Salute and welcome

up the rising sun.

There's no condition sure so curs'd as mine

I'm married!-'Sdeath, I'm sped! How like a dog Look'd Hercules, thus to a distaff chain'd!— Monimia! O Monimia!

Enter MONIMIA and FLORella.

Mon. I come!

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

My wishes' lord. May every morn begin
Like this: and, with our days, our loves renew!
Cast. Oh-

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,
And now he walks there, like a lord at large.
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 ;

By yon bright heav'n, you shall not: all the day
I'll play the tyrant, and at night forsake thee;
Till, by afflictions, and continu'd cares,

I have worn thee to a homely, household drudge;
Nay, if I've any too, thou shalt be made
Subservient to all my looser pleasures;
For thou hast wrong'd Castalio.

Mon. 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,
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!-
Castalio!-Oh! how often has he sworn,

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!

Flor. 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!

Enter CHAMONT.

Cham. In tears, Monimia!

Mon. Whoe'er thou art,

Leave me alone to my belov'd despair!