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, and your Plot miscarry. Mel. Ay, what am I to trust to then? Cynt. Why if you give me very clear Demonftration that it was the Devil, I'll allow for irrefiftible 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 your fake. Mel. And you won't die one, for your own, fa ftill there's Hope. Cynt. Here's my Mother-in-Law, and your Friend Careless, I would not have 'em see us together yet, SCENE I I. CARELESS and Lady PLY AN Ț. Lady PLYAN T. Swear, Mr. Careless, you are very alluringAnd lay fo many fine Things, and nothing is fo moving to me as a fine Thing. Well, I muft 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 Bluthes I must own it, you have fhaken, as I may fay, the very Foundation of my HonourWell, fure if I efcape your Importunities, I fhall value my felf as long as I live, I fwear. Cere. And despise me. [Sighing. 4. 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 intite Refignation of all my best Wishes, for the Perfon and Parts of fo accomplish'd a Perfon, whofe Merit challenges much more, I'm fure, than my illiterate Praises can defcription Care. In a whining Tone.) Ah Heav'ns, Madain, 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 so Fair fo bewitching Fair? O let me grow to the Ground here, and feast upon that Hand; O let me prefs it to my Heart, my trembling Heart, the nimble Movement fhall instruct your Pulse, and teach it to alarm Defire. [Zoons I'm almost at the end of my Cant, if fhe does hear it you. and must leave Care. And muft you leave me ! Rather let me languifh out a wretched Life, and breath my Soul beneath your Feet. [I must lay the fame Thing over again, and can't help it. (Afide.) O L. P. I fwear I'm ready to languish too my Honour! Whither is it going? I proteft you have given me the Palpitation of the Heart. Care. Can you be fo cruel. L. P. O rife I beseech you, fay no more 'till you rife Why did you kneel fo long? 1 fwear I was fo tranfported, I did not fee it. Well, to fhew you how far you have gain'd upon me; E 4 I af furç 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'd-What 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 uncontroulable Embraces Say, thou dear dying Man, when, where, and how. Ah, there's Sir Paul. but if he were Care. 'Slife, yonder's Sir Paul not come, I'm fo tranfported I cannnot fpeak. This Note will inform you. SCENE [Gives her a Note. III. Lady PLYANT, Sir PAUL, CYNTHIA, Sir PAUL. Two Uart my tender Lambkin, and fhalt do But endeavour to forget this what thou Mellefont. Cynt. I would obey you to my Power, Sir; but if I have not him, I have fworn never to marry. Si Sir Paul. Never to marry! Heav'ns forbid ; muft I neither have Sons nor Grandfons? must the Family of the Plyants be utterly extinct for want of Ifluc Male. Oh Impiety! But did you fwear, did that fweet Creature fwear! ha? How durft you fwear without my Confent, ah? Gads-bud, who am I ? Cynt. Pray don't be angry, Sir; when I fwore, I had your Confent; and therefore I swore. Sir Paul. Why then the revoking my Confent. does annul, or make of none effect your Oath: So you may unfwear it again- The Law will allow it. Cynt. Ay, but my Confcience never will. Sir Paul, Gads-bud no matter for that, Confcience and Law never go together; you must not expect that. L. P. Ay, but Sir Paul, I conceive if the has fworn, d'ye mark me, if she has once fworn, it is most unchriftian, inhuman, and obfcene that the fhou'd break it. ---- I'll make up the Match again, because Mr. Carelefs faid it would oblige him." [Afide. Sir Paul. Does your Ladyship conceive fo Why I was of that Opinion once tooNay if your Ladyfhip conceives fo, I'm of that Opinion again; but I can neither find my Lord nor my Lady to know what they intend. L. P. I'm fatisfy'd that my Coufin Mellefont has been much wrong 'd. Cynt. (Afide.) I'm amaz'd to find her of our fide, for I'm fure fhe lov'd him. L. P. I know my Lady Touchwood has no Kindnefs for him; and befides I have been inform'd by Mr. Careless, that Melefont had never any thing more than a profound Refpect - That he has own'd himself to be my Admirer 'tis true, but he was pever fo prefumptuous to entertain any dishonou ES rable rable Notions of Things; fo that if this be made plain I don't fee how my Daughter can in Confcience, or Honour or any thing in the World Sir Paul. Indeed if this be made plain, as my Lady your Mother says, Child L. P. Plain! I was inform'd of it by Mr. Carelefs And I affure you Mr. Careless is a Perfon that has a most extraordinary Respect and Honour for you, Sir Paul. Cynt. Afide.) And for your Ladyship too, I believe, or else you had not chang'd Sides fo foon ; now I begin to find it. Sir Paul. I am much obliged to Mr. Careless really, he is a Perfon that I have a great Value for ; not only for that, but because he has a great Veneration for your Ladyfhip. L. P. Ó las, no indeed, Sir Paul, 'tis upon your Account. Sir Paul. No I proteft and vow, I have no Title to his Efteem, but in having the Honour to appertain in fome Measure to your Ladyfhip, that's all. L. P. O law now, I fwear and declare, it fhan't be fo, you're too modeft, Sir Paul. Sir Paul. It becomes me, when there is any Comparison made, between L. P. O fy, fy, Sir Paul, you'll put me out of Countenance - Your very obedient and affectionate Wife; that's all And highly honour'd in that Title. Sir Paul. Gads- bud I am tranfported! Give me leave to kiss your Ladyfhips Hand. Cynt. That my poor Father fhould be fo very filly! [Afide. L. P. My Lip indeed, Sir Paul, I fwear you fhall. {He kifles her, and bows very low. Sir Paul. I humbly thank your Ladyship. I don't |