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. |
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Pol. So would I, |
Not loiter out my life at home, and know |
No further than one prospect gives me leave. |
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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. |
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Enter Serina. |
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Ser. My lord, my father! |
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Acas. Blessings on my child! |
My little cherub, what hast thou to ask me? |
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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. |
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Acas. By my soul, |
And all my honours, he's most dearly welcome; |
Let me receive him like his father's friend. |
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Enter Chamont. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Enter Monimia. |
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Mon. My brother! |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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? |
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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. |
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Acas. This you could do.[to his Sons. |
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Cas. I'd serve my prince. |
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Acas. Who'd serve him? |
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Cas. I would, my lord. |
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Pol. And I; both would. |
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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? |
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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. |
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Pol. Die for him, |
As ev'ry true-born, loyal, subject ought. |
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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! |
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Enter a Servant. |
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Serv. My lord, th' expected guests are just arriv'd. |
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Acas. Go you and give 'em welcome and reception. |
[exeunt Castalio and
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