align="left">So great, that you with justice may complain;
| But suffer us, whose younger minds ne'er felt |
| Fortune's deceits, to court her, as she's fair: |
| Were she a common mistress, kind to all, |
| Her worth would cease, and half the world grow idle. |
| Methinks, I would be busy. |
| |
| Pol. So would I, |
| Not loiter out my life at home, and know |
| No further than one prospect gives me leave. |
| |
| Acas. Busy your minds then, study arts and men; |
| Learn how to value merit, though in rags, |
| And scorn a proud, ill-manner'd, knave in office. |
| |
| Enter Serina. |
| |
| Ser. My lord, my father! |
| |
| Acas. Blessings on my child! |
| My little cherub, what hast thou to ask me? |
| |
| Ser. I bring you, sir, most glad and welcome news; |
| The young Chamont, whom you've so often wish'd for, |
| Is just arriv'd, and entering. |
| |
| Acas. By my soul, |
| And all my honours, he's most dearly welcome; |
| Let me receive him like his father's friend. |
| |
| Enter Chamont. |
| |
| Welcome, thou relic of the best lov'd man! |
| Welcome, from all the turmoils and the hazards |
| Of certain danger and uncertain fortune! |
| Welcome, as happy tidings after fears. |
| |
| Cham. Words would but wrong the gratitude I owe you! |
| Should I begin to speak, my soul's so full, |
| That I should talk of nothing else all day. |
| |
| Enter Monimia. |
| |
| Mon. My brother! |
| |
| Cham. O my sister, let me hold thee |
| Long in my arms. I've not beheld thy face |
| These many days; by night I've often seen thee |
| In gentle dreams, and satisfy'd my soul |
| With fancy'd joys, till morning cares awak'd me. |
| Another sister! sure, it must be so; |
| Though I remember well I had but one: |
| But I feel something in my heart that prompts, |
| And tells me, she has claim and interest there. |
| |
| Acas. Young soldier, you've not only studied war; |
| Courtship, I see, has been your practice too, |
| And may not prove unwelcome to my daughter. |
| |
| Cham. Is she your daughter? then my heart told true, |
| And I'm at least her brother by adoption; |
| For you have made yourself to me a father, |
| And by that patent I have leave to love her. |
| |
| Ser. Monimia, thou hast told me men are false, |
| Will flatter, feign, and make an art of love: |
| Is Chamont so? no, sure, he's more than man; |
| Something that's near divine, and truth dwells in him. |
| |
| Acas. Thus happy, who would envy pompous pow'r, |
| The luxury of courts, or wealth of cities? |
| Let there be joy through all the house this day! |
| In ev'ry room let plenty flow at large! |
| It is the birth day of my royal master! |
| You have not visited the court, Chamont, |
| Since your return? |
| |
| Cham. I have no bus'ness there; |
| I have not slavish temperance enough |
| T' attend a favourite's heels, and watch his smiles, |
| Bear an ill office done me to my face, |
| And thank the lord that wrong'd me, for his favour. |
| |
| Acas. This you could do.[to his Sons. |
| |
| Cas. I'd serve my prince. |
| |
| Acas. Who'd serve him? |
| |
| Cas. I would, my lord. |
| |
| Pol. And I; both would. |
| |
| Acas. Away! |
| He needs not any servants such as you. |
| Serve him! he merits more than man can do! |
| He is so good, praise cannot speak his worth; |
| So merciful, sure he ne'er slept in wrath! |
| So just, that, were he but a private man, |
| He could not do a wrong! How would you serve him? |
| |
| Cas. I'd serve him with my fortune here at home, |
| And serve him with my person in his wars: |
| Watch for him, fight for him, bleed for him. |
| |
| Pol. Die for him, |
| As ev'ry true-born, loyal, subject ought. |
| |
| Acas. Let me embrace ye both! now, by the souls |
| Of my brave ancestors, I'm truly happy! |
| For this, be ever blest my marriage day! |
| Blest be your mother's memory, that bore you; |
| And doubly blest be that auspicious hour |
| That gave ye birth! |
| |
| Enter a Servant. |
| |
| Serv. My lord, th' expected guests are just arriv'd. |
| |
| Acas. Go you and give 'em welcome and reception. |
| [exeunt Castalio and
|