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the double-dealer-第11章

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her these two hours。  The poor creatureI swear; my lord; you don't

love poor little Sapho。  Come; my dear Cynthia; Mr。 Brisk; we'll go

see Sapho; though my lord won't。



CYNT。  I'll wait upon your ladyship。



BRISK。  Pray; madam; how old is Lady Sapho?



LADY FROTH。  Three…quarters; but I swear she has a world of wit; and

can sing a tune already。  My lord; won't you go?  Won't you?  What!

not to see Saph?  Pray; my lord; come see little Saph。  I knew you

could not stay。





SCENE XII。





CYNTHIA alone。



CYNT。  'Tis not so hard to counterfeit joy in the depth of

affliction; as to dissemble mirth in company of fools。  Why should I

call 'em fools?  The world thinks better of 'em; for these have

quality and education; wit and fine conversation; are received and

admired by the world。  If not; they like and admire themselves。  And

why is not that true wisdom? for 'tis happiness:  and for ought I

know; we have misapplied the name all this while; and mistaken the

thing:  since





If happiness in self…content is placed;

The wise are wretched; and fools only bless'd。







ACT IV。SCENE I。







MELLEFONT and CYNTHIA。



CYNT。  I heard him loud as I came by the closet…door; and my lady

with him; but she seemed to moderate his passion。



MEL。  Ay; hell thank her; as gentle breezes moderate a fire; but I

shall counter…work her spells; and ride the witch in her own bridle。



CYNT。  It's impossible; she'll cast beyond you still。  I'll lay my

life it will never be a match。



MEL。  What?



CYNT。  Between you and me。



MEL。  Why so?



CYNT。  My mind gives me it won't; because we are both willing。  We

each of us strive to reach the goal; and hinder one another in the

race。  I swear it never does well when the parties are so agreed;

for when people walk hand in hand there's neither overtaking nor

meeting。  We hunt in couples; where we both pursue the same game but

forget one another; and 'tis because we are so near that we don't

think of coming together。



MEL。  Hum; 'gad I believe there's something in it。  Marriage is the

game that we hunt; and while we think that we only have it in view;

I don't see but we have it in our power。



CYNT。  Within reach; for example; give me your hand。  You have

looked through the wrong end of the perspective all this while; for

nothing has been between us but our fears。



MEL。  I don't know why we should not steal out of the house this

very moment and marry one another; without consideration or the fear

of repentance。  Pox o' fortune; portion; settlements; and jointures。



CYNT。  Ay; ay; what have we to do with 'em?  You know we marry for

love。



MEL。  Love; love; downright; very villainous love。



CYNT。  And he that can't live upon love deserves to die in a ditch。

Here then; I give you my promise; in spite of duty; any temptation

of wealth; your inconstancy; or my own inclination to change …



MEL。  To run most wilfully and unreasonably away with me this moment

and be married。



CYNT。  Hold。  Never to marry anybody else。



MEL。  That's but a kind of negative consent。  Why; you won't baulk

the frolic?



CYNT。  If you had not been so assured of your own conduct I would

not。  But 'tis but reasonable that since I consent to like a man

without the vile consideration of money; he should give me a very

evident demonstration of his wit:  therefore let me see you

undermine my Lady Touchwood; as you boasted; and force her to give

her consent; and then …



MEL。  I'll do't。



CYNT。  And I'll do't。



MEL。  This very next ensuing hour of eight o'clock is the last

minute of her reign; unless the devil assist her IN PROPRIA PERSONA。



CYNT。  Well; if the devil should assist her; and your plot miscarry





MEL。  Ay; what am I to trust to then?



CYNT。  Why; if you give me very clear demonstration that it was the

devil; I'll allow for irresistible odds。  But if I find it to be

only chance; or destiny; or unlucky stars; or anything but the very

devil; I'm inexorable:  only still I'll keep my word; and live a

maid for your sake。



MEL。  And you won't die one; for your own; so still there's hope。



CYNT。  Here's my mother…in…law; and your friend Careless; I would

not have 'em see us together yet。





SCENE II。





CARELESS and LADY PLYANT。



LADY PLYANT。  I swear; Mr。 Careless; you are very alluring; and say

so many fine things; and nothing is so moving to me as a fine thing。

Well; I must do you this justice; and declare in the face of the

world; never anybody gained so far upon me as yourself。  With

blushes I must own it; you have shaken; as I may say; the very

foundation of my honour。  Well; sure; if I escape your

importunities; I shall value myself as long as I live; I swear。



CARE。  And despise me。  'Sighing。'



LADY PLYANT。  The last of any man in the world; by my purity; now

you make me swear。  O gratitude forbid; that I should ever be

wanting in a respectful acknowledgment of an entire resignation of

all my best wishes for the person and parts of so accomplished a

person; whose merit challenges much more; I'm sure; than my

illiterate praises can description。



CARE。  'In a whining tone。'  Ah heavens; madam; you ruin me with

kindness。  Your charming tongue pursues the victory of your eyes;

while at your feet your poor adorer dies。



LADY PLYANT。  Ah!  Very fine。



CARE。  'Still whining。'  Ah; why are you so fair; so bewitching

fair?  O let me grow to the ground here; and feast upon that hand; O

let me press it to my heart; my trembling heart:  the nimble

movement shall instruct your pulse; and teach it to alarm desire。

(Zoons; I'm almost at the end of my cant; if she does not yield

quickly。)  'Aside。'



LADY PLYANT。  O that's so passionate and fine; I cannot hear。  I am

not safe if I stay; and must leave you。



CARE。  And must you leave me!  Rather let me languish out a wretched

life; and breath my soul beneath your feet。  (I must say the same

thing over again; and can't help it。)  'Aside。'



LADY PLYANT。  I swear I'm ready to languish too!  O my honour!

Whither is it going?  I protest you have given me the palpitation of

the heart。



CARE。  Can you be so cruel …



LADY PLYANT。  O rise; I beseech you; say no more till you rise。  Why

did you kneel so long?  I swear I was so transported; I did not see

it。  Well; to show you how far you have gained upon me; I assure

you; if Sir Paul should die; of all mankind there's none I'd sooner

make my second choice。



CARE。  O Heaven!  I can't out…live this night without your favour; I

feel my spirits faint; a general dampness overspreads my face; a

cold deadly dew already vents through all my pores; and will to…

morrow wash me for ever from your sight; and drown me in my tomb。



LADY PLYANT。  Oh; you have conquered; sweet; melting; moving sir;

you have conquered。  What heart of marble can refrain to weep; and

yield to such sad sayings!  'Cries。'



CARE。  I thank Heaven; they are the saddest that I ever said。  Oh!

(I shall never contain laughter。)  'Aside。'



LADY PLYANT。  Oh; I yield myself all up to your uncontrollable

embraces。  Say; thou dear dying man; when; where; and how。  Ah;

there's Sir Paul。



CARE。  'Slife; yonder's Sir Paul; but if he were not come; I'm so

transported I cannot speak。  This note will inform you。  'Gives her

a note。'





SCENE III。





LADY PLYANT; SIR PAUL; CYNTHIA。



SIR PAUL。  Thou art my tender lambkin; and shalt do what thou wilt。

But endeavour to forget this Mellefont。



CYNT。  I would obey you to my power; sir; but if I have not him; I

have sworn never to marry。



SIR PAUL。  Never to marry!  Heavens forbid! must I neither have sons

nor grandsons?  Must the family of the Plyants be utterly extinct

for want of issue male?  O impiety!  But did you swear; did that

sweet creature swear? ha!  How durst you swear without my consent;

ah?  Gads…bud; who am I?



CYNT。  Pray don't be angry; sir; when I swore I had your consent;

and therefore I swore。



SIR PAUL。  Why then the revoking my consent does annul; or make of

none effect your oath; so you may unswear it again。  The law will

allow it。



CYNT。  Ay; but my conscience never will。



SIR PAUL。  Gads…bud; no matter for that; conscience and law never go

together; you must not expect that。



LADY PLYANT。  Ay; but; Sir Paul; I conceive if she has sworn; d'ye

mark me; if she has once sworn; it is most unchristian; inhuman; and

obscene that she should break it。  I'll make up the match again;

because Mr。 Careless said it would oblige him。  'Aside。'



SIR PAUL。  Does your ladyship conceive so?  Why; I was of that

opinion once too。  Nay; if your ladyship conceives so; I'm of that

opinion again; but I can neither find my lord nor my lady to know

what they intend。



LADY PLYANT。  I'm satisfied that my cousin M
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