Enter CHAMONT, disarmed, and seized by ACASTO and Servants. Cham. Gape, hell, and swallow me to quick damnation, If I forgive your house, if I not live An everlasting plague to thee, Acasto, And all thy race. You've overpow'r'd me now; But hear me, heav'n!—Ah! here's the scene of death, My sister, my Monimia! Breathless!-Now, Ye pow'rs above, if ye have justice, strike, Strike bolts thro' me, and thro' the curst Castalio. 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. Cham. By the love I bore her living, I will ne'er forsake her! But here remain till my heart burst with sobbing. That would be kindness, and against thy nature. Acast. What means Castalio? Sure thou wilt not pull More sorrows on thy aged father's head. 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; Cast. Thou, unkind Chamont, Unjustly hast pursu'd me with thy hate, And sought the life of him that never wrong'd thee: Now if thou wilt embrace a noble vengeance, Come join with me and curse. Cham. What? Cast. First thyself, As I do, and the hour that gave thee birth: In countries needless fears, in cities factions, Acast. Have patience. Cast. Patience! preach it to the winds, That I am now, 'tis this must give me patience: Pol. Castalio! Oh!- [Stabs himself. Chamont, to thee my birthright I bequeath: [Dies. [Acasto faints into the arms of a Servant. For I perceive they fall with weight upon him. And for Monimia's sake, whom thou wilt find I never wrong'd, be kind to poor Serina. Now all I beg is, lay me in one grave Thus with my love. Farewell. I now am—nothing. [Dies. Cham. Take care of good Acasto, whilst I go To search the means by which the fates have plagu'd us. "Tis thus that heav'n it's empire does maintain; It may afflict, but man must not complain. [Exeunt omnes. EPILOGUE. You've seen one Orphan ruin'd here; and I THE SOLDIER'S FORTUNE. A COMEDY. Quem recitas, meus est, O Fidentine, libellus; MARTIAL. LIB. 1. EP. 39. VOL. II. |