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the Ladies, and drink a Difh of Tea, to fettle our Heads.

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Sir Paul. With all my Heart. Mr. Brisk come to us, or call me when you joke, I'll be ready to laugh incontinently.

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SCENE V.

MELLEFONT, CARELESS,

FROTH, BRISK.

MILLEFONT.

Lord

B Ld. Froth, yes, fometimes,

UT does your Lordship never see Comedies?

laugh.

Sir.

Mel. No?

Ld. Froth. Oh, no,

But I never

Never laugh indeed,

Care. No! why what d'ye go there for?

-

Ld. Freth. To diftinguifh my felf from the Commonalty, and mortifie the Poets; the Fellows grow fo conceited, when any of their foolish Wit prevails upon the Side-Boxes. Ifwear he, he, he, I have often constrain'd my Inclinations to laugh, he, he, he, to avoid giving them Encouragement, Mel. You are cruel to your felf, my Lord, as well as malicious to them.

Ld. Froth. I confefs I did my self some Violence at first; but now, I think I have conquer'd it.

Brisk. Let me perish, my Lord, but there is fomething very particular in the Humour : 'tis true, it makes against Wit, and I'm forry for fome Friends of mine that write; but I'gad,' I love to be malicious. Nay, duce take me there's Wit in't too — B 4

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And

And Wit must be foil'd by Wit; cut a Diamond with a Diamond; no other way, I'gad.

Ld. Froth. Oh, I thought you would not be long, before you found out the Wit.

Care. Wit! In what? Where the Devil's the Wit, · in not laughing when a Man has a Mind to't? Brisk. O Lord, why can't you find it out? Why there 'tis, in the not laughing - Don't you apprehend me? My Lord, Careless is a very honeft Fellow, but harkee, you underftand ine, fomewhat heavy, a little fhallow, or fo.- Why I'll tell you now, fuppofe now you come up to me Nay, prithee Careless be inftructed. Suppose, as I was faying you come up to me holding your Sides, and laughing, as if you would-Well-I look grave, and ask the Caufe of this immoderate Mirth. You laugh on ftill, and are not able to tell me Still I look grave, not fo much as fmile.

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Care. Smile, no, what the Devil should you fmile at, when you fuppofe I can't tell you!

Brisk. Pihaw, pfhaw, prithee don't interrupt me.- But I tell you, you fhall tell me at last But it fhall be a great while first.

Care. Well, but prithee don't let it be a great while, because I long to have it over.

Brisk. Well then, you tell me fome good Jeft, or very witty thing, laughing all the while as if you were ready to die-and I hear it, and look thus. Would not you be disappointed?

--

Care. No; for if it were a witty thing, I should not expect you to understand it.

Ld. Froth. Ofoy, Mr. Careless, all the World allows Mr. Brisk to have Wit: my Wife fays, he has a great deal. I hope you think her a Judge ? Brisk. Pooh, my Lord, his Voice goes for nothing.I can't tell how to make him apprehend. Take it t'other Way. Suppole I fay a witty thing to you?

Care.

Care. Then I shall be difappointed indeed..
Brisk, he is obftinately

Mel. Let him alone bent not to be inftructed.

Brisk. I'm forry for him, the duce take me. Mel. Shall we go to the Ladies, my Lord? Ld. Froth. With all my Heart, methinks we are a Solitude without 'em.

Mel. Or, what fay you, to another Bottle of Champagne ?

Ld. Froth. O, for the Universe, not a Drop more I beseech you. Oh Intemperate! I have a flushing in my Face already.

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[Takes out a Pocket-Glass, and looks in it. Brisk. Let me fee let me fee, my Lord, broke my Glafs that was Box. Hum! Duce take

Pimple here too.

in the Lid of my Snuffme ; I have encourag'da

[Takes the Glass and looks.

Ld. Froth. Then you must, mortifie him with a

Patch; my Wife shall supply you.

Come, Gent

lemen, allons, here is Company coming.

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Lady TOUCHWOOD, and MASKWELL.

L. TOUCH W O O D.

LL hear no more. -Y are falfe and ungrateful; come, I know you falfe.

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Mask. I have been frail, I confess, Madam, for your Ladyfhips Service.

L. Touch. That I fhould truft a Man, whom I had known betray his Friend!

Mask. What Friend have I betray'd Orto whom?

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L.

L. Touch. Your fond Friend Mellefont, and to me; can you deny it?

Mask. I do not.

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L. Touch. Have you not wrong'd my Lord, who has been a Father to you in your Wants and given you being? Have you not wrong'd him in the highest ma ner, in his Bed?

Mask. With your Ladyfhips help, and for your Service, as I told you before. I can't deny that neither. Any thing more, Madam ?

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Have you not disho

L. Touch. More! Audacious Villain. more, is most my Shame, nour'd me?

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Mask. No, that I deny; for I never told in all my Life: So that Accufation's anfwer'd; on to the next. L. Touch. Death, do you dally with my Paffion? Infolent Devil! But have a care, Provoke me not; for, by the Eternal Fire, you shall not 'scape my Vengeance · Calm Villain! How unconcern'd he ftauds, confeffing Treachery, and Ingratitude! Is there a Vice more black! OI have Excufes, thousands for my Faults; Fire in my Temper, Paffions in my Soul, apt to ev'ry Provocation; oppreffed at once with Love, and with Despair. But a fedate, a thinking Villain, whofe black Blood runs temperately bad, what Excuse can clear?

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-

Mask Will you be in Temper, Madam? I would not talk not to be heard. I have been [ She walks about diforder'd] a very great Rogue for your fake, and you reproach me with it; I am ready to be a Rogue ftill, to do you Service; and you are flinging Confcience and Honour in my Face to rebate my Inclinations. How am I to behave my felf? You know I am your Creature, my Life and Fortune in your Power ; to difoblige you, brings me certain Ruin. Allow it, I would betray you, I would not bea Traitor to my felf: I don't pretend to Honesty,

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because you know I am a Rascal: But I would con from the Neceffity of my being firm

vince you, to you

L. Touch. Neceffity, Impudence! Can no Gratitude incline you, no Obligations touch you? Have not my Fortune, and my Perfon, been fubjected to your Pleafure? Were you not in the nature of a Servant, and have not I in effect made you Lord of all, of me, and of my Lord? Where is that humble love, the Languifhing, that Adoration, which once was paid me, and everlaftingly engaged?

Mask. Fixt rooted in my Heart, whence nothing can remove 'em, yet you

L. Touch. Yet, what yet?

Mask. Nay, mifconceive me not, Madam, when Ifay I have had a Gen'rous, and a Faithful Paffion, which you had never favour'd, but through Revenge and Policy.

L. Touch. Ha!

Mask. Look you, Madam, we are alone, Pray contain your felf, and hear me. You know

you lov'd your Nephew, when I firft figh'd for you; I quickly found it; an Argument that I lov'd; for with that Art you veil'd your Paffion, 'twas imperceptible to all but Jealous Eyes. This Discovery made me bold; I confefs it; for by it, I thought you in my Power. Your Nephews Scorn of you, added to my Hopes; I watch'd the Occafion, and took you, juft Repulfed by him, warm at once with Love and Indignation. Your Difpofition, my Arguments, and happy Opportunity, accomplish'd my Defign; I preft the yielding Minute, and was bleft. How I have lov'd you fince, Words have not fhown, then how fhould Words exprefs?

L. Touch. Well, mollifying Devil! Inot met your Love with forward Fire? Mask. Your ZealI grant was ardent

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