صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

Mon. Methinks

The scene's quite alter'd; I am not the same;
I've bound up for myself a weight of cares,
And how the burden will be borne, none knows.
A husband may be jealous, rigid, false!
And should Castalio e'er prove so to me,
So tender is my heart, so nice my love,
'Twould ruin and distract my rest for ever.
Maid. Madam, he's coming.

Mon. Where, Florella? where ?

Is he returning? To my chamber lead;
I'll meet him there, the mysteries of our love
Should be kept private as religious rites,

From the unhallow'd view of common eyes.

80

[Exit Mon. and Maid.

SCENE II.

A Chamber.

Enter CASTALIO.

Cast. Wish'd morning's come! And now upon the plains

And distant mountains, where they feed their flocks,
The happy shepherds leave their homely huts,

And with their pipes proclaim the new-born day.
"The lusty swain comes with his well-fill'd scrip
"Of healthful viands, which, when hunger calls,
"With much content and appetite he eats,
"To follow in the fields his daily toil,

"And dress the grateful glebe, that yields him fruits. G

"The beasts that under the warm hedges slept,
"And weather'd out the cold bleak night, are up,
"And looking tow'rds the neighb'ring pastures, raise
"Their voice, and bid their fellow brutes good-
morrow;"

The cheerful birds too, on the tops of trees,
Assemble all in choirs, and with their notes
Salute and welcome up the rising sun.
There's no condition sure so curs'd as mine,

100

I'm marry'd! 'Sdeath! I'm sped. How like a dog
Look'd Hercules, thus to a distaff chain'd!
Monimia! Oh, Monimia!

Enter MONIMIA and MAID.

Mon. I come,

I fly to my ador'd Castalio's arms,

My wishes, lord. May ev'ry morn begin

Like this; and with our days our loves renew.
Now I may hope ye're satisfy'd-

Cast. I am

[Looking languishingly on him.

-Oh

Well satisfy'd, that thou art

Mon. What speak:

Art thou not well, Castalio? Come, lean

Upon my breast, and tell me where's thy pain.

Cast. 'Tis here; 'tis in my head; 'tis in my heart; 'Tis every where it rages like a madness; And I most wonder how my reason holds. "Nay, wonder not, Monimia: the slave

"You thought you had secur'd within my breast,

"Is grown a rebel, and has broke his chain,

121

"And now he walks there like a lord at large. "Mon. Am I not then your wife, your lov'd Monimia?

"I once was so, or I've most strangely dream'd. "What ails my love?

"Cast. Whate'er thy dreams have been,

"Thy waking thoughts ne'er meant Castalio well."
No more, Monimia, of your sex's arts,
They're useless all. I'm not that pliant tool,
That necessary utensil you'd make me;

I know my charter better-I am man,
Obstinate man; and will not be enslav'd.

Mon. You shall not fear't: indeed my nature's easy; I'll ever live your most obedient wife!

Nor ever any privilege pretend

Beyond your will: for that shall be my law :

Indeed I will not.

Cast. Nay, you shall not, madam;

All the day

By yon bright heav'n you shall not.
I'll play the tyrant, and at night forsake thee;
'Till by afflictions, and continued cares,
I've worn thee to a homely household drudge.
Nay, if I've any too, thou shalt be made
Subservient to my looser pleasures,
For thou hast wrong'd Castalio.

Mon. No more;

Oh, kill me here, or tell me my offence,

I'll never quit you else; but on these knees,

Thus follow you all day, 'till they're worn bare,

140

And hang upon you like a drowning creature.
Castalio.-

Cast. Away! last night, last night

Mon. It was our wedding night.

Cast. No more; forget it.

Mon. Why, do you then repent?

Cast. I do.

Mon. O, Heaven!

And will you leave me thus? help, help, Florella! [He drags her to the door, breaks from her, and exit. Help me to hold this yet lov'd cruel man.

Oh, my heart breaks-I'm dying. Oh-" stand off; "I'll not indulge this woman's weakness; still "Chaf'd and fomented let my heart swell on, ""Till with its injuries it burst, and shake "With the dire blow this prison to the earth. "Maid. What sad mistake has been the cause of this ?"

Mon. Castalio! Oh! how often has he swore, Nature should change, the sun and stars grow dark,

Ere he would falsify his vows to me!

Make haste, confusion, then; sun, lose thy light,
And stars drop dead with sorrow to the earth;
For my Castalio's false.

"Maid. Unhappy day!"

Mon. False as the wind, the waters, or the weather; Cruel as tigers o'er their trembling prey :

I feel him in my breast, he tears my heart,
And at each sigh he drinks the gushing blood;

Must I be long in pain? [Sits down.] [Exit Florella.

Enter CHAMONT.

Cha. In tears, Monimia !

Mon. Whoe'er thou art,

Leave me alone to my belov'd despair.

180

Cha. Lift up thy eyes, and see who comes to cheer

thee.

Tell me the story of thy wrongs, and then

See if my soul has rest, 'till thou hast justice.
Mon. My brother!

Cha. Yes, Monimia, if thou think'st

That I deserve the name, I am thy brother.
Mon. Oh, Castalio!

Cha. Hah!

Name me that name again! my soul's on fire
'Till I know all. There's meaning in that name,
I know he is thy husband: therefore trust me
With all the following truth-

Mon. Indeed, Chamont,

There's nothing in it but the fault of nature;
I'm often thus seiz'd suddenly with grief,

I know not why.

Cha. You use me ill, Monimia ;

And I might think, with justice, most severely
Of this unfaithful dealing with your brother.
Mon. Truly, I'm not to blame. Suppose I'm fond,
And grieve for what as much may please another?
Should I upbraid the dearest friend on earth
For the first fault? You would not do so; would ye?
Cha. Not, if I'd cause to think it was a friend.

202

« السابقةمتابعة »