I A CT. I V. SCENE I. MELLEFON Tand CYNTHIA. CYNT H I A. Heard him loud as I came by the Closet-Door, and my Lady with him, but the 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 still I'll lay my Life it will never be a Match. Mel. What? Cynt. Between you and nie. Mel. Why fo? Cynt. My Mind gives me it won't. because we are both willing; we each of us strive 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 so near that we don't think of coming together. Mel. 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 Perfpective all this while; for nothing has been between us but our Fears. Mel. I don't know why we should not steal out of the House this very Moment and marry one another, without Confideration or the Fear of RepenPox o'Fortune, Portion, Settlements and tance. Jointures! Cynt. Ay, ay, what have we to do with 'em, you know we marry for Love. Mel, Love, Love, down-right very villainous Love. Cynt. And he that can't live upon Love, deferves to die in a Ditch.. Here then, I give you my Promife, in fpight 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 baulk the Frolick? Cynt. If you had not been fo affured of your own Conduct I would not But 'tis but reasonable that fince I confent to like à Man without the vile Confideration of Mony, he fhould give me a very evident Demonftration of his Wit: Therefore let me fee you undermine my Lady Touchwood, as you boasted, 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 laft Minute of her Reign, unless the Devil affift her in propria perfona. Cynt. Well, if the Devil fhould affift her, your Plot mifcarry. Mel. Ay, what am I to trust to then? and Cynt. Why if you give me very clear Demonftration that it was the Devil, I'll allow for irrefi, ftible Odds. But if I find it to be only Chance or Destiny, 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 fake. your Mel. And you won't die one, for your own, fo ftill there's Hope. and Friend Cynt. Here's my Mother-in-Law, your Careless, I would not have 'em see us together yet. Swear, Mr. Careless, you are very alluring. And lay to many fine Things, and nothing is fo moving to me as a fine Thing. Well, I must do you this Juftice, and declare in the Face of the World, never any Body gain'd fo far upon me as your felf; with Blushes I muft own it, you have fhaken, as I may fay, the very Foundation of Honour my Well, fure if I efcape your Importunities, I fhall value my felf as long as I live, I fwear. Care. And defpife me. [Sighing. L. P. L. P. The laft of any Man in the World, by my Purity; now you make me fwear O Gra titude forbid, that I fhould ever be wanting in a refpectful Acknowledgment of an intire Refignation of all my best Wishes, for the Perfon and Parts of fo accomplish'd a Perlon, whofe Merit challenges much more, I'm fure, than my illiterate Praises can defcription Care. (In a whining Tone.) Ah Heav'ns, Madam, you ruin me with Kindness, your charming Tongue purfues 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 fealt upon that Hand; O let me prefs it to my Heart, my trembling Heart, the nimble Movement fhall inftruct your Pulfe, and teach it to alarm Defire. [Zoons I'm almoft at the end of my Cant, if he does not yield quickly. (Afide.) L. P. O that's fo paffionate and fine, I cannot hear it- I am not fafe if I ftay, and must leave you. Care. And muft you leave me ! Rather let me languish out a wretched Life, and breath my Soul beneath your Feet. I must say the fame Thing over again, and can't help it. (Afide.) L. P. I fwear I'm ready to languish too my Honour! Whither is it going? I protest you have given me the Palpitation of the Heart. Care. Can you be fo cruel. you rife L. P. O rife I beseech you, fay no more 'till Why did you kneel fo long? I fwear I was fo tranfported, I did not fee it. Well, to fhew you how far you have gain'd upon me; I af E 4 fure fure 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 Dampness overfpreads 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'dWhat 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! [Ifhall never contain Laughter. (Afide.) L. P. Oh, I yield my felf all up to your un controulable Embraces Say, thou dear dying Man, when, where, and how. Ah, there's Sir Paul. Care. 'Slife, yonder's Sir Paul; but if he were not come, I'm fo tranfported I cannnot speak This Note will inform you. [Gives her a Note SCENE NE III. Lady PLY ANT, Sir PAUL, CYNTHIA Sir PAUL. TH Cynt. I would obey you to my Power, Sir; but if I have not him, I have fworn never to marry. Si |