HIS was a Mafter-Piece, and did not need

Tmy Help- tho' I ftood ready for a Cue to

come in and confirm all, had there been Occafion. L. T. Have you feen 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 Affiftance, he feem'd not much afflicted, but rather laugh'd at the fhallow Artifice, which fo little time muft of neceffity difcover. 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 use Caution and Expedition.

L. T. Expedition indeed; for all we do, muft 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 must aggravate my Lords Difpleasure to a Degree that will admit of no Conference with him. What think of mentioning me?

you
L. T. How?

Mask. To my Lord, as having been privy to Mellefonts Defign upon you, but ftill ufing 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

the reft.

L. T. I'll do it

once from forcing me.

[Afide. I'll tell him you hindred him

Mask. Excellent! Your Ladyfhip 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 Guests are fo engaged in their own Follies and Intrigues, they'll mifs neither of you. 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.

SCENE III.

MASK WELL alone.

But

I well enought. fox fhave loft all Apreute to her: Know what the means by toying away an Hour yet the's a fine Woman, and Ilov'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 my Pleafure is become my Duty: And I have as little Sto mach to her now as ifI were her Husband. Should the fmoak my Defign upon Cynthia, I were in a Di

fine

fine pickle. She has a damn'd penetrating Head, and knows how to interpret a Coldness the right Way; therefore I must 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.

-

[To bim ] 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, fack? 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.

Mel. All, all Man, what, you may in Honour betray her as far as the betrays her felf. No tragical Defign upon my Perfon, I hope.

Mask No, but it's a comical Defign upon mine.
Mel. What doft thou mean?

Mask. Liften and be dumb. We have been bargaining about the Rate of your Ruin

refs

Mel. Like any two Guardians to an Orphan Hei-
Well.

Mask. And whereas Pleasure is generally paid with Mischief what Mischief I do is to be paid with

Pleasure.

Mel. So when you've fwallow'd the Potion, you fweeten your Mouth with a Plumb.

Why you

Mask. You are merry, Sir, but I fhall probe your Constitution. In fhort, the Price of your Banishment is to be paid with the Perfon ofMel. Of Cynthia, and her Fortune forget you told me this before. Mask. No, no So far you are right; and I am, as an carneft of that Bargain, to have full and free Poffeffion of the Perfon of

Mel. Ha! Pho, you trifle.

your Aunt.

Mask. By this Light, I'm ferious all Raillery apart I knew 'twould ftun you: This Evening at eight fhe will receive me in her Bed-Chamber." Mel. Hell and the Devil, is fhe abandon'd of all Grace Why the Woman is poffefs'd

Mask. Well, will you go in my ftead?

Mel. By Heav'n into a hot Furnace fooner. Mask. No, you would not It would not be fo convenient, as I can order Matters.

Mel. What d'ye mean?

Mask. Mean! Not to disappoint the Lady Iaffure you -Ha, ha, ha, how gravely he looks Come, come, I wont perplex you. 'Tis the only Thing that Providence could have contriv'd to

make

make me capable of ferving you, either to my Inclination or your own neceffity.

Mel. How, how, for Heav'ns fake, dear Mask well?

Mask. Why thus I'll go according to Appointment; you fhall have Notice at the critical Minute to come and furprize your Aunt and me together: Counterfeit a Rage against me, and I'll make my Elcape through the private Paffage from her Chamber, which I'll take care to leave open: 'Twill be hard, if then you can't bring her to any ConditiFor this Difcovery will difarm her of all Defence, and leave her entirely at your Mercy: Nay fhe must ever after be in awe of you.

ons.

Mel. Let me adore thee, my better Genius! By Heav'n I think it is not in the Power of Fate to dilappoint my Hopes My Hopes, my Certainty!

-

Mask. Well, I'll meet you here, within a Quarter of eight, and give you Notice.

Mel. Good Fortune ever go along with thee.

Mcoming, and I fhall never fuccced while thou

Ellefont, get out o'th' Way, my Lady Plyant's

art in fight

Tho' fhe begins to tack about; but I made Love a great while to no purpose.

Mel. Why, what's the Matter? She's convinc'd that I don't care for her.

Care. I can't get an Anfwer from her, that does not begin with her Honour, or her Vertue, her Re-

ligion,