in love with Cynthia; that did my bufinefs; that convinced your aunt I might be trufted; fince it was as much my intereft as hers to break the match: then, fhe thought my jealoufy might qualify me to affift her in her revenge. And, in fhort, in that belief told me the fecrets of her heart. At length, we made this agreement, if I accomplish her defigns (as I told you before) fhe has: engaged to put Cynthia with all her fortune into my power. Mel. She is moft gracious in her favour.Well, and dear Jack, how haft thou contrived? Mask. I would not have you stay to hear it now: for I don't know but fhe may come this way; I am to meet her anon; after that, I'll tell you the whole matter; be here in this gallery an hour hence, by that time I imagine our confultation may be over. meet you Mel. I will; 'till then fuccefs attend thee. [Exit. Mask. Till then fuccefs will attend me; for when I I meet the only obstacle to my fortune. Cyn-, thia, let thy beauty gild my crimes; and whatsoever I commit of treachery or deceit fhall be imputed to me as a merit-Treachery, what treachery? Love cancels all the: bonds of friendship, and sets men right upon their first foundations. Duty to kings, piety to parents, gratitude to benefactors, and fidelity to friends, are different and particular ties; but the name of rival cuts them all afunder, and is a general acquittance-Rival is equal, and Love, like Death, an univerfal leveller of mankind. Ha! but is there not fuch a thing as honefty? Yes, and whofoever has it about him, bears an enemy in his breaft: for your honest man, as I take it, is that nice, fcrupulous, confcientious perfon who will cheat nobody but himself; fuch another coxcomb as your wife man, who is too hard for all the world, and will be made a fool of by nobody but himself. Ha, ha, ha; well, for wisdom and honesty, give me cunning and hypocrify; Oh, 'tis fuch a pleasure to angle for fair-faced fools!-Then that hungry gudgeon Credulity will bite at any thing-Why, let me fee, I have the fame face, the fame words and accents when I fpeak what I do think, and when I fpeak what I do not think- the very fame and dear diffimulation is the only art not to be known from nature. Why Why will mankind be fools, and be deceiv'd? END of the SECOND ACT. [Exit. ACT III. Enter Lord Touchwood, and Lady Touchwood. Με Y Lord, can you blame my brother Plyant, if he refufe his daughter upon this provocation? The contract is void by this unheard of impiety. Ld. T. I don't believe it true; he has better principles -pho, 'tis nonsense. Come, come, I know my Lady Plyant has a large eye, and would centre every thing in her own circle; 'tis not the first time the has mistaken refpect for love, and made Sir Paul jealous of the civility of an undefigning perfon, the better to befpeak his fecurity in her unfeigned pleasures. L. T. You cenfure hardly, my Lord; my fifter'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 me rit. 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 such a cafe as this, demonftration is neceffary. Ld. T. There fhould have been demonftration of the contrary too before it had been believed L. T. So I fuppofe there was. Ld. T. How? Where? When? L. 7. That I can't tell; nay, I don't fay 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, fay you, my Lord? Ld. T Ld. T. No, I don't fay fo—I confefs Í am troubled to find you fo cold in his defence. L. T. His defence! Blefs me, would 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 coufin'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 dif femble, I own it to you; in fhort I do believe it, nay, and can believe any thing worse, if it were laid to his charge- Don't afk me my reafons, my Lord, for they are not fit to be told you." Ld. T. I am amazed! Here must be fomething more than ordinary in this. [Afide.] Not fit to be told me, Madam? You can have no intereft wherein I am not concerned, and confequently the fame reasons ought to be convincing to me, which create your fatisfaction or difquiet. L. T. But thofe which caufe my difquiet 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 rest satisfied. Ld. T. When you have told me, I will L.T. You won't. Ld. T. By my life, my dear, I will. nay, I will. No Ld. T. How? Then I must know; more 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 transported; compofe yourself; it is not of concern to make you lofe one minute's temper; 'tis not, indeed, my dear.Nay, by this kifs you fhan't be angry. O lord, I wish I had not told you any thing-Indeed, my Lord, you have frighted me. Nay, look pleased, I'll tell you. 6 Ld. T. Ld. T. Well, well. L. T. Nay, but will you be calm ?Indeed it is nothing but Ld. T. But what? L. T. But will you promise me not to be angry? Nay, you must not to be angry with 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 amufe himself fometimes with a little gallantry towards me. Nay, I can't think he meant any thing-ferioufly, but methought it looked oddly. Ld. T. Confufion and Hell, what do I hear! L. T. Or, may be, he thought he was not enough akin to me upon 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 promife, my Lord, and don't take any notice of it to him. Ld T. No, no, no— -Damnation! L. T. Nay, I fwear you must not-A little harmless mirth-only misplaced, that's all.-But if it were more 'tis over now, and all is well. For my part, I have forgot it; and fo has he, I hope-for I have not heard thing from him thefe two days. any Ld. T. These two days! Is it fo fresh? Unnatural villain! 'Death, I'll have him ftripped and turned naked out of my doors this moment, and let him rot and perish, incestuous brute! L. T. Oh, for Heaven's fake, my Lord, you'll ruin me if you take fuch public notice of it, it will be a towntalk: 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 fatisfied. Ungrateful monster! How long? L. T. Lord, I don't know :- I wifh my lips had grown together when I told you-Almost a twelvemonth -Nay, I won't tell you any more 'till you are yourself. Pray, my Lord, don't let the company fee you in this diforder-Yet, I confess, I cannot blame you; for I t hink I was never fo furprized in my life-Who would have thought my nephew could have fo misconstrued my kindnefs-But will you go into your clofet, and recover your temper. I'll make an excufe of fudden business 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 is fomebody coming. Ld. T. Well, I go-You won't stay, for I would hear more of this. L. T. I follow inftantly -So. Enter Mafkwell. [Exit. Mask. This was a master-piece, and did not need my help-though I flood ready for a cue to come in and confirm all, had there been occasion. 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 seemed not much. afflicted, but rather laughed 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 ufe caution and expedition. L.T. Expedition indeed; for all we do must be performed in the remaining part of this evening, 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 difpleasure 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 fill ufing my utmost endeavours to diffuade him: tho' my friendship and love to him has made me conceal it; yet you may fay, I threa 'tened |