Cyn. But how can the coach and fix horfes be got ready without fufpicion ? Mask. Leave it to my care; that fhall be fo far from being fufpected, that it shall be got ready by my Lord's own order. Mel. How? Mask. Why, I intend to tell my Lord the whole matter of our contrivance, that's my way. Mel. I do not understand you. Mask. Why, I'll tell my Lord I laid this plot with you on purpose to betray you; and that which put me upon it, was the finding it impoffible to gain the lady any other way, but in the hopes of her marrying you. Mcl. So. Mask. So, why fo, while you are bufied in making yourself ready, I'll wheedle her into the coach; and inftead of you, borrow my Lord's chaplain, and so run away with her myself. Mel. O, I conceive you, you'll tell him fo. Mask. Tell him fo! Ay, why, you don't think I mean to do fo. Mel. No, no; ha, ha, I dare fwear thou wilt not, Mask. Therefore, for our farther fecurity I would have you difguifed like a parfon, that if my Lord fhould have curiofity to peep, he may not discover you in the coach, but think the cheat is carried on as he would have it. Mel. Excellent Makwell! thou wert certainly meant for a statesman or a Jefuit- but thou art too honest for one, and too pious for the other. Mask. Well, get yourselves ready, and meet me in half an hour yonder in my Lady's dreffing-room; go by the back-stairs, and fo we may flip down without being obferved-I'll fend the chaplain to you with his robes ; I have made him my own-and ordered him to meet us to-morrow morning at St. Albans; there we will fum up this account to all our fatisfactions. Mel. Should I begin to thank or praise thee, I should waste the little time we have. Mask. Madam, you will be ready. Cyn. I will be punctual to the minute. [Exit. [Going Mask. Mask. Stay, I have a doubt-Upon fecond thoughts, we had better meet in the chaplain's chamber here, the corner chamber at this end of the gallery; there is a back way into it, fo that you need not come through this door and a pair of private stairs leading down to the ftables -It will be more convenient. Cyn. I am guided by you-but Mellefont will mistake. Mask. No, no, I'll after him immediately, and tell him. Gyn. I will not fail. [Exit. Mask. Why, qui vult decipi decipiatur.-'Tis no fault of mine, I have told them in plain terms how eafy it is for me to cheat them; and if they will not hear the ferpent's hifs, they must be ftung into experience and future caution.- -Now to prepare my Lord to consent to this.. -But first I muft inftruct my little Levite; there is no plot, public or private, that can expect to profper without one of them has a finger in it; he promifed me to be within at this hour-Mr. Saygrace, Mr. Say grace. [Goes to the chamber door, and knocks. [Mr. Saygrace looking out.] Sweet Sir, I will but pen the last line of an acroftick, and be with you in the twinkling of an ejaculation, in the pronouncing of an Amen, or before you can Mask. Nay, good Mr. Saygrace, do not prolong the time by defcribing to me the formefs of your ftay; rather, if you pleafe, defer the finifhing of your wit, and let us talk about our bufinefs; it fhall be tithes in your way. Enter Saygrace. Sayg. You fhall prevail; I would break off in the middle of a fermon to do you a pleasure. Mask. You could not dome a greater except the bufinefs in hand Have you provided a habit for Mellefont? Sayg. I have; they are ready in my chamber, toge. ther with a clean ftarched band and cuffs. Mask. Good: let them be carried to him -Have you ftitched the gown-fleeve, that he may be puzzled, and wafte time in putting it on? Sayg. I have; the gown will not be indued without perplexity. G Mask. Mask. Meet me in half an hour, here in your own chamber. When Cynthia comes, let there be no light; and do not speak, that fhe may not diftinguish you from Mellefont. I'll urge hafte to excufe your filence. Sayg. You have no more commands? Mask. None, your text is fhort. Sayg. But pithy, and I will handle it with difcretion. Mask. It will be the first you have fo ferved. [Exeunt. Enter Lord Touchwood and Mafkwell. Ld. T. Sure I was born to be controuled by thofe I fhould command: my very flaves will fhortly give me rules how I fhall govern them. Mask. I am concerned to fee your Lordship discompofed Ld. T. Have you feen my wife lately, or difobliged her? Mask. No, my Lord.- -What can this mean? [Afider Ld. T. Then Mellefont has urged fomebody to incenfe Something he has heard of you, which carries her beyond the bounds of patience. her Mask. This I feared. [Afide.] Did not your Lordship tell her of the honours you defigned me? Ld. T. Yes. Mask. 'Tis that; you know my Lady has a high spi. rit, the thinks I am unworthy. Ld. T. Unworthy! 'Tis an ignorant pride in her to think fo- -Honesty to me is true nobility. However, 'tis my will it fhall be fo, and that fhould be convincing to her as much as reafon By Heaven, I'll not be wife-ridden! Were it poffible, it should be done this night. Mask. By Heaven he meets my wishes! [Afide.] Few things are impoffible to willing minds. Ld. T. Inftruct me how this may be done, you shall fee I want no inclination. Mask. I had laid a small defign for to-morrow (as love will be inventing) which I thought to communicate to your Lordship-But it may be as well done to-night. Ld. T. Here is company- Come this way, and tell me. [Exeunt. Enter Careless and Cynthia. Care. Is not that he, now gone out with my Lord? Cyn. Yes. Care. By Heaven there's treachery-The confufion that I faw your father in, my Lady Touchwood's paffion, 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 chainber; 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 faid 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 Mafkwell means to use his chamber; let's follow and examine him. Mel. 'Tis lofs of time- -I cannot think him falfe. [Exeunt Mel. and Care. Enter Lord Touchwood. Cyn. My Lord musing! Ld. T. He has a quick invention, if this were fuddenly defigned-Yet he fays he had prepared my chaplain already. Cyn. How is this! Now I fear, indeed. Ld. T. Cynthia here! Alone, fair coufin, and melancholy? Cyn. Your Lordship was thoughtful. Ld. T. My thoughts were on ferious 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 plainHark! What noife! Mask. [Within.] Will you not hear me? Lady T. [Within.] No, monfter! Traitor! No. G 2 Супа Cyn. My Lady and Maskwell! This may be luckyMy Lord, let me intreat you to ftand behind this screen, and liften; perhaps this chance may give you proof of what you never could have believed from my fufpicions. Enter Lady Touchwood, with a dagger, and Mafkwell: Cynthia and Lord Touchwood abfcond, liftening. L. T. You want but leifure to invent fresh falfhood, and footh me to a fond belief of all your fictions; but I will ftab the lie that's forming in your heart, and fave a fin in pity to your foul. Mask. Strike then -fince you will have it fo. L. T. Ha! a fteady villain to the last! Mask. Come, why do you dally with me thus ? L. T. Thy ftubborn temper fhocks me, and you ⚫ know it would- This is cunning all, and not cou→ -But thou fhalt mifs rage; no, I know thee well 'thy aim.' Mask. Ha, ha, ha. L. T. Ha! Do you mock my rage? Then this shall punish your fond, rash contempt! Again fmile! And fuch a fimile as fpeaks in ambiguity! [Goes to ftrike Ten thousand meanings lurk in each corner of that various face. O! that they were written in thy heart, That I, with this, might lay thee open to my fight! Thou haft, thou haft found the only way to turn my Ld. T. Amazement shakes meMask. So 'tis well- let your wild fury have a vent, and when you have temper, tell me. L. T. Now, now, now I am calm, and can hear you. Mask. [Afide.] Thanks, my invention: and now I have it for you. -Firft tell me, what urged you to this violence? For your paffion broke out in fuch imperfect terms, that yet I am to learn the cause. L. T. |