Cynt.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

I

Mellefont and Cynthia.

Heard him loud as I came by the Closet-Door" and my Lady with him, but fhe feem'd to moderate his Paffion.

Mel. Ay, Hell thank her, as gentle Breezes moderate a Fire; but I fhall counter-work her Spells, and ride the Witch in her own Bridle.

Cynt. It's impoffible; fhe'll caft beyond you ftillI'll lay my Life it will never be a Match.

Mel. What?

Cynt. Between you and me.

Mel. Why fo?

Cynt. My Mind gives me it won't

because we

are both willing; we each of us ftrive to reach the Goal, and hinder one another in the Race; I swear it never does well when the Parties are fo agreed-For when People walk Hand in Hand, there's neither overtaking nor meeting: We Hunt in Couples, where we both purfue the fame Game, but forget one another; and 'tis because we are fo near that we don't think of coming together.

Mel. Hum, 'gad I believe there's fomething in't; Marriage is the Game that we hunt, and while we think that we only have it in View, I don't fee but we have it in our Power.

Cynt. Within reach; for Example, give me your Hand you have look'd through the wrong End of the Perspective all this while; for nothing has been between us but our Fears.

Mel.

1

Mel. I don't know why we fhould not steal out of the House this very Moment and marry one another, without Confideration or the Fear of Repentance. Poxo' Fortune, Portion, Settlements and Jointures.

Cynt. Ay, ay, what have we to do with 'em? you know we marry for Love.

Mel Love, Love, down-right very villanous Love.

Cynt. And he that can't live upon Love, deferves to die in a Ditch. Here then, I give you my Promife, in spite of Duty, any Temptation of Wealth, your Inconftancy, or my own Inclination to change

Mel. To run moft wilfully and unreasonably away with me this Moment, and be married.

Cynt. Hold

Never to marry any Body else. Mel. That's but a kind of Negative Confent-Why, you won't balk the Frolick?

Cynt. If you had not been fo affured of your own Con duct I would not. -But 'tis but reasonable that fince 1 confent to like a Man without the vile Confideration of. Mony, he should give me a very evident Demonftration of his Wit: Therefore let me fee you undermine my Lady Touchwood, as you boafted, and force her to give her Confent, and then

Mel. I'll do't.

Cynt. And I'll do't.

Mel. This very next enfuing Hour of eight a Clock, is the last Minute of her Reign, unless the Devil affift her in propria perfona.

Cynt. Well, if the Devil should affist her, and your Plot mifcarry.

Mel. Ay, what am I to trust to then?

Cynt. Why if you give me very clear Demonftration that it was the Devil, I'll allow for irrefiftible Odds. But if I find it to be only Chance, or Deftiny, or unlucky Stars, or any thing but the very Devil, I'm inexorable: Only still I'll keep my Word; and live a Maid for your fake.

Mel

Mel. And you won't die one, for your own; få still there's Hope.

Cynt. Here's my Mother-in-law, and your Friend Careless, I would not have 'em see us together yet.

SCENE II.

Carelefs and Lady Plyant.

L. P. I Swear, Mr. Careless, you are very alluring→ And lay fo many fine Things, and nothing is fo moving to me as a fine Thing. Well, I muft do you this Juftice, and declare in the Face of the World, never any Body gain'd so far upon me as your feif; with Blushes I must own it, you have fhaken, as I may fay, the very Foundation of my Honour-Well, fure if I efcape your InIm portunities, I fhall value my felf as long as I live, I fwear.

Care. And defpife me.

[Sighing. L. P. The laft of any Man in the World, by my Purity ; `now you make me fwear-O Gratitude forbid, that I fhould ever be wanting in a respectful Acknowledgment of an intire Refignation of all my best Wishes, for the Perfon and Parts of fo accomplish'd a Perfon, whofe Merit challenges much more, I'm fure, than my illiterate Praises can defeription

Care. [In a whining Tone ] Ah Heav'ns, Madam, you ruin me with Kindness; your charming Tongue pursues the Victory of your Eyes, while at your Feet your poor Adorer dies.

L. P. Ah! Very fine.

Care. [Still whining] Ah why are you fo Fair, fo bewitching Fair? O let me grow to the Ground here, and feaft upon that Hand; Olet me prefs it to my Heart, my

tremb

trembling Heart, the nimble Movement shall inftruct your Pulse, and teach it to alarm Defire.

[Zoons I'm almoft at the end of my Cant, if she does not yield quickly.

(Afide.) L. P. O that's fo paffionate and fine, I cannot hear it— I am not fafe if I stay, and must leave you.

Care. And muft you leave me! Rather let me languish out a wretched Life, and breathe my Soul beneath your Feet.[I must say the fame Thing over again, and can't help it.

(Afide.) O my

L. P. I fwear I'm ready to languish too Honour! Whither is it going? I proteft you have given me the Palpitation of the Heart.

Care. Can you be fo cruel.

-

L. P. O rise I beseech you, say no more 'till you rife -Why did you kneel fo long? I fwear I was fo transported, I did not fee it, Well, to fhew you how far you have gain'd upon me; I affure you if Sir Paul should die, of all Mankind there's none I'd fooner make my fecond Choice.

Care. O Heav'n! I can't out-live this Night without your Favour-I feel my Spirits faint, a general Damp nefs over-spreads my Face, a cold deadly Dew already vents through all my Pores, and will to Morrow wash me for ever from your Sight, and drown me in my Tomb.

L. P. O you have conquer'd, fweet, melting, moving Sir, you have conquer'd- What Heart of Marble can refrain to weep, and yield to fuch fad Sayings. [Cries. Care. I Thank Heav'n they are the faddeft that I ever faid-Oh! [1fball never contain Laughter. (Afide.) L. P. Oh, I yield my felf all up to your uncontrollable Embraces Say, thou dear dying Man, when, where, Ah, there's Sir Paul.

and how.

Care, 'Slife, yonder's Sir Paul, but if he were not come, I'm fo transported I cannot speak-This Note will inform you.

[Gives her a Note.

SCENE

Lady Plyant, Sir Paul, Cynthia.

Sir Paul. Thou art my tender Lambkin, and fhalt do what thou wilt-But endeavour to forget this Mellefont. Cynt. I would obey you to my Power, Sir; but if I have not him, I have fworn never to marry.

Sir Paul. Never to marry! Heav'ns forbid; muft I neither have Sons nor Grandfons? muft the Family of the Plyants be utterly extinct for want of Iffue Male? Oh Impiety! But did you fwear, did that sweet Creature 1wear! ha? How durft you fwear without my Confent, ah? Gads-bud, who am I?

Cynt. Pray don't be angry, Sir, when I fwore, I had your Confent; and therefore I fwore.

Sir Paul. Why then the revoking my Confent does annul, or make of none effect your Oath: So you may unfwear it again-The Law will allow it.

Cynt. Ay, but my Confcience never will.

Sir Paul. Gads-bud no matter for that, Confcience and Law never go together; you must not expect that.

L. P. Ay, but Sir Paul, I conceive if she has sworn, d'ye mark me, if fhe has once fworn; it is most unchriftian, inhuman, and obfcene that she shou'd break it.I'll make up the Match again, because Mr. Careless said it would oblige him. [Afide.

Sir Paul. Does your Lady ship conceive fo-Why I was of that Opinion once too-Nay if your Lady ship conceives fo, I'm of that Opinion again; but I can neither find my Lord nor my Lady to know what they intend.

L. P. I'm fatisfy'd that my Coufin Mellefont has been much wrong'd.

Cynt