_Pol._ And, should I chance to touch it nearly, bear it With all the sufferance of a tender friend. _Cast._ As calmly as the wounded patient bears The artist's hand that ministers his cure. _Pol._ That's kindly said. You know our father's ward, The fair Monimia;--is your heart at peace? Is it so guarded that you could not love her? _Cast._ Suppose I should? _Pol._ Suppose you should not, brother? _Cast._ You'd say, I must not. _Pol._ That would sound too roughly 'Twixt friends and brothers, as we two are. _Cast._ Is love a fault? _Pol._ In one of us it may be: What if I love her? _Cast._ Then I must inform you I loved her first, and cannot quit the claim, But will preserve the birthright of my passion. _Pol._ You will? _Cast._ I will. _Pol._ No more, I've done. _Cast._ Why not? _Pol._ I told you I had done; But you, Castalio, would dispute it. _Cast._ No, Not with my Polydore; though I must own My nature obstinate and void of sufferance. Love reigns a very tyrant in my heart, Attended on his throne by all his guards Of furious wishes, fears, and nice suspicions. I could not bear a rival in my friendship, I am so much in love, and fond of thee. _Pol._ Yet you would break this friendship _Cast._ Not for crowns. _Pol._ But for a toy you would, a woman's toy: Unjust Castalio! _Cast._ Pr'ythee, where's my fault? _Pol._ You love Monimia. _Cast._ Yes. _Pol._ And you would kill me, If I'm your rival. _Cast._ No, sure we're such friends, So much one man, that our affections too Must be united, and the same as we are. _Pol._ I dote upon Monimia. _Cast._ Love her still; Win, and enjoy her. _Pol._ Both of us cannot. _Cast._ No matter Whose chance it prove; but let's not quarrel for't. _Pol._ You would not wed Monimia, would you? _Cast._ Wed her! No! were she all desire could wish, as fair As would the vainest of her sex be thought, With wealth beyond what woman's pride could waste, She should not cheat me of my freedom. Marry! When I am old and weary of the world, I may grow desperate, And take a wife to mortify withal. _Pol._ It is an elder brother's duty so To propagate his family and name: You would not have yours die and buried with you? _Cast._ Mere vanity, and silly dotage all: No, let me live at large, and when I die-- _Pol._ Who shall possess the estate you leave? _Cast._ My friend, If he survives me; if not, my king, Who may bestow't again on some brave man, Whose honesty and services deserve one. _Pol._ 'Tis kindly offered. _Cast._ By yon Heaven, I love My Polydore beyond all worldly joys, And would not shock his quiet, to be blest With greater happiness than man e'er tasted.