_Cham._ How! did he Dash thee disdainfully away with scorn? _Mon._ He did; and more, I fear will ne'er be friends, Though I still love him with unbated passion. _Cham._ What, throw thee from him! _Mon._ Yes, indeed, he did. _Cham._ So may this arm Throw him to the earth, like a dead dog despised! Lameness and leprosy, blindness and lunacy, Poverty, shame, pride, and the name of villain, Light on me, if, Castalio, I forgive thee! _Mon._ Nay, now, Chamont, art thou unkind as he is: Didst thou not promise me thou wouldst be calm? Keep my disgrace concealed; why shouldst thou kill him? By all my love, this arm should do him vengeance. Alas! I love him still; and though I ne'er Clasp him again within these longing arms, Yet bless him, bless him, gods, where'er he goes! _Enter_ ACASTO. _Acast._ Sure some ill fate is towards me; in my house I only meet with oddness and disorder: Each vassal has a wild distracted face, And looks as full of business as a blockhead In times of danger: just this very moment I met Castalio-- _Cham._ Then you met a villain. _Acast._ Ha! _Cham._ Yes, a villain. _Acast._ Have a care, young soldier, How thou'rt too busy with Acasto's fame; I have a sword, my arm's good old acquaintance. Villain to thee! _Cham._ Curse on thy scandalous age, Which hinders me to rush upon thy throat, And tear the root up of that cursed bramble! _Acast._ Ungrateful ruffian! sure my good old friend Was ne'er thy father; nothing of him's in thee: What have I done in my unhappy age, To be thus used? I scorn to upbraid thee, boy; But I could put thee in remembrance-- _Cham._ Do. _Acast._ I scorn it! _Cham._ No, I'll calmly hear the story; For I would fain know all, to see which scale Weighs most--Ha! is not that good old Acasto? What have I done?--can you forgive this folly? _Acast._ Why dost thou ask it? _Cham._ 'Twas the rude o'erflowing Of too much passion; pray, my lord, forgive me. [_Kneels._ _Acast._ Mock me not, youth; I can revenge a wrong. _Cham._ I know it well; but for this thought of mine, Pity a madman's frenzy, and forget it. _Acast._ I will; but henceforth, pr'ythee, be more kind. [_Raises him._ Whence came the cause? _Cham._ Indeed I've been to blame: But I'll learn better; for you've been my father: You've been her father too-- [_Takes_ MONIMIA _by the hand_. _Acast._ Forbear the prologue, And let me know the substance of thy tale.