worth in Wealth or Intereft can purchase Cynthia, fhe is thine. I'm fure Sir Pauls Confent will follow Fortune; I'll quickly fhow him which way that is going.

Mask. You opprefs me with Bounty; my Ġra titude is weak, and fhrinks beneath the Weight and cannot rife to thank you What, enjoy my Love! Forgive the Tranfports of a Bleffing to unexpected, fo unhop'd for, fo unthought of!

Ld. Touch. I will confirm it, and rejoice with thee.

SCENE IV.

MASKWELL alone.

HIS is profp'rous indeed-Why let him

of a fair Eftate and full Fruition of my Love, I'll bear the Railings of a lofing Gamester But fhou'd he find me out before! 'tis dangerous to delay Let me think fhould my Lord proceed to treat openly of my Marriage with Cynthia, all must be discover'd, and Mellefont can be no longer blinded.. -It must not be; nay, fhou'd my Lady know it-ay, then were fine Work indeed? Her Fury wou'd fpare nothing, tho' fhe involv'd her felf in Ruin. No, it must be by StratagemI must deceive Mellefont once more, and get my Lord to confent to my private Management. He comes opportunely Now will I, in my old way, dif

cover the whole and real truth of the Matter to him, that he may not fufpect one Word on't. No Mask like open Truth to cover Lies, As to go Naked is the best Difguife.

SCE

SCENE V.

[To him] MELLEFONT.

MELLEFONT.

Maskwell, what Hopes ? I am confounded in a maze of Thoughts, each leading into one another, and all ending in Perplexity. My Uncle will not fee, nor hear me.

Mask. No matter, Sir, don't trouble your Head, all's in my Power.

Mel. How? For Heav'ns fake?

Mask. Little do you think that your Aunt has kept her Word,-How the Devil fhe wrought my Lord into this Dotage, I know not; but he's gone to Sir Paul about my Marriage with Cynthia, and has appointed me his Heir.

Mel. The Devil he has! What's to be done? Mask. I have it, it must be by Stratagem; for it's in vain to make Application to him. I think I have that in my Head that cannot fail: Where's Cynthia?

Mel. In the Garden. Mask. Let us go and confult her yours, I cheat my

Lord.

, my

Life for

M

WOOD.

L. TOUCH W Ó D.

Askwell your Heir, and marry Cynthia!
Ld. Touch. I cannot do too much, for fo
much Merit.

L. Touch. But this is a thing of too great Moment to be fo fuddenly refolv'd. Why Cynthia? Why must he be marry'd? Is there not Reward enough in raifing his low Fortune, but he must mix his Blood with mine, and wed my Niece ? How know you that my Brother will confent, or fhe? Nay, he himself perhaps may have Affections otherwhere.

Ld. Touch. No, I am convinc'd he loves her.
L. Touch. Maskwell love Cynthia, impoffible!
Ld. Touch. I tell you, he confefs'd it to me.
L. Touch. Confufion! How's this!

[Afide. Ld. Touch. His Humility long ftified his Passion: And his Love of Mellefont would have made himn ftill conceal it.But by Encouragement, Iwrung the Secret from him; and know he's no way to be rewarded but in her. I'll defer my farther Proceedings in it, 'till you have confider'd it; but remember how we are both indebted to him.

-

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SCENE

VII.

Lady TOUCHWOOD, Alone.

OTH indebted to him! Yes, we are both in

Bdebted to him, if you knew all. "Villain. Oh

I am wild with this Surprize of Treachery: It is impoffible, it cannot be. He love Cynthia! What have I been Bawd to his Defigns, his Property only, a baiting Place! Now I fee what made him false to Mellefont, Shame and Distraction! I cannot bear it, oh! what Woman can bear to be a Property? To be kindled to a Flame, only to light him to anothers Arms; oh that I were Fire indeed that I might burn the vile Traitor. What shall I do? How fhall I think? I cannot think, All my Defigns are loft, my Love unfated, my Revenge unfinish'd, and fresh caufe of Fury from unthought-of Plagues.

SCENE VII I.

[ To her ] Sir PAUL.

Sir PAUL.

MADAM, Sifter, my Lady Sister, did you fee

my Lady my Wife?

L. Touch. Oh! Torture!

Sir Paul. Gads-bud, I can't find her high nor low; where can fhe be, think you?

L. Touch. Where fhe's ferving you, as all your

G 4

Sex

Sex ought to be ferv'd; making you a Beast. Don's you know that you're a Fool, Brother?

Sir Paul. A Fool, he, he, he, you're merryNo, no, not I, I know no fuch Matter.

faith

L. Touch. Why then you don't know half your Happiness. Sir Paul. That's a Jeft with all my Heart, and troth,- -But harkee, my Lord told me fomething of a Revolution of things; I don't know what to make on't, - Gads-bud I must confult my Wife, he talks of difinheriting his Nephew; and I don't know what, Look Sifter, you, 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.

I

all

L. Touch. Hear me; confent to the breaking off this Marriage, and the promoting any other, without confulting me, and I'll renounce all Blood, Relation and "Concern with you for ever, I'll be your Enemy, and purfue you to Destruction, I'll tear your Eyes out, and tread you under my

Feet..

nay,

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

my

L. Touch. With Careless, in the close 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. Touch. Fool, 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, Gads-bud,' But to fay Truth, all our Family are Cholerick; I am the only peaceable Perfon amongfi 'em.

SCE