L. T. You won't. Ld. T. By my Life, my Dear, I will. Ld. T. How? Then I must know, nay I will s No more trifling-I charge you tell meBy all our mutual Peace to come; upon your Duty L. T. Nay, my Lord, you need fay no more, to make me lay my Heart before you; but don't be thus tranfported, compofe your felf: It is not of Concern, to make you lofe one Minutes Temper. 'Tis not indeed my Dear. Nay, by this Kifs you O Lord, I wish I had not told you any thing. Indeed, my Lord, you have frighted me. Nay, look pleas'd, I'll tell you. Ld. T. Well, well. fhan't be angry. L. T. Nay, but will you be calm nothing but Ld. T. But what ? indeed it's L. T. But will you promife me not to be angry Nay you muft Not to be angry with Melle font I dare fwear he's forry again, would not and were it to do Ld. T. Sorry, for what? 'Death, you rack me with Delay. L. T. Nay, no great Matter, only • Well I have your Promife, Pho, why nothing, only your Nephew had a mind to amufe himself, fometimes with a little Gallantry towards me. Nay, I can't think he meant any thing seriously, but methought it look'd odly. Ld. T. Confufion and Hell, what do I hear! L. T. Or, may be, he though the was not enough a-kin to me, upon your Account, and had a mind to create a nearer Relation on his own;. a Lover you know my Lord. Ha, ha, ha. Well but that's all- Now you have it, well remember mife, my Lord, and don't take any Notice of it to him. your Pro Ld. td. T. No, no no > Damnation! A little L. T. Nay, 1 fwear you must not harmless Mirth But if it were more, 'tis over now, and all's well. For my part I have forgot it; and fo has he, I hope for I have not heard any thing from him these two Days. Only mifplac'd, that's all Ld. T. These two Days! Is it fo fresh? Unnatural Villain! Death, I'll have him ftripp'd and turn'd naked out of my Doors this Moment, and let him rot and perish, incestuous Brute! L. T. O for Heav'ns fake, my Lord, you'll ruin me if you take fuch publick Notice of it; it will be a Town talk: Confider your own and my Honour nay, I told you you would not be fatisfied when you knew it. Ld. T. Before I've done, I will be fatisfy'd. Ungrateful Monster, how long? L. T. Lord, I don't know: I wish my Lips had grown together when I told you Almost a Twelvemonth Nay, I won't tell you any more, 'till you are your felf. Pray, my Lord, don't let the Company fee you in this Disorder Yet, I confess, I can't blame you; for I think I was never fo furpriz'd in my Life- Who would have thought my Nephew could have fo misconstrued my Kindnefs But will you go into your Clofet, and recover your Temper. I'll make an Excuse of sudden Bufinefs to the Company, and come to you. Pray, good dear my Lord, let me beg you do now: I'll come immediately, and tell you all, will you, my Lord? Ld. T. I will I am mute with Wonder. L. T. Well but go now, here's fome body coming. Ld. T. Well I go - You won't stay, for I would hear more of this. L. T. I follow inftantly So. SCENE II. Lady TOUCHWOOD, MASK WELL. T MASK WELL. HIS was a Mafter Piece, and did not need my Help- tho' I ftood ready for a Cue to come in and confirm all, had there been Occafion. L. T. Have you seen Mellefont? Mask. I have; and am to meet him here about this time. L. T. How does he bear his Difappointment? Mask Secure in my Afsistance, he feem'd not much afflicted, but rather laugh'd at the fhallow Artifice, which fo little time muft of neceffity discover. Yet he is apprehenfive of fome farther Defign of yours, and has engaged me to watch you. I believe he will hardly be able to prevent your Plot, yet I would have you ufe Caution and Expedition. L. T. Expedition indeed; for all we do, must be perform'd in the remaining part of this Ev'ning, and before the Company break up; left my Lord fhould cool, and have an Opportunity to talk with him privately- My Lord muft not fee him again. Mask. By no Means; therefore you muft aggravate my Lords Difpleasure to a Degree that will admit of no Conference with him. What think you of mentioning me? L. T. How? Mask. To my Lord, as having been privy to Mellefonts Defign upon you, but ftill using my utmost Endeavoursto diffuade him: Tho' my Friendship and Love Love to him has made me conceal it; yet you may fay, I threatned the next time he attempted any thing of that kind, to discover it to my Lord. L. T. To what end is this? Mask. It will confirm my Lords Opinion of my Honour and Honefty, and create in him a new Confidence in me, which ( fhould this Defign mifcarry) will be neceffary to the forming another Plot that I have in my Head To cheat you, as well as [Afide. L. T. I'll do it I'll tell him you hindred him once from forcing me. the reft. Mask. Excellent! Your Ladyship has a moft improving Fancy. You had beft go to my Lord, keep him as long as you can in his Clofet and I doubt not but you will mould him to what you pleafe; your Guefts are fo engaged in their own Follies and Intrigues, they'll mifs neither of L. T. When fhall we meet? At eight this Evening in my Chamber; there rejoice at our Success; and toy away an Hour in Mirth. Mask. I will not fail. you. SCENE III. MASK WELL alone. Know what the means by toying away an Hout I well enough. Pox I have loft all Appetite to her: But yet fhe's a fine Woman, and I lov'd her once. I don't know, fince I have been in a great measure kept by her, the Cafe is alter'd; what was iny Pleafure is become my Duty: And I have as little Stomach to her now as ifI were her Husband. Should the fmoak my Defign upon Cynthia, I were in a D 2 fing fine pickle. She has a damn'd penetrating Head, and knows how to interpret a Coldness the right Way; therefore I muft diffemble Ardour and Ecftafie, that's refolv'd. How cafily and pleasantly is that diffembled before Fruition! Pox on't that a Man can't drink without quenching his Thirft. Ha! yonder comes Mellefont, thoughtful. Let me think: Meet her at eight-hum ha! By Heav'n I have it IfI can fpeak to my Lord before Was it my Brain or Providence? No matter which I will deceive 'em all, and yet fecure my felf; 'twas a lucky Thought! Well, this Double- Dealing is a Jewel. Here he comes, now for me. ་ SCENE IV. [To him ] MELLEFONT mufing. [Maskwell pretending not to fee him, walks by him, and speaks as it were to himself. M MASK. ERCY on us, what will the Wickedness of this World come to? Mel. How now, Jack? What, fo full of Contemplation that you run over! Mask. I'm glad you're come, for I could not contain my felf any longer: And was just going to give vent to a Secret, which no Body but you ought to drink down. Your Aunt's juft gone from hence. Mel. And having trufted thee with the Secrets of her Soul, thou art villainously bent to discover 'em all to me, ha? Mask. I'm afraid my Frailty leans that way But I don't know whether I can in Honour discover 'em all. Mell. |