worth in Wealth or Interest can purchase Cynthia, she is thine. I'm fure Sir Pauls Consent will follow Fortune; I'll quickly show him which way that is going. Mask. You oppress me with Bounty; my Gratitude is weak, and shrinks beneath the Weight, and cannot rife to thank you - What, enjoy my Love! Forgive the Transports of a Blessing so unexpected, so unhop'd for, so unthought of! Ld. Touch. I will confirm it, and rejoice with thee. THIS MASKWELL alone. a , profp'rous indeed - Why let him find me out Villain settled in poslession of a fair Estate and full Fruition of my Love, I'll bear the Railings of a lofing Gamester -But shou'd he find me out before! 'tis dangerous to delay Let me think should 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, shou'd my Lady know it-ay, then were fine Work indeed? Her Fury wou'd spare nothing, tho' she involv'd her self in Ruin. No, it must be by Stratagem I must deceive Mellefont once more, and get my Lord to consent to my private Management. He comes opportunely Now will I, in my old way, difcover the whole and real truth of the Matter to him, that he may not suspect one Word on't. No Mask like open Truth to cover Lies, As to go Naked is the best Difquife. SCE ১ SCENE V. [To him] MELLEFONT. MELLEFONT. رون 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 sake? Mask. Little do you think that your Aunt has kept her Word, - How the Devil she 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, my Life for yours, I cheat my Lord. VI. SCENE Lord TOUCHWOOD, Lady TOUCH M WOOD. L. TOUCHWOOD. Askwell your Heir, and marry Cynthia! Ld. Touch. I cannot do too much, for so much Merit. L. Touch. But this is a thing of too great Moment to be so suddenly refolv'd. Why Cynthia? Why must he be marry'd? Is there not Reward enough in raising his low Fortune, but he muft mix his Blood with mine, and wed my Niece? How know you that my Brother will confent, or she? Nay, he himself perhaps may have Affections otherwhere. Ld. Touch. No, I am convinc'd he loves her. [Afide. Ld. Touch. His Humility long stified his Passion: And his Love of Mellefont would have made hin still conceal it. But by Encouragement, I wrung 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 consider'd it; but remember how we are both indebted to him. SCE B SCENE VII. Lady ToucHWOOD, Alone. OTH indebted to him! Yes, we are both in debted to him, if you knew all. Villain! Oh, I am wild with this Surprize of Treachery : It is impossible, it cannot be. He love Cynthia! What have I been Bawd to his Designs, his Property only. 'a baiting Place! Now I see 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 shall I think? I cannot think,All my Designs are loft, my Love unsated, my Revenge unfinished, and fresh cause of Fury froin unthought-of Plagues. SCENE VII I. [To her] Sir PAUL. Sir PAUL. 1 ADAM, Sifter, my Lady Sister, did you fee MA my Lady my Wife? L. Touch. Oh! Torture! Sir Paul. Gads-bud, I can't find her high nor low; where can she be, think you? L. Touch. Where she's ferving you, as all your Sex ought to be serv'd; making you a Beast. Don't you know that you're a Fool, Brother ? Sir Paul. A Fool; he, he, he, you're merryNo, no, not I, I know no such Matter. L. Touch. Why then you don't know half your Happiness. Sir Paul. That's a Jest with all my Heart, faith 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 consult my Wife, he talks of disinheriting his Nephew; and I don't know what, Look you, Sister, I must know what my Girl has to trust to; or not a Syllable of a Wedding, Gads-bud- to shew you that I am not a Fool. L. Touch. Hear ime; consent to the breaking off this Marriage, and the promoting any other, without consulting me, and I'll renounce all Blood, all Relation and Concern with you for ever, nay, I'll be your Enemy, and pursue you to Destruction, 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. 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, insensible 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 say Truth, allour Family are Cholerick; I am the only peaceable Person amongsi 'em. SCE |