L. T. Where she's ferving you, as all your Sex ought to be ferv'd; making you a Beaft. Don't you know that you're a Fool; Brother?

Sir Paul. A Fool; he, he, he, you're merry-No, no, not I, I know no fuch Matter.

L. T. Why then you don't know half your Happiness. Sir Paul. That's a Jeft with all my Heart, faith and troth, But hark'ye, my Lord told me fomething of a Revolution of things; I don't know what to make on't, Gad's-bud I must confult my Wife,

he talks of difinheriting his Nephew; and I don't know what, Look you, Sifter, I must know what my Girl has to truft to; or not a Syllable of a Wedding, Gads-bud-to fhew you that I am not a Fool.

L. T. Hear me; consent to the breaking off this Marriage, and the promoting any other, without confulting me, and I'll renounce all Blood, all Relation and Concern with you for ever, -nay, I'll be your Enemy, and purfae you to Deftruction, I'll tear your Eyes out, and tread you under my Feet.

Sir Paul. Why, what's the Matter now? Good Lord, what's all this for? Pooh, here's a Joke indeed-Why, where's my Wife?

L. T. With Careless, in the cofe Arbour; he may want you by this time, as much as you want her. Sir Paul. O, if the be with Mr. Careless, 'tis well enough.

L. T. Foel, Sot, infenfible Ox! But remember what I faid to you, or you had better eat your own Horns, by this Light you had.

Sir Paul. You're a paffionate Woman, Gad's-bud, But to fay Truth, all our Family are Cholerick; I am the only peaceable Perfon amongft 'em.

SCENE

X XO XQDDXC Z

SCENE IX.

Mellefont, Maskwell and Cynthia.

Mel. I know no other Way but this he has propos'd; if you have Love enough to run the Venture.

Cynt. I don't know whether I have Love enoughbut I find I have Obstinacy enough to pursue whatever I have once refolv'd; and a true Female Courage to oppose any thing that refifts my Will, tho' 'twere Reason it felf. Mask. That's right,Well, I'll fecure the Writings, and run the Hazard along with you.

Cynt. But how can the Coach and Six Horfes be got ready without Suspicion ?

Mask. Leave it to my Care; that shall be so far from being fufpected, that it fhall be got ready by my Lord's own Order.

Mel. How?

Mask. Why, I intend to tell my Lord the whole Matter of our Contrivance, that's my way.

Mel. I don't understand you.

Mask. Why, I'll tell my Lord, I laid this Plot with you, on purpose to betray you; and that which put me upon it, was, the finding it impoffible to gain the Lady any other way, but in the Hopes of her marrying you. Mel. So

Mask. So, why fo, while you're bufied in making your felf ready, I'll wheedle her into the Coach; and instead of you, borrow my Lord's Chaplain, and fo run away with her my self.

Mel. OI conceive you, you'll tell him fo?

Mask. Tell him fo! ay, why you don't think I mean to do fo?

Mel. No, no; ha, ha, Idare fwear thou wilt not.

Mask.

Mask. Therefore for our farther Security, I would have you difguis'd like a Parfon, that if my Lord fhould have Curiofity to peep, he may not discover you in the Coach, but think the Cheat is carried on as he would have it. Mel. Excellent Maskwell! thou wert certainly meant for a Statesman or a Jefuit,- -but thou art too honeft

for one, and too pious for the other.

Mask. Well, get your felves ready, and meet me in half an Hour, yonder in my Lady's Dreffing Room; go by the back Stairs, and fo we may flip down without being obferv'd. I'll fend the Chaplain to you with his Robes ; I have made him my own,-and ordered him to meet us to Morrow Morning at St. Albans; there we will fum up this Account, to all our Satisfactions.

Mel. Should I begin to thank or praise thee, I should waste the little time we have.

Mask. Madam, you will be ready?
Cynt. I will be punctual to the Minute.

[Going.

Mask. Stay, I have a Doubt-Upon fecond Thoughts we had better meet in the Chaplain's Chamber here, the corner Chamber at this end of the Gallery, there is a back way into it, fo that you need not come through this Door and a Pair of private Stairs leading down to the Stables- It will be more convenient.

Cynt. Fam guided by you, but Mellefont will mistake.
Mask. No, no, I'll after him immediately, and tell him.
Cynt. I will not fail.

SCENE

SCENE XI.

Maskwell alone.

Mask. Why, qui vult decipi decipiatur.-'Tis no Fault of mine, I had told 'em in plain Terms, how eafy 'tis for me to cheat 'em; and if they will not hear the Serpent's Hifs, they must be ftung into Experience, and future Caution.-Now to prepare my Lord to confent to But firft 1 muft inftruct my little Levite ; there is no Plot, publick or private, that can expect to profper without one of them has a Finger in't, he promifed me to be within at this Hour.

this.

Saygrace.

-Mr.Saygrace, Mr.

[Goes to the Chamber Door, and knocks.

SCENE XII.

Maskwell, Saygrace.

[Mr. Saygrace, looking out.] Sweet Sir, I will but pen the laft Line of an Acroftick, and be with you in the twinkling of an Ejaculation, in the pronouncing of an Amen, or before you can

Mask. Nay, good Mr. Saygrace, do not prolong the Time, by describing to me the Shortness of your Stay ; rather if you please, defer the finishing of your Wit, and let us talk about our Bufinefs, it shall be Tithes in your way.

Sayg. [Enters] You fhall prevail, I would break off in the middle of a Sermon to do you a Pleasure.

Mask. You could not do me a greater,- -except-Have you provided a Habit

the Business in hand

for Mellefont?

Sayg

Sayg. I have, they are ready in my Chamber, together with a clean ftarch'd Band and Cuffs.

Mask. Good, let them be carry'd to him, have you ftitch'd the Gown Sleeve, that he may be puzzled, and wafte time in putting it on?

Sayg. I have; the Gown will not be indued without Perplexity.

Mask. Meet me in half an Hour, here in your own Chamber. When Cynthia comes, let there be no Light, and do not speak, that she may not distinguish you from Mellefont. I'll urge hafte, to excufe your Silence. Sayg. You have no more Commands?

Mask. None, your Text is fhort.

Sayg. But pithy, and I will handle it with Discretion.
Mask. It will be the first you have fo ferv'd.

SCENE XIII.

Lord Touchwood, Maskwell.

Ld. T. Sure I was born to be controlled by those I fhould command: My very Slaves will shortly give me Rules how I fhall govern them.

Mask. I am concern'd to fee your Lordship discom. pos'd

Ld. T. Have you feen my Wife lately, or disoblig'd her?

Mask. No my Lord. What can this mean!

[Afide. Ld. T. Then Mellefont has urg'd fome Body to incense her-Something fhe has heard of you which carries her beyond the Bounds of Patience.

Mask. This I fear'd. [Afide.] Did not your Lordship tell her of the Honours you defign'd me?

Ld. T. Yes.