Enter ALTAMONT. Alt. Where is my life, my love, my charming bride, Joy of my heart, and pleasure of my eyes. "The wish, and care, and business of my youth? Cal. Turn to him. Alt. Horatio! Cal. To that insolent. Alt. My friend ! Could he do this? He, who was half myself? 200 Cal. I thought what justice I should find from thee Go fawn upon him, listen to his tale, Applaud his malice, that would blast my fame, Ant. Oh, impious! what presumptuous wretch shall dare To offer at an injury like that? Priesthood, nor age, nor cowardice itself, Cal. The man who dar'd to do it was Horatio; To fast and freeze at midnight hours of pray'r: 220 Free from the marriage chain, and from that tyrant, man. [Exit Calista. Alt. She's gone; and, as she went, ten thousand fires Shot from her angry eyes; as if she meant Too well to keep the cruel vow she made. Now, as thou art a man, Horatio, tell me, What means this wild confusion in thy looks; As if thou wert at variance with thyself, Madness and reason combating within thee, And thou wert doubtful which should get the better? Hor. I would be dumb for ever; but thy fate 240 Has otherwise decreed it. Thou hast seen That idol of thy soul, that fair Calista Thou hast beheld her tears. Alt. I have seen her weep; I have seen that lovely one, that dear Calista, That thou, my friend, Horatio, thou hast wrong'd her, fed From that rich stream which warms her heart, and number'd For ev'ry falling tear a drop of blood, It had not been too much; for she has ruin'd thee, Is she not more than painting can express, 260 "Does she not come, like wisdom, or good fortune, Alt. It is too much for friendship to allow thee. Hor. I see she has got possession of thy heart ; Too late the rocks and quicksands will appear, Alt. If thy friendship Do churlishly deny my love a room, It is not worth my keeping; I disclaim it. Hor. Canst thou so soon forget what I've been to thee? I shar'd the task of nature with thy father, And form'd with care thy unexperienc'd youth 280 To virtue and to arms. Thy noble father, Oh, thou light young man! Wou'd he have us'd me thus? One fortune fed us; For his was ever mine, mine his, and both Together flourish'd, and together fell. He call'd me friend, like thee: wou'd he have left me Thus, for a woman, and a vile one, too? Alt. Thou canst not, dar'st not mean it! Speak again, Say, who is vile; but dare not name Calista. Hor. I had not spoke at first, unless compell'd, And forc'd to clear myself; but since thus urg'd, I must avow, I do not know a viler. Alt. Thou wert my father's friend; he lov'd thee well; "A kind of venerable mark of him 66 Hangs round thee, and protects thee from my vengeance." I cannot, dare not lift my sword against thee, 53 But henceforth never let me see thee more. [Going out. Alt. Let go my arm. [Holds him. 301 Hor. If honour be thy care, if thou would'st live Without the name of credulous, wittol husband, Avoid thy bride, shun her detested bed, The joys it yields are dash'd with poison Alt. Off! To urge me but a minute more is fatal. Alt. Madness and raging! But hence Hor. Dishonour'd by the man you hate Alt. I pr'ythee loose me yet, for thy own sake, If life be worth the keeping Hor. By Lothario. Alt. Perdition take thee, villain, for the falsehood! [Strikes him. Now, nothing but thy life can make atonement. Hor. A blow! thou hast us'd me well Alt. This to thy heart [Draws. Hor. Yet hold-By Heav'n his father's in his face! Spite of my wrongs, my heart runs o'er with tender ness And I could rather die myself than hurt him. 321 Alt. Defend thyself; for by my much wrong'd love, I swear, the poor evasion shall not save thee. F |