tened the next time he attempted any thing of that kind, to discover it to my Lord.'

L. T. To what end is this?

Mask. It will confirm my Lord's opinion of my honour and honesty, and create in him a new confidence in me, which (fhould this defign mifcarry) will be neceffary to the forming another plot that I have in my head- to cheat you as well as the rest. [Afide. L. T. I'll do it-I'll tell him you hindered him once from forcing me.

Mask. Excellent! your Ladyfhip has a moft improving fancy. You had best go to my Lord, keep him as long as you can in his clofet, and I doubt not but you will mould him to what you please; your guests are fo engaged in their own folkes and intrigues, they'll mifs neither of you.

L. T. When fhall we meet ?-At eight this evening in my chamber; there rejoice at our fuccefs, and toy away an hour in mirth. [Exit.

Mask. I will not fail.I know what the ineans by toying away an hour well enough. Pox, I have loft all my appetite to her; yet fhe's a fine woman, and I loved her once. 'But I don't know, fince I have been

in a great measure kept by her, the cafe is altered ;' what was my pleasure is become my duty: and I have as little ftomach to her now as if I were her husband. Should the fmoke my defign upon Cynthia, I were in a fine pickle. She has a damned penetrating head, and knows how to interpret a coldness the right way; therefore I must diffemble ardour and ecftafy, that's refolved How eafily and pleasantly is that diffembled before fruition! Pox on it, that a man can't drink without quenching his thirst. Ha! yonder comes Mellefont thoughtful. Let me think: meet her at eight-hum-ha! by Heaven I have it-if I can fpeak to my Lord before-' Was

it my brain or Providence? no matter which'-I will deceive them all, and yet fecure myself, 'twas a lucky thought! Well, this double-dealing is a jewel. Here he comes, now for me

[Malkwell pretending not to fee him, walks by him, and Speaks as it were to himself.

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Enter

Enter Mellefont mufing.

Mask. Mercy on us, what will the wickedness of this world come to

Mel. How now, Jack? What, fo full of contemplation that you run over!

Mask. I'm glad you are come, for I could not contain myfelf any longer, and was just going to give vent to a fecret, which nobody but you ought to drink down.Your aunt is just gone from hence.

Mel. And having trufted thee with the fecrets of her foul, thou art villainously bent to discover them all to me, ha?

Mask. I am afraid my frailty leans that wayBut I don't know whether I can in honour discover them all.

Mel. All, all man. What, you may in honour betray her as far as the betrays herself. No tragical defign upon my perfon, I hope.

Mask. No, but it is a comical defign upon mine.
Mel. What doft thou mean?
Mask. Liften' and be dumb-
ing about the rate of your ruin

We have been bargain

Ml. Like any two guardians to an orphan heirefàWell.

Mask. And whereas pleasure is generally paid with mifchief, what mifchief I do is to be paid with pleasure. Mel. So when you've fwallowed the potion, you fweeten your mouth with a plumb.

Mask. You are merry, Sir, bur shall probe your conftitution. In fhort, the price of your banishment is to be paid with the perfon of

Mel. Of Cynthia, and her fortune-Why you forget

you told me this before.

Mask. No, no— -So far you are right; and I am, as

an earnest of that bargain, to have full and free poffeffion

of the perfon of- -your aunt.

Mel. Ha!

Pho, you trifle.

Mask. By this light, I am serious; all raillery apartI knew 'twould ftun you :- -This evening at eight the

will receive me in her bed-chamber.

Mcl. Hell and the Devil, is fhe abandoned of all grace

-Why the woman is poffeffed

Mask. Well, will you go in my stead?

Mel. By Heaven into a hot furnace fooner.

Mask.

Mask. No, you would not-it would not be fo convenient, as I can order matters.

Mel. What do ye mean?

Mask. Mean? Not to disappoint the lady, I affure your -Ha, ha, ha, how gravely he looks- Come, come, I won't perplex you. 'Tis the only thing that Providence could have contrived to make me capable of ferving you,' either to my inclination or your own neceffi y.

Met. How, how, for Heaven's fake, dear Maskwell? Mask. Why thus-I'll go according to appointment you fhall have notice at the critical minute to come and furprize your aunt and me together; counterfeit a rage against me, and I will make my efcape through the pri vate paffage from her chamber, which I'll take care to leave open: 'twill be hard, if then you can't bring her to any conditions. For this difcovery will difarm her of all defence, and leave her entirely at your mercy: nay, fite muß ever after be in awe of you.

Mel. Let me adore thee, my better genius! By Heaven' I think it is not in the power of Fate to difappoirse my hopes My hopes, my certainty!

Mask. Well, I' meet you here within a quarter of

eight, and give you notice.

Mel. Good fortune ever go along with thee.

Enter Careless.

[Exit.

Care. Mellefont, get out of the way, my Lady Plyant's coming, and I shall never fucceed while thou art in fight-Tho' fhe begins to tack about; but I made love a great while to no purpose.

Mel. Why, what's the matter? She is convinced that I don't care for her.

$

Care. I cannot get an answer from her that does not begin with her honour, or her virtue, her religion, or fome fuch cant. Then the has told me the whole story of Sir Paul's nine years courtship; how he has lain for whole nights together upon the fairs before her chamber-door; and that the first favour he received from her was a piece of an old scarlet petticoat for a stomacher; which, fince the day of his marriage, he has, out of a piece of gallantry, converted into a night-cap, and wears it ftill with much folemnity on his anniversary wedding night.

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Mel. That I have feen, with the ceremony thereunto belonging-For on that night he creeps in at the bed's feet, like a gulled Baffa that has married a relation of the Grand Signior, and that night he has his arms at liberty. Did the not tell you at what a distance she keeps him? He has confefled to me, that but at fome ⚫ certain times, that is, I fuppofe, when fhe apprehends being with child, he never has the privilege of ufing the familiarity of a husband with a wife. He was once given to fcrambling with his hands, and fprawling in his fleep, and ever fince fle has fwaddled him up in ⚫ blankets, and his hands and feet swathed down, and for put to bed; and there he lies with a great beard, like a Ruffian bear upon a drift of fnow. You are very great ' with him,' I wonder he never told you his grievances; he will, I warrant you.

Care. Exceffively foolish!- -But that which gives me moft hopes of her, is her telling me of the many temptations he has refifted.

Mel. Nay, then you have her; for a woman's bragging to a man that she has overcome temptations, is an ar gument that they were weakly offered, and a challenge to him to engage her more irrefiitibly. 'Tis only an enhancing the price of the commodity, by telling you how many customers have underbid her.

Care. Nay, Idon't defpair-But ftill he has a grudging to you I talked to her t'other night at my Lord Froth's mafquerade, when I am fatisfied the knew me, and I had no reason to complain of my reception; but I find women are not the fame bare-faced and in mafks

and a vizor disguises their inclinations as much as their faces.

Mel. Tis a mistake; for women may most properly be faid to be unmasked when they wear vizors; for ⚫ that fecures them from blufhing, and being out of ⚫ countenance, and next to being in the dark, or alone, they are most truly themselves in a vizor-mask.' Here they come. I'll leave you. Ply her clofe, and by and by clap a billet-doux into her hand: for a woman never thinks a man truly in love with her 'till he has been fool enough to think of her out of her fight, and to lofe fo much time as to write to her.

[Exit. Enter

Enter Sir Paul and Lady Plyant.

Sir P. Shan't we disturb your meditation, Mr. Carelefs? You would be in private?

Care. You bring that along with you, Sir Paul, that fhall be always welcome to my privacy.

Sir P. O, fweet Sir, you load your humble fervants, both me and my wife, with continual favours.

L. P. Sir Paul, what a phrafe was there! You will be making answers; and taking that upon you which ought to lie upon me that you should have fo little breeding to think Mr. Careless did not apply himself to me. Fray, what have you to entertain any body's privacy? I fwear and declare in the face of the world I'm ready to blush for your ignorance.

Sir P. Iacquiefce, my Lady; but don't fnub fo loud.. [Afide to her.

L. P. Mr. Careless, if a perfon that is wholly illite rate might be supposed to be capable of being qualified to make a fuitable return to thofe obligations which you are pleafed to confer upon one that is wholly incapable of being qualified in all thofe circumftances, I am fure r fhould rather attempt it than any thing in the world;; [Courtefies.] for I'm fure there's nothing in the world that I would rather. [Courtefies.] But I know Mr. Cares" lefs is fo great a critic, and fo fine a gentleman, that it is impoffible for me

Care. O Heavens! Madam, you confound me:
Sir P. Gads-bud, fhe's a fine perfon

L. P. O lord! Sir, pardon me; we women have not thofe advantages: I know my own imperfections-bur at the fame time you must give me leave to declare in the face of the world that nobody is more fenfible of favours and things; for, with the referve of my honour, I affure you, Mr. Careles, I don't know any thing in the. world I would refufe to a perfon fo meritorious You'll pardon my want of expreffion.

Care. O, your Ladyfhip is abounding in all excellence, particularly that of phrafe

--L. P. You are fo obliging, Sir.

Care. Your Ladyship is fo charming.
Sir P. So, now, now; now, my Lady.
L. P. So well bred.

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