SCENE III.

[To him] Lord Touchwood.

Mask. What have I done?

Ld. T. Talking to himself!

Mask. 'Twas honeft-and fhall I be rewarded for it? No, 'twas honeft, therefore I shan't;-Nay, rather therefore I ought not; for it rewards it self.

Ld. T. Unequall'd Virtue!

[Afide.

Mask. But fhould it be known! then I have loft a Friend! He was an ill Man, and I have gain'd; for half my felf I lent him, and that I have recall'd; so I have ferved my self, and what is yet better, I have served a worthy Lord to whom I owe my self.

Ld. T. Excellent Man!

[Afide.

Mask. Yet I am wretched-O there is a Secret burns within this Breaft, which should it once blaze forth, would ruin all, confume my honest Character, and brand me with the Name of Villain.

Ld. T. Ha!

Mask. Why do I love! Yet Heav'n and my waking Confcience are my Witnesses, I never gave one working Thought a Vent, which might discover that I lov'd, nor ever must ; no, let it prey upon my Heart; for I would rather die, than feem once, barely feem, dishonest :-O, fhould it once be known I love fair Cynthia, all this that I have done, would look like Rival's Malice, falfe Friendship to my Lord, and base Self-interest. Let me perish firit, and from this Hour avoid all Sight and Speech, and, if I can, all Thought of that pernicious Beauty. Ha! But what is my Distraction doing? I am wildly talking to my felf, and fome ill Chance might have directed malicious Ears this way. [Seems to start, feeing my Lord.

4

Ld. T.

Ld. T. Start not-let guilty and dishonest Souls ftart at the Revelation of their Thoughts, but be thou fix'd, as is thy Virtue.

Mask. I am confounded and beg your Lordship's Pardon for those free Difcourfes which I have had with my felf.

Ld. T. Come, I beg your Pardon that I over-heard you, and yet it fhall not need-Honest Maskwell! thy and my good Genius led me hither- -Mine, in that I have difcover'd fo much manly Virtue; thine, in that thou fhalt have due Reward of all thy Worth. Give me thy Hand-my Nephew is the alone remaining Branch of all our ancient Family; him I thus blow away, and conftitute thee in his room to be my Heir

Mask. Now Heav'n forbid

Ld. 7. No more—I have refolv'd-The Writings are ready drawn, and wanted nothing but to be fign'd, and have his Name inferted-Yours will fill the Blank as well

-I will have no Reply-Let me command this time; for 'tis the laft, in which I will affume Authority hereafter, you fhall rule where I have Power. Mask. I humbly would Petition

Ld. T. Is't for your felf? [Mask. paufes.] I'll hear of nought for any Body else.

Mask. Then Witness Heav'n for me, this Wealth and Honour was not of my seeking, nor would I build my Fortune on another's Ruin: I had but one Defire

Ld. T. Theu fhalt enjoy it—If all I'm worth in Wealth or Interest can purchase Cynthia, she is thine.I'm fure Sir Paul's Confent will follow Fortune; I'll quickly fhew him which way that is going.

Mask. You oppress me with Bounty; my Gratitude is weak, and shrinks beneath the Weight, and cannot rise to thank you-What, enjoy my Love! Forgive the Tranfports of a Bleffing fo unexpected, fo unhop'd for, fo unthought of!

Ld. T. I will confirm it, and rejoice with thee.

SCENE

SCENE IV.

Maskwell alone.

Mask. This is profp'rous indeed-Why let him find me out a Villain, fettled in Poffeffion of a fair Estate, and full Fruition of my Love, I'll bear the Railings of a lofing Gamefter- -But fhou'd he find me out before!

'tis dangerous to delay-Let me thinkfhou'd my Lord proceed to treat openly of my Marriage with Cynthia, all must be discover'd, and Mellefont can be no longer blinded. -It muft not be; nay, fhou'd my Lady know itay, then were fine Work indeed! Her Fury wou'd spare nothing, tho' fhe involv'd her felf in Ruin. No. it must be by Stratagemmuft deceive Mellefont once more, and get my Lord to confent to my private Management. He comes opportunely-Now will I, in my old way, discover the whole and real Truth of the Matter to him, that he may not fufpect one Word on't.

No Mask like open Truth to cover Lyes,
As to go Naked is the beft Difguife.

I

SCENE V.

[To him] Mellefont.

Mel. O Maskwell, what Hopes? I am confounded in a maze of Thoughts, each leading into another, and all ending in Perplexity. My Uncle will not fee, nor hear me

Mask.

Mask. No matter, Sir, don't trouble your Head, all's in my Power.

Mel. How? for Heav'n's fake?

Mask. Little do you think that your Aunt has kept her Word, How the Devil fhe wrought my Lord into this Dotage, I know not; but he's gone to Sir Paul about my Marriage with Cynthia, and has appointed me his Heir. Mel. The Devil he has ! What's to be done?

Mask. I have it, it must be by Stratagem; for it's in vain to make Application to him. I think I have that in my Head that cannot fail: Where's Cynthia?

Mel. In the Garden.

Mask. Let us go and confult her, my Life for yours, I cheat

my

Lord.

SCENE VI.

Lord Touchwood, Lady Touchwood.
L. T. Maskwell your Heir, and marry Cynthia!

Ld. T. I cannot do too much for fo much Merit.

L. T. But this is a thing of too great Moment to be fo fuddenly refolv'd. Why Cynthia? Why muft he be marry'd? Is there not reward enough in raifing his low Fortune, but he muft mix his Blood with mine, and wed my Niece? How know you that my Brother will confent, or she? Nay, he himself perhaps may have Affections otherwhere. Ld. T. No, I am convinc'd he loves her. L. T. Maskwell love Cynthia, impoffible! Ld. T. I tell you, he confefs'd it to me. L. T. Confufion! How's this!

[Afide.

Ld. T. His Humility long ftifled his Paffion: And his Love of Mellefont would have made him ftill conceal it.— But by Encouragement, I wrung the Secret from him; and know he's no way to be rewarded but in her. I'll de

fer

fer my farther Proceedings in it, 'till you have confider'd it; but remember how we are both indebted to him.

SCENE VIL

Lady Touchwood alone.

L. T. Both indebted to him! Yes, we are both indebted to him, if you knew all, Villain! Oh, I am wild with this Surprize of Treachery: It is impoffible, it cannot be. He love Cynthia! What have I been Bawd to his Designs, his Property only, a baiting Place! Now I fee what made him falfe to Mellefont, Shame and Diftraction! I cannot bear it, oh! what Woman can bear to be a Property? To be kindled to a Flame, only to light him to another's Arms; oh! that I were Fire indeed, that I might burn the vile Traitor. What fhall I do? How fhall I think? I cannot think.

All my Defigns are loft, my Love unfated, my Revenge unfinish'd, and fresh caufe of Fury from unthought of Plagues.

SCENE VIII.

[To ber] Sir Paul.

Sir Paul. Madam, Sifter, my Lady Sifter, did you fee my Lady my Wife?

L. T. Oh! Torture!

Sir Paul. Gads bud, I can't find her high nor low; where can fhe be, think you?

L. T.