THE ORPHAN.

ACT 1. SCENE I.

Enter PAULINO and ERNESTO.

"Paulino.

""Tis strange, Ernesto, this severity "Should still reign powerful in Acasto's mind, "To hate the court where he was bred and liv'd, "All honours heap'd on him that pow'r could give. "Ern. 'Tis true, he hither came a private gentle

man,

"But young and brave, and of a family
"Ancient and noble, as the empire holds.
"The honours he has gain'd are justly his;
"He purchas'd them in war: thrice has he led
"An army 'gainst the rebels, and as often
"Return'd with victory. The world has not
"A truer soldier, or a better subject.

"Paul. It was his virtue at first made me serve

him;

"He is the best of masters and of friends :

"I know he has lately been invited thither;

"Yet still he keeps his stubborn purpose; cries
"He's old, and willingly would be at rest.
"I doubt there's deep resentment in his mind,
"For the late slight his honour suffer'd there.

"Ern. Has he not reason? When for what he had

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borne, "Long, hard, and painful toil, he might have claim'd "Places in honour, and employment high;

"A huffing, shining, flatt'ring, cringing coward, "A canker-worm of peace, was rais'd above him. "Paul. Yet still he holds just value for the king, "Nor ever names him but with highest reverence. "'Tis noble that

"Ern. Oh! I have heard him wanton in his praise, "L Speak things of him might charm the ears of Envy.

"Paul. Oh, may he live till nature's self grows old, "And from her womb no more can bless the earth! "For when he dies, farewel all honour, bounty, "All generous encouragement of arts;

"For Charity herself becomes a widow.

"Ern. No, he has two sons, that were ordain'd to be,

"As well his virtues' as his fortune's heirs.

"Paul. They're both of nature mild, and full of

sweetness;

"They came twins from the womb, and still they live "As if they would go twins too to the grave: "Neither has any thing he calls his own, “But of each other's joys, as griefs, partaking; "So very honestly, so well they love,

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"As they were only for each other born.

"Ern. Never was parent in an offspring happier; "He has a daughter too, whose blooming age "Promises goodness equal to her beauty.

"Paul. And as there is a friendship 'twixt the brethren,

"So has her infant nature chosen too

"A faithful partner of her thoughts and wishes, "And kind companion of her harmless pleasures. “Ern. You mean the beauteous orphan, fair Monimia.

"Paul. The same, the daughter of the brave Cha

mont.

"He was our lord's companion in the wars; "Where such a wond'rous friendship grew between

'em,

"As only death could end. Chamont's estate "Was ruin'd in our late and civil discords; "Therefore, unable to advance her fortune, "He left his daughter to our master's care; "To such a care, as she scarce lost her father. "Ern. Her brother to the emperor's wars went

early,

"To seek a fortune, or a noble fate;

"Whence he with honour is expected back,

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"And mighty marks of that great prince's favour. "Paul. Our master never would permit his sons "To launch for fortune in th' uncertain world; "But warns 'em to avoid both courts and camps, "Where dilatory fortune plays the jilt

"With the brave, noble, honest, gallant man, "To throw herself away on fools and knaves.

"Ern. They both have forward, gen'rous, active spirits.

"'Tis daily their petition to their father,

"To send them forth where glory's to be gotten :
"They cry, they're weary of their lazy home,
"Restless to do something that fame may talk of.
"To-day they chas'd the boar, and near this time
"Should be return'd.

"Paul. Oh, that's a royal sport!

"We yet may see the old man in a morning,
"Lusty as health, come ruddy to the field,

"And there pursue the chase, as if he meant
"To o'ertake time, and bring back youth again."

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[Exit.

SCENE II.

A Garden. Enter CASTALIO, POLYDORE, and PAGE.

Cast. Polydore, our sport

Has been to-day much better for the danger;

When on the brink the foaming boar I met,
And in his side thought to have lodg'd my spear,
The desperate savage rush'd within my force,
And bore me headlong with him down the rock.
Pol. But then

Cast. Ay, then, my brother, my friend Polydore, Like Perseus mounted on his winged steed,

Came on, and down the dangerous precipice leap'd
To save Castalio. 'Twas a godlike act!

Pol. But when I came, I found you conqueror.
Oh, my heart danc'd to see your danger past!
The heat and fury of the chase was cold,

And I had nothing in my mind but joy.

Cast. So, Polydore, methinks we might in war
Rush on together; thou shouldst be my guard,
And I be thine; what is't could hurt us then?
Now half the youth of Europe are in arms,
How fulsome must it be to stay behind,

And die of rank diseases here at home?

Pol. No, let me purchase in my youth renown,
To make me lov'd and valu'd when I am old;
I would be busy in the world, and learn,
Not like a coarse and useless dunghill weed,
Fix'd to one spot, and rot just as I grow.
Cast. Our father-

Has ta'en himself a surfeit of the world,
And cries, it is not safe that we should taste it:
I own I have duty very pow'rful in me ;

And though I'd hazard all to raise my name,
Yet he's so tender, and so good a father,

I could not do a thing to cross his will.

Pol. Castalio, I have doubts within my heart, Which you, and only you can satisfy.

Will you be free and candid to your friend?

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Cast. Have I a thought my Polydore should not

know?

What can this mean?