L. T. My Lord himself furprized me with the news, you were to marry Cynthia-That you had owned your love to him, and his indulgence would affist you to attain your ends.

Cyn. How, my Lord!

Ld. T. Pray forbear all refentments for a while, and let us hear the rest.

Mask. I grant you in appearance all is true; I feemed confenting to my Lord; nay, tranfported with the bleffing- -But could you think that I, who had been happy in your loved embraces, could e'er be fond of inferior flavery?

Cyn. Nay, good my Lord, forbear refentment, let us hear it out.

Ld. T. Yes, I will contain, though I could burst.

Mask. I that had wantoned in the rich circle of your world of love, could be confined within the puny province of a girl? No- Yet tho' I dote on each laft fayour more than all the reft, though I would give a limb for every look you cheaply throw away on any other object of your love; yet fo far I prize your pleafures o'er my own, that all this feeming plot that I have laid, has been to gratify your tafte, and cheat the world, to prove a faithful rogue to you.

L. T. If this were true

But how can it be? Mask. I have fo contrived, that Mellefont will prefently, in the chaplain's habit, wait for Cynthia in your dreffing-room but I have put the change upon her, that The may be otherwhere employed-Do you procure her night-gown, and with your hoods tied over your face, meet him in her ftead; you may go privately by the back-ftairs, and, unperceived, there you may propose to reinftate him in his uncle's favour, if he will comply with your defires; his cafe is defperate, and I believe he'll yield to any conditions-If not, here, take this; you may employ it better than in the heart of one who is nothing when not yours. [Gives the dagger.

L. T. Thou canst deceive every body- -Nay, thou haft deceived me; but 'tis as I would wish Trüfty villain! I could worship thee.

Mask. No more- -it wants but a few minutes of the time; and Mellefont's love will carry him there before his hour.

G 3

L. T.

L. T. I go, Ifly, incomparable Maskwell! [Exit. Mask. So, this was a pinch indeed; my invention was upon the rack, and made difcovery of her last plot: I hope Cynthia and my chaplain will be ready. I'll prepare for the expedition. [Exit.

Cynthia and Lord Touchwood come forward.

Cyn. Now, my Lord!

Ld. T. Aftonifhment binds up my rage! Villainy upon villainy! Heavens, what a long track of dark deceit has this discovered! I am confounded when I look back, and want a clue to guide me through the various mazes of unheard-of treachery. My wife! Damnation! My

Hell!

Cyn. My Lord, have patience, and be fenfible how great our happinets is, that this difcovery was not made

too late.

Ld. T. I thank you, yet it may be still too late, if we don't prefently prevent the execution of their plots: Ha! I'll do it. Where is Mellefont, my poor injured nephew? How fhall I make him ample fatisfaction? Cyn. I dare answer for him.

-Yet my

Ld. T. I do him fresh wrong to queftion his forgive. nefs, for I know him to be all goodnefswife! Damn her- -She'll think to meet him in that dreffing-room-Was't not fo? And Maskwell will expect you in the chaplain's chamber-For once I'll add my plot too-let us hafte to find out, and inform my nephew; and do you, quickly as you can, bring all the company into this gallery.-I'll expofe the ftrumpet and [Excunt,

the villain.

Enter Lord Froth and Sir Paul. Ld. F. By Heavens, I have flept an age-Sir Paul, what o'clock is it? Paft eight, on my confcience, my Lady's is the most inviting couch, and a flumber there is the prettiest amusement ! But where is all the company?

Sir P. The company, Gad's-bud, I don't know, my Lord; but here's the ftrangeft revolution, all turned topfy-turvy, as I hope for Providence.

Ld. F. O Heavens! What's the matter? Where is my wife?

Sir P. All turned topfy-turvy, as fure as a gun.
Ld. F. How do you mean? My wife!

Sir. P.

Sir P. The strangest posture of affairs!

Ld. F. What, my wife?

Sir P. No, no, I mean the family. Your Lady's af fairs may be in a very good posture; I faw her go into the garden with Mr. Brisk.

Ld. F. How? Where, when, what to do?

Sir P. I fuppofe they have been laying their heads together.

Ld. F. How?

Sir P. Nay, only about poetry, I fuppofe, my Lord; making couplets..

Ld. F. Couplets.

Sir P. O, here they come.

Enter Lady Froth and Brisk.

Brisk. My Lord, your humble fervant; Sir Paul, The finest night!

yours

L. F. My dear, Mr. Brifk and I have been star-gazing I don't know how long.

Sir P. Does it not tire your Ladyship? Are not you weary with looking up?

L. F. Oh, no! I love it violently

you are melancholy..

Ld. F. No, my dear, I am but just awake.

L. F. Snuff fome of my spirit of hartfhorn.

My dear,

Ld. F. I have fome of my own, thank you, my dear. L. F. Well, I fwear, Mr. Brifk, you understood aftronomy like an old Egyptian.

Brisk. Not comparably to your Ladyfhip; you are the very Cynthia of the skies, and queen of ftars.

L. F. That's because I have no light, but what's by reflexion from you, who are the fun.

Brisk. Madam, you have eclipfed me quite, let me perifh- I cannot answer that.

L. F. No matter- -Harkee, shall you and I make an almanack together?

Brisk. With all my foul, Your Ladyship has made me the man in it already, I am fo full of the wounds which you have given.

L. F. O, finely taken! I fwear now you are even with me; O Parnaffus, you have an infinite deal of wit.

Sir P. So he has, Gads-bud, and fo has your Lady fhip.

Enter

Enter Lady Plyant, Carelefs, and Cynthia.

L. P. You tell me moft furprizing things; blefs me, who would ever trust a man? O, my heart achs for fear they should be all deceitful alike.

Care. You need not fear, Madam, you have charms to fix inconftancy itself.

L. P. O dear, you make me blush,

Ld. F. Come, my dear, fhall we take leave of my Lord and Lady?

Cyn. They'll wait upon your Lordship presently.

L. F. Mr. Brifk, my coach fhall fet you down.
All. What's the matter?

[A great fbriek from the corner of the frage. Enter Lady Touchwood, and runs out affrighted, my Lord

after her, like a parfon.

L. T. O, I'm betrayed

Save me, help me!

Ld. T. Now what evafion, ftrumpet ?

L. T. Stand off, let me go.

Ld. T. Go, and thy own infamy pursue thee---You ftare as you were all amazed- -I do not wonder at it, -But too foon you'll know mine, and that woman's

fhamme.

Enter Mellefont, difguifed in a parfon's habit, and pulling in Mafkwell.

Mel. Nay, by Heaven you shall be seen- Careless, your hand-Do you hold down your head? Yes, I am your chaplain; look in the face of your injured friend, thou wonder of all falfhood.

Ld. T. Are you filent, moniter?

Mel. Good Heavens! How I believed and loved this man!-Take him hence, for he is a disease to my fight. Ld. T. Secure that manifold villain.

Care. Miracle of ingratitude!

[Servants feize bin.

Brisk. This is all very furprizing, let me perish. L. F. You know I told you Saturn looked a little more angry than ufual.

Ld. T. We'll think of punishment at leifure, but let me haften to do juftice, in rewarding virtue and wronged innocence. Nephew, I hope I have your pardon, and Cynthia's.

Mel. We are your Lordship's creatures.

Ld. T.

Ld. T. And be each other's comfort :----Let me join your handsUnwearied nights, and wifhing days. attend you both; mutual love, lasting health, and circling joys, tread round each happy year of your long lives.

Let fecret villainy from hence be warn'd;
Howe'er in private mischiefs are conceiv'd,
Torture and fhame attend their open birth:
Like vipers in the womb, bafe treachery lies
Still gnawing that whence first it did arife;
No fooner born, but the vile parent dies.

END of the FIFTH ACT.

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[Exeunt