chapel.

[Exit Acastó.

Mon. I'll but dispatch some orders to my woman,

Enter FLORELLA.

And wait upon your lordship there.

I fear the priest has play'd 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 'twas!

He scarce afforded one kind parting word,
But went away so cold; the kiss he gave me,
Seem'd the forc'd compliment of sated love.
Would I had never marry'd!

Maid. Why?

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