the double-dealer-第15章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
damned for a Judas Maccabeus and Iscariot both。 O friendship！ what
art thou but a name？ Henceforward let no man make a friend that
would not be a cuckold： for whomsoever he receives into his bosom
will find the way to his bed； and there return his caresses with
interest to his wife。 Have I for this been pinioned； night after
night for three years past？ Have I been swathed in blankets till I
have been even deprived of motion？ Have I approached the marriage
bed with reverence as to a sacred shrine； and denied myself the
enjoyment of lawful domestic pleasures to preserve its purity； and
must I now find it polluted by foreign iniquity？ O my Lady Plyant；
you were chaste as ice； but you are melted now； and false as water。
But Providence has been constant to me in discovering this
conspiracy； still； I am beholden to Providence。 If it were not for
Providence； sure； poor Sir Paul； thy heart would break。
SCENE X。
＇To him＇ LADY PLYANT。
LADY PLYANT。 So； sir； I see you have read the letter。 Well； now；
Sir Paul； what do you think of your friend Careless？ Has he been
treacherous； or did you give his insolence a licence to make trial
of your wife's suspected virtue？ D'ye see here？ ＇Snatches the
letter as in anger。＇ Look； read it。 Gads my life； if I thought it
were so； I would this moment renounce all communication with you。
Ungrateful monster！ He？ is it so？ Ay； I see it； a plot upon my
honour； your guilty cheeks confess it。 Oh； where shall wronged
virtue fly for reparation？ I'll be divorced this instant。
SIR PAUL。 Gads…bud； what shall I say？ This is the strangest
surprise。 Why； I don't know anything at all； nor I don't know
whether there be anything at all in the world； or no。
LADY PLYANT。 I thought I should try you； false man。 I； that never
dissembled in my life； yet to make trial of you； pretended to like
that monster of iniquity； Careless； and found out that contrivance
to let you see this letter； which now I find was of your own
inditingI do； heathen； I do。 See my face no more； I'll be
divorced presently。
SIR PAUL。 O strange； what will become of me？ I'm so amazed； and so
overjoyed； so afraid； and so sorry。 But did you give me this letter
on purpose； he？ Did you？
LADY PLYANT。 Did I？ Do you doubt me； Turk； Saracen？ I have a
cousin that's a proctor in the Commons； I'll go to him instantly。
SIR PAUL。 Hold； stay； I beseech your ladyship。 I'm so overjoyed；
stay； I'll confess all。
LADY PLYANT。 What will you confess； Jew？
SIR PAUL。 Why； now； as I hope to be saved； I had no hand in this
letternay； hear me； I beseech your ladyship。 The devil take me
now if he did not go beyond my commission。 If I desired him to do
any more than speak a good word only just for me； gads…bud； only for
poor Sir Paul； I'm an Anabaptist； or a Jew； or what you please to
call me。
LADY PLYANT。 Why； is not here matter of fact？
SIR PAUL。 Ay； but by your own virtue and continency that matter of
fact is all his own doing。 I confess I had a great desire to have
some honours conferred upon me； which lie all in your ladyship's
breast； and he being a well…spoken man； I desired him to intercede
for me。
LADY PLYANT。 Did you so？ presumption！ Oh； he comes； the Tarquin
comes； I cannot bear his sight。
SCENE XI。
CARELESS； SIR PAUL。
CARE。 Sir Paul； I'm glad I've met with you； 'gad； I have said all I
could； but can't prevail。 Then my friendship to you has carried me
a little farther in this matter。
SIR PAUL。 Indeed； well sir； I'll dissemble with him a little。
＇Aside。＇
CARE。 Why； faith I have in my time known honest gentlemen abused by
a pretended coyness in their wives； and I had a mind to try my
lady's virtue。 And when I could not prevail for you； gad； I
pretended to be in love myself； but all in vain； she would not hear
a word upon that subject。 Then I writ a letter to her； I don't know
what effects that will have； but I'll be sure to tell you when I do；
though by this light I believe her virtue is impregnable。
SIR PAUL。 O Providence！ Providence！ What discoveries are here
made？ Why； this is better and more miraculous than the rest。
CARE。 What do you mean？
SIR PAUL。 I can't tell you； I'm so overjoyed； come along with me to
my lady； I can't contain myself； come； my dear friend。
CARE。 So； so； so； this difficulty's over。 ＇Aside。＇
SCENE XII。
MELLEFONT； MASKWELL； from different doors。
MEL。 Maskwell！ I have been looking for you'tis within a quarter
of eight。
MASK。 My lady is just gone into my lord's closet； you had best
steal into her chamber before she comes； and lie concealed there；
otherwise she may lock the door when we are together； and you not
easily get in to surprise us。
MEL。 He？ You say true。
MASK。 You had best make haste； for after she has made some apology
to the company for her own and my lord's absence all this while；
she'll retire to her chamber instantly。
MEL。 I go this moment。 Now； fortune； I defy thee。
SCENE XIII。
MASKWELL alone。
MASK。 I confess you may be allowed to be secure in your own
opinion； the appearance is very fair； but I have an after…game to
play that shall turn the tables； and here comes the man that I must
manage。
SCENE XIV。
＇To him＇ LORD TOUCHWOOD。
LORD TOUCH。 Maskwell； you are the man I wished to meet。
MASK。 I am happy to be in the way of your lordship's commands。
LORD TOUCH。 I have always found you prudent and careful in anything
that has concerned me or my family。
MASK。 I were a villain else。 I am bound by duty and gratitude； and
my own inclination； to be ever your lordship's servant。
LORD TOUCH。 Enough。 You are my friend； I know it。 Yet there has
been a thing in your knowledge； which has concerned me nearly； that
you have concealed from me。
MASK。 My lord！
LORD TOUCH。 Nay； I excuse your friendship to my unnatural nephew
thus far。 But I know you have been privy to his impious designs
upon my wife。 This evening she has told me all。 Her good nature
concealed it as long as was possible； but he perseveres so in
villainy； that she has told me even you were weary of dissuading
him； though you have once actually hindered him from forcing her。
MASK。 I am sorry； my lord； I can't make you an answer； this is an
occasion in which I would not willing be silent。
LORD TOUCH。 I know you would excuse himand I know as well that
you can't。
MASK。 Indeed I was in hopes it had been a youthful heat that might
have soon boiled over； but …
LORD TOUCH。 Say on。
MASK。 I have nothing more to say； my lord； but to express my
concern； for I think his frenzy increases daily。
LORD TOUCH。 How！ Give me but proof of it； ocular proof； that I may
justify my dealing with him to the world； and share my fortunes。
MASK。 O my lord！ consider； that is hard。 Besides； time may work
upon him。 Then； for me to do it！ I have professed an everlasting
friendship to him。
LORD TOUCH。 He is your friend； and what am I？
MASK。 I am answered。
LORD TOUCH。 Fear not his displeasure； I will put you out of his；
and fortune's power； and for that thou art scrupulously honest； I
will secure thy fidelity to him； and give my honour never to own any
discovery that you shall make me。 Can you give me a demonstrative
proof？ Speak。
MASK。 I wish I could not。 To be plain； my lord； I intended this
evening to have tried all arguments to dissuade him from a design
which I suspect； and if I had not succeeded； to have informed your
lordship of what I knew。
LORD TOUCH。 I thank you。 What is the villain's purpose？
MASK。 He has owned nothing to me of late； and what I mean now； is
only a bare suspicion of my own。 If your lordship will meet me a
quarter of an hour hence there； in that lobby
