Why will Mankind be Fools, and be deceiv'd? L. T. ACT III. SCENE I Lord Touchwood, and Lady Touchwood. MY Y Lord, can you blame my Brother Plyant, if he refufe his Daughter upon this Provocation? The Contract's void by this unheard of Impiety. Ld. T. I don't believe it true; he has better PrinciplesPho, 'tis Nonfenfe. Come, come, I know my Lady Plyant has a large Eye, and wou'd centre every Thing in her own Circle; 'tis not the first time she has mistaken Refpect for Love, and made Sir Paul jealous of the Civility of an undefigning Perfon, the better to befpeak his Security in her unfeigned Pleasures. L. T. You cenfure hardly, my Lord; my Sifter's Honour is very well known. Ld. T. Yes, I believe I know fome that have been familiarly acquainted with it. This is a little Trick wrought by fome pitiful Contriver, envious of my Nephew's Merit. L. T. Nay, my Lord, it may be fo, and I hope it will be found fo: But that will require fome time; for in fuch a Cafe as this, Demonftration is neceflary. Ld. T. There fhould have been Demonstration of the contrary too, before it had been believ'd L. T. So I suppose there was. L. L. T. That I can't tell; nay I don't say there was I am willing to believe as favourably of my Nephew as I can. Ld. T. I don't know that. [Half Afide. L. T. How? Don't you believe that, say you, my Lord ? Ld. T. No, I don't fay fo-I confess I am troubled to find you fo cold in his Defence. L. T. His Defence! Bless me, wou'd you have me defend an ill Thing. Ld. T. You believe it then? L. T. I don't know; I am very unwilling to speak my Thoughts in any thing that may be to my Cousin's Difadvantage; befides, I find, my Lord, you are prepared to receive an ill Impreffion from any Opinion of mine which is not confenting with your own: But fince I am like to be fufpected in the End, and 'tis a Pain any longer to disfemble, I own it to you; in short I do believe it, nay, and can believe any thing worse, if it were laid to his ChargeDon't ask me my Reasons, my Lord, for they are not fit to be told you. Ld. T. I'm amaz'd, here must be fomething more than ordinary in this, [Afide.] Not fit to be told me, Madam? You can have no Interefts, wherein I am not concern'd, and confequently the fame Reasons ought to be convincing to me, which create your Satisfaction or Disquiet. L. T. But those which cause my Disquiet, I am willing to have remote from your hearing. Good my Lord, don't prefs me. Ld. T. Don't oblige me to prefs you. L. T. Whatever it was, 'tis paft: And that is better to be unknown which cannot be prevented; therefore let me beg you to reft satisfy'd Ld. T. When you have told me, I will L. T. You won't.. Ld.T. By my Life, my Dear, I will. L. T. What if you can't. Ld. T. How? Then I must know, nay I will: No more trifling trifling I charge you tell me-By all our mutual Peace to come; upon your Duty. L. T. Nay, my Lord, you need fay no more, to make me lay my Heart before you, but don't be thus tranfported; compofe your felf: It is not of Concern, to make you lofe one Minute's Temper. 'Tis not indeed, my Dear. Nay, by this Kiss you shan't be angry. O Lord, I wish I had not told you any thing.Indeed, my Lord, you have frighted me. Nay, look pleas'd, I'll tell you. Ld. T. Well, well. L. T. Nay, but will you be calm-indeed it's nothing but Ld. T. But what? L. T. But will you promise me not to be angry-Nay you muft-Not be angrywith Mellefont-I dare fwear he's forry-and were it to do again, would not Ld. T. Sorry, for what? 'Death, you rack me with Delay. L. T. Nay, no great Matter, only-Well I have your Promife,-Pho, why nothing, only your Nephew had a mind to amuse himself, sometimes with a little Galantry towards me. Nay, I can't think he meant any thing seriously, but methought it look'd odly. Ld. T. Confufion and Hell, what do I hear! L. T. Or, may be, he thought he was not enough akin to me, upon your Account, and had a mind to create a nearer Relation on his own; a Lover you know, my Lord-Ha, ha, ha. Well but that's all-Now you have it; well remember your Promise, my Lord, and don't take any Notice of it to him. -Damnation! Ld. T. No, no, no→ L. T. Nay, I fwear you must not -A little harmless Mirth-Only misplac'd, that's all-But if it were more, 'tis over now, and all's well. For my part, I have forgot it; and so has he, I hope-for I have not heard any thing from him these two Days. Ld. T. Ld. T. These two Days! Is it fo fresh? Unnatural Villain! Death, I'll have him ftripp'd and turn'd naked out of my Doors, this Moment, and let him rot and perish, incestuous Brute! L. T. O for Heav'n's fake, my Lord, you'll ruin me if you take fuch publick Notice of it, it will be a Town-talk: Confider your own and my Honour-nay, I told you you would not be fatisfied when you knew it. Ld. T. Before I've done, I will be fatisfy'd. Ungrateful Monster, how long? L. T. Lord, I don't know; I wish my Lips had grown together when I told you-Almoft a TwelvemonthNay, I won't tell you any more, 'till you are your felf. Pray, my Lord, don't let the Company fee you in this Disorder-Yet, I confess, I can't blame you; for I think I was never fo furpriz'd in my Life- -Who would have thought my Nephew could have so misconstrued my Kindness-But will you go into your Closet, and recover your Temper? 'I'll make an excufe of fudden Bufinefs to the Company, and come to you. Pray, good dear my Lord, let me beg you do now: I'll come immediately, and tell you all; will you, my Lord ? Ld. T. I will-I am mute with Wonder. L. T. Well, but go now, here's fome body coming. Ld. T. Well, I go-You won't ftay, for I would hear more of this. L. T. I follow inftantly-So. SCENE II. Lady Touchwood, Maskwell. Mask. This was a Mafter- Piece, and did not need my Help tho' I ftood ready for a Cue to come in and con firm all, had there been Occafion. L. T. L. T. Have you seen Mellefont? Mask. I have; and am to meet him here about this time. L. T. How does he bear his Disappointment? Mask. Secure in my Affiftance, he feem'd not much afflicted, but rather laugh'd at the shallow Artifice, which fo little time muft of Neceffity discover. Yet he is apprehenfive of some farther Design 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, must 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 must not fee him again. Mask. By no Means; therefore you must aggravate my Lord's Displeasure to a Degree that will admit of no Conference with him.-What think you of mentioning me? L. T. How! Mask. To my Lord, as having been privy to Mellefont's Defign upon you, but ftill ufing my utmoft Endeavours to diffuade him: Tho' my Friendship and Love to him has made me conceal it; yet you may fay, I threatned next time he attempted any thing of that kind, to difcover it to my Lord. L. T. To what end is this! Mask. It will confirm my Lord's Opinion of my Honour and Honefty, and create in him a new Confidence in me, which (fhould this Defign miscarry) will be neceffary to the forming another Plot that I have in my Head-To cheat you, as well as the reft. [Afide. L. T. I'll do itfrom forcing me. -I'll tell him you hindred him once Mask. Excellent! Your Ladyship has a moft improving Fancy. You had best go to my Lord, keep him as long as you can in his Closet, and I doubt not but you will mould him to what you please; your Guests are so enga ged |