Care. By Heav'n there's Treachery

The Confufion that I saw your Father in, my Lady Touchwoods Paffion, with what imperfectly I overheard between my Lord and her, confirm me in my Fears. Where's Mellefont?

Cynth. Here he comes.

SCENE XV.

[To them] MELLEFONT.

CYNTHIA.

ID Maskwell tell you any thing of the Cha

Dplains Chamber

Mel. No; my Dear, will you get ready the Things are all in my Chamber; I want nothing but the Habit.

Care. You are betray'd, and Maskwell is the Vil lain I always thought him.

Cynt. When you were gone, he faid his Mind was chang'd, and bid me meet him in the Chaplains Room, pretending immediately to follow you, and give you Notice. Mel. How!

Care. There's Saygrace tripping by with a Bundle under his Arm - He cannot be ignorant that Maskwell means to use his Chamber; let's follow and examine him.

Mel. 'Tis loss of Time I cannot think him false.

M

Y Lord musing!

CYNTHIA, Lord TOUCHWOOD.

CYNTHΙΑ.

Ld. Touch. He has a quick Invention, if

this were suddenly, design'd

prepar'd my Chaplain already.

Yet he says he had

Cynt. How's this! Now I fear indeed.

Ld. Touch. Cynthia here! Alone, fair Coufin

and melancholy?

Cynt. Your Lordship was thoughtful.

Ld. Touch. My Thoughts were on serious Bufi

ness, not worth your hearing.

Cynt. Mine were on Treachery concerning you, and may be worth your hearing.

Ld. Touch. Treachery concerning me! pray be plain-Hark! What Noife!

Mask. (within.) Will you not hear me?
L. Touch. No, Monster! Traitor! No.

Cynt. My Lady and Maskwell! this may be lucky -My Lord, let me intreat you to stand behind this Skreen, and liften; perhaps this Chance may give you Proof of what you ne'er could have believ'd from my Sufpicions.

SCENE

XVII.

Lady ToucHWOOD with a Dagger MASKWELL: CYNTHIA and Lord TOUCHWOOD abfcond, liftning.

Y

L. TOUCHWOOD.

invent fresh Falshoed,

OU want but Leisure to and footh me to a fond Belief of all your FiEtions; but I will stab the Lie that's forming in your Heart, and fave a Sin, in pity to your Soul. Mask. Strike then- Since you will have it fo. L. Touch. Ha! A steady Villain to the last !

Mask.

Mask. Come, why do you dally wth me thus L: Touch. Thy ftubborn Temper shocks me, and you knew it would- this is Cunning all, and not Courage; no, I know thee well: But thou shalt miss thy Aim.

Mask. Ha, ha, ha.

Touch. Ha! Do you mock my Rage? Then this shall punish your fond, rath Contempt! Again Smile! [Goes to strike. And fuch a Smile as speaks in Ambiguity! Ten thoufand Meanings lurk in each Corner of that various Face. O! That they were written in thy Heart, That I, with this, might lay thee open to my Sight! But then 'twill be too late to know

Thou haft, thou hast found the only way to turn my Rage; Too well thou know'st my jealous Soul cou'd never bear Uncertainty. Speak then, and tell me-Yet are you filent? Oh, I am wilder'd in all Paffions! But thus my Anger melts. (Weeps) Here, take this Ponyard, for my very Spirits faint, and I want Strength to hold it, thou hast difarm'd my [Gives the Dagger. Ld. Touch. Amazement shakes me - Where will this end?

Soul.

Mask. So, 'tis well-let your wild Fury have a Vent; and when you have Temper, tell me.

L. Touch. Now, now, now I am calm, and can hear you.

Mask. (Afide.) Thanks, my Invention: and now I have it for you. - First tell me what urg'd you to this Violence? For your Paffion broke in such imperfect Terms, that yet I am to learn the Cause. L. Touch. My Lord himself surpriz'd me with the News, you were to marry Cynthia - That you had own'd your Love to him, and his Indulgence would aflift you to attain your Ends.

Cynt

Cynt. How, my Lord! Ld. Touch. Pray forbear all Resentments for a while, and let us hear the rest.

Mask. I grant you in Appearance all is true : I seem'd consenting to my Lord; nay, transported with the Blessing - But could you think that I, who had been happy in your lov'd Embraces, could e'er be fond of an inferior Slavery?

Ld. Touch. Ha! O Poison to my Ears! What do I hear!

Cynt. Nay, good my Lord, forbear Resentment, let us hear it out.

Ld. Touch. Yes, I will contain, tho' I cou'd burst

Mask. I that had wanton'd in the rich Circle of your World of Love, cou'd be confin'd within the puny Province of a Girl; No - Yet tho' I dote on cach last Favour more than all the rest; though I would give a Limb for every Look you cheaply throw away on any other Object of your Love; yet so far I prize your Pleasures o'er my own, that all this feeming Plot that I have laid, has been to gratifie your Taste, and cheat the World, to prove a faithful Rogue to you.

L. Touch. If this were true But how can it be? Mask. I have so contriv'd, that Mellefont will présently, in the Chaplains Habit, wait for Cynthia in your Dreffing Room: But I have put the Change upon her, that the may be otherwhere employ'd - Do you procure her Night-Gown, and with your Hoods tyed over your Face, meet him in her stead; you may go privately by the back Stairs, and upperceiv'd, there you may propose to reinstate him in his Uncles Favour, if he'll comply with your Defires; his Cafe is desperate, and I believe he'll yield to any Conditions, - If not, here take this; you may employ it better, than in the Heart of one who is

nothing when not yours.

Gives the Dagger.

L. Touch. Thou can'st deceive every Body, Nay; thou haft deceiv'd me; but 'tis as I would wish, Trusty Villain! I could worship thee. Mask. No more. it wants but a few Minutes of the time; and Mellefonts Love will carry him there before his Hour.

L. Touch. I go, I fly, incomparable Maskwell!

9*9*2*2*2*2

SCENE

******* XVIII.

MASKWELL, CYNTHIA, Lord

S

ToucHWOOD.

MASK WELL.

O, this was a Pinch indeed;

my Invention was

upon the Rack, and made Discovery of her lafe Plot: I hope Cynthia and my Chaplain will be ready, I'll prepare for the Expedition.

22222222222222222222222

****

SCENE XIX.

CYNTHIA and Lord ΤοUCHWOOD.

N

CYNTHIA.

OW, my Lord?

Ld: Touch. Aftonishment binds up my Rage!

Villany upon Villany! Heav'ns what a long Track of dark Deceit has this discover'd! I am con