class="ind1">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?   Cas. Suppose I should?   Pol. Suppose you should not, brother?   Cas. You'd say, I must not.   Pol. That would sound too roughly Twixt friends and brothers, as we two are.   Cas. Is love a fault?   Pol. In one of us it may be—— What, if I love her?   Cas. Then I must inform you I lov'd her first, and cannot quit the claim; But will preserve the birthright of my passion.   Pol. You will?   Cas. I will.   Pol. No more; I've done.   Cas. Why not?   Pol. I told you, I had done. But you, Castalio, would dispute it.   Cas. No; Not with my Polydore:—though I must own My nature obstinate, and void of suff'rance; I could not bear a rival in my friendship, I am so much in love, and fond of thee.   Pol. Yet you will break this friendship!   Cas. Not for crowns.   Pol. But for a toy you would, a woman's toy, Unjust Castalio!   Cas. Pr'ythee, where's my fault?   Pol. You love Monimia.   Cas. Yes.   Pol. And you would kill me, If I'm your rival?   Cas. 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.   Cas. Love her still; Win, and enjoy her.   Pol. Both of us cannot.   Cas. No matter Whose chance it prove; but let's not quarrel for't.   Pol. You would not wed Monimia, would you?   Cas. 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?   Cas. Mere vanity, and silly dotage, all:— No, let me live at large, and when I die——   Pol. Who shall possess th' estate you leave?   Cas. My friend, If he survive me; if not, my king, Who may bestow't again on some brave man, Whose honesty and services deserve one.   Pol. 'Tis kindly offer'd.   Cas. 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.   Pol. And, by that heaven, eternally I swear To keep the kind Castalio in my heart. Whose shall Monimia be?   Cas. No matter whose.   Pol. Were you not with her privately last night?   Cas. I was; and should have met her here again. The opportunity shall now be thine? But have a care, by friendship I conjure thee, That no false play be offer'd to thy brother. Urge all thy powers to make thy passion prosper; But wrong not mine.   Pol. By heaven, I will not.   Cas. If't prove thy fortune, Polydore, to conquer (For thou hast all the arts of soft persuasion); Trust me, and let me know thy love's success, That I may ever after stifle mine.   Pol. Though she be dearer to my soul than rest To weary pilgrims, or to misers gold, To great men pow'r, or wealthy cities pride; Rather than wrong Castalio, I'd forget her.