And threaten me if I deny'd admittance—— You said you were Castalio. Pol. By those eyes, It was the same: I spent my time much better. Mon. Ha!—have a care! Pol. Where is the danger near me? Mon. I fear you're on a rock will wreck your quiet, And drown your soul in wretchedness for ever. A thousand horrid thoughts crowd on my memory. Will you be kind, and answer me one question? Pol. I'd trust thee with my life; on that soft bosom Breathe out the choicest secrets of my heart, Till I had nothing in it left but love. Mon. Nay, I'll conjure you, by the gods and angels, By the honour of your name, that's most concern'd, To tell me, Polydore, and tell me truly, Where did you rest last night? Pol. Within thy arms. Mon. 'Tis done.[faints. Pol. She faints!—no help!—who waits?—A curse Upon my vanity, that could not keep The secret of my happiness in silence! Confusion! we shall be surpris'd anon; And consequently all must be betrayed. Monimia!—she breathes!—Monimia! Mon. Well—— Let mischiefs multiply! let every hour Of my loath'd life yield me increase of horror! O let the sun, to these unhappy eyes, Ne'er shine again, but be eclips'd for ever! May every thing I look on seem a prodigy, To fill my soul with terrors, till I quite Forget I ever had humanity, And grow a curser of the works of nature! Pol. What means all this? Mon. O Polydore! if all The friendship e'er you vow'd to good Castalio Be not a falsehood; if you ever lov'd Your brother, you've undone yourself and me. Pol. Which way can ruin reach the man that's rich, As I am, in possession of thy sweetness? Mon. Oh! I'm his wife! Pol. What says Monimia? Mon. I am Castalio's wife! Pol. His marry'd, wedded, wife? Mon. Yesterday's sun Saw it perform'd! Pol. My brother's wife? Mon. As surely as we both Must taste of misery, that guilt is thine. Pol. Oh! thou may'st yet be happy! Mon. Couldst thou be Happy, with such a weight upon thy soul? Pol. It may be yet a secret—I'll go try To reconcile and bring Castalio to thee! Whilst from the world I take myself away, And waste my life in penance for my sin. Mon. Then thou wouldst more undo me: heap a load Of added sin upon my wretched head! Wouldst thou again have me betray thy brother, And bring pollution to his arms?—Curs'd thought! Oh! when shall I be mad indeed![exit. Pol. Then thus I'll go;— Full of my guilt, distracted where to roam: I'll find some place where adders nest in winter, Loathsome and venomous; where poisons hang Like gums against the walls: there I'll inhabit, And live up to the height of desperation. Desire shall languish like a with'ring flower, Horrors shall fright me from those pleasing harms, And I'll no more be caught with beauty's charms.[exit. ACT THE FIFTH. SCENE I. A GARDEN.