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Enter CARELESS and CYNTHIA.

Care. Is not that he, now gone out with my lord? Cyn. Yes.

Care. By Heaven there's treachery-The confusion that I saw your father in, my Lady Touchwood's passion, with what imperfectly I overheard between my lord and her, confirm me in my fears. Where 's Mellefont?

Cyn. Here he comes.

Enter MELLEFONT.

-Did Maskwell tell you any thing of the chaplain's 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 betrayed, and Maskwell is the villain I always thought him.

Cyn. When you were gone, he said his mind was changed, and bid me meet him in the chaplain's room, pretending immediately to follow you, and give you notice.

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. "T is loss of time

-I cannot think him false.

[Exeunt Mel. and Care.

Enter Lord TOUCHWOOD.

Cyn. My lord, musing!.

Ld. T. He has a quick invention, if this were suddenly designed-Yet he says he had prepared my chaplain already.

Cyn. How is this! Now I fear, indeed.

Ld. T. Cynthia here! Alone, fair cousin, and me. lancholy?

Cyn. Your lordship was thoughtful.

Ld. T. My thoughts were on serious business, not worth your hearing.

Cyn. Mine were on treachery concerning you, and may be worth your hearing.

Ld. T. Treachery concerning me! Pray, be plain -Hark! What noise!

Mask. [Within.] Will you not hear me?

L. T. [Within.] No, monster! Traitor! No. Cyn. My lady and Maskwell! This may be lucky-.. My lord, let me intreat you to stand behind this screen, and listen; perhaps this chance may give you proof of what you never could have believed from my suspicions.

Enter Lady TOUCHWOOD, with a dagger, and MMASKWELL: Cynthia and Lord Touchwood ab. scond, listening.

L. T. You want but leisure to invent fresh falsehood, and sooth me to a fond belief of all your fictions; but I will stab the lie that's forming in your heart, and save a sin in pity to your soul.

Mask. Strike then-since you will have it so.
L. T. Ha! a steady villain to the last!

Mask. Come, why do you dally with me thus ? “ L. T. Thy stubborn temper shocks me, and you -This is cunning all, and not

"know it would

63 courage; no, I know thee well-But thou shalt "miss thy aim."

Mask. Ha, ha, ha.

L. T. Ha! Do you mock my rage? Then this shall punish your fond, rash contempt! Again smile!

[Goes to strike.

And such a smile as speaks in ambiguity!

Ten thousand meanings lurk in each corner of that various face.

O! that they were written in thy heart,

That Į, with this, might lay thee open to my sight! But then 'twill be too late to know

Thou hast, thou hast found the only way to turn my rage; too well thou knowest my jealous soul could never bear uncertainty. Speak then, and tell me― Yet are you silent? Oh, I am wildered in all passions ! But thus my anger melts. [Weeps.] Here, take this poinard, for my very spirits faint, and I want strength to hold it, thou hast disarmed my soul. [Gives the dagger.

Ld. T. Amazement shakes me-Where will this end?

Mask. So, 'tis well-let your wild fury have a vent, and when you have temper, tell me.

L. 1. Now, now, now I am calm, and can hear

you.

Mask. [Aside.] Thanks, my invention: and now I have it for you. First tell me, what urged you to this violence? For your passion broke out in such imperfect terms, that yet I am to learn the cause.

L. T. My lord himself surprized me with the news, you were to marry Cynthia-That you had owned your love to him, and his indulgence would assist you to attain your ends.

Cyn. How, my lord!

Ld. T. Pray forbear all resentments for a while, and let us hear the rest.

Mask. I grant you in appearance all is true; I seemed consenting to my lord; nay, transported with the blessing-But could you think that I, who had been happy in your loved embraces, could e'er be fond of inferior slavery?

Cyn. Nay, good my lord, forbear resentment, let us hear it out.

Ld. T. Yes, I will contain, though I could burst.

Mask. I that had wantoned in the rich circle of your world of love, could be confined within the puny province of a girl? No-Yet tho' I dote on each 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 seeming plot that I have laid, has been to gratify your taste, and cheat the world, to prove a faithful rogue to you.

2

L. T. If this were true-But how can it be?

Mask. I have so contrived, that Mellefont will presently, in the chaplain's habit, wait for Cynthia in your dressing-room: but I have put the change upon her, that she may be otherwise employed-Do you procure her night-gown, and with your hoods tied over your face, meet him in her stead; you may go privately by the back-stairs, and, unperceived, there you may propose to reinstate him in his uncle's favour, if he will comply with your desires; his case 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. T. Thou canst deceive every body-Nay, thou hast deceived me; but 'tis as I could wish Trusty villain; I could worship thee.

Mask. No more -it wants but a few minutes of the time; and Mellefont's love will carry him there before his hour.

L. T. I go, I fly, incomparable Maskwell! [Exit. Mask. So, this was a pinch indeed; my invention was upon the rack, and made discovery of her last plot: I hope Cynthia and my Chaplain will be ready. I'll prepare for the expedition.

[Exit.

CYNTHIA and Lord TOUCHWOOD come forward. Cyn. Now, my lord!

Ld. T. Astonishment binds up my rage! Villany upon villany! Heavens, what a long track of dark

L

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