the double-dealer-第8章
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clouds upon me; and I shall live in dayOh; my Maskwell! how shall
I thank or praise thee? Thou hast outwitted woman。 But; tell me;
how couldst thou thus get into her confidence? Ha! How? But was
it her contrivance to persuade my Lady Plyant to this extravagant
belief?
MASK。 It was; and to tell you the truth; I encouraged it for your
diversion。 Though it made you a little uneasy for the present; yet
the reflection of it must needs be entertaining。 I warrant she was
very violent at first。
MEL。 Ha; ha; ha; ay; a very fury; but I was most afraid of her
violence at last。 If you had not come as you did; I don't know what
she might have attempted。
MASK。 Ha; ha; ha; I know her temper。 Well; you must know; then;
that all my contrivances were but bubbles; till at last I pretended
to have been long secretly in love with Cynthia; that did my
business; that convinced your aunt I might be trusted; since it was
as much my interest as hers to break the match。 Then; she thought
my jealousy might qualify me to assist her in her revenge。 And; in
short; in that belief; told me the secrets of her heart。 At length
we made this agreement; if I accomplish her designs (as I told you
before) she has engaged to put Cynthia with all her fortune into my
power。
MEL。 She is most gracious in her favour。 Well; and; dear Jack; how
hast thou contrived?
MASK。 I would not have you stay to hear it now; for I don't know
but she may come this way。 I am to meet her anon; after that; I'll
tell you the whole matter。 Be here in this gallery an hour hence;
by that time I imagine our consultation may be over。
MEL。 I will; till then success attend thee。
SCENE VIII。
MASKWELL alone。
Till then; success will attend me; for when I meet you; I meet the
only obstacle to my fortune。 Cynthia; let thy beauty gild my
crimes; and whatsoever I commit of treachery or deceit; shall be
imputed to me as a merit。 Treachery? What treachery? Love cancels
all the bonds of friendship; and sets men right upon their first
foundations。
Duty to kings; piety to parents; gratitude to benefactors; and
fidelity to friends; are different and particular ties。 But the
name of rival cuts 'em all asunder; and is a general acquittance。
Rival is equal; and love like death an universal leveller of
mankind。 Ha! But is there not such a thing as honesty? Yes; and
whosoever has it about him; bears an enemy in his breast。 For your
honest man; as I take it; is that nice; scrupulous; conscientious
person; who will cheat nobody but himself; such another coxcomb as
your wise man; who is too hard for all the world; and will be made a
fool of by nobody but himself; ha; ha; ha。 Well; for wisdom and
honesty give me cunning and hypocrisy; oh; 'tis such a pleasure to
angle for fair…faced fools! Then that hungry gudgeon credulity will
bite at anything。 Why; let me see; I have the same face; the same
words and accents when I speak what I do think; and when I speak
what I do not think; the very same; and dear dissimulation is the
only art not to be known from nature。
Why will mankind be fools; and be deceived;
And why are friends' and lovers' oaths believed;
When each; who searches strictly his own mind;
May so much fraud and power of baseness find?
ACT III。SCENE I。
LORD TOUCHWOOD and LADY TOUCHWOOD。
LADY TOUCH。 My lord; can you blame my brother Plyant if he refuse
his daughter upon this provocation? The contract's void by this
unheard…of impiety。
LORD TOUCH。 I don't believe it true; he has better principles。
Pho; 'tis nonsense。 Come; come; I know my Lady Plyant has a large
eye; and would centre everything in her own circle; 'tis not the
first time she has mistaken respect for love; and made Sir Paul
jealous of the civility of an undesigning person; the better to
bespeak his security in her unfeigned pleasures。
LADY TOUCH。 You censure hardly; my lord; my sister's honour is very
well known。
LORD TOUCH。 Yes; I believe I know some that have been familiarly
acquainted with it。 This is a little trick wrought by some pitiful
contriver; envious of my nephew's merit。
LADY TOUCH。 Nay; my lord; it may be so; and I hope it will be found
so。 But that will require some time; for in such a case as this;
demonstration is necessary。
LORD TOUCH。 There should have been demonstration of the contrary
too; before it had been believed。
LADY TOUCH。 So I suppose there was。
LORD TOUCH。 How? Where? When?
LADY TOUCH。 That I can't tell; nay; I don't say there was。 I am
willing to believe as favourably of my nephew as I can。
LORD TOUCH。 I don't know that。 'Half aside。'
LADY TOUCH。 How? Don't you believe that; say you; my lord?
LORD TOUCH。 No; I don't say so。 I confess I am troubled to find
you so cold in his defence。
LADY TOUCH。 His defence! Bless me; would you have me defend an ill
thing?
LORD TOUCH。 You believe it; then?
LADY TOUCH。 I don't know; I am very unwilling to speak my thoughts
in anything that may be to my cousin's disadvantage: besides; I
find; my lord; you are prepared to receive an ill impression from
any opinion of mine which is not consenting with your own。 But;
since I am like to be suspected in the end; and 'tis a pain any
longer to dissemble; I own it to you; in short I do believe it; nay;
and can believe anything worse; if it were laid to his charge。
Don't ask me my reasons; my lord; for they are not fit to be told
you。
LORD TOUCH。 I'm amazed: there must be something more than ordinary
in this。 'Aside。' Not fit to be told me; madam? You can have no
interests wherein I am not concerned; and consequently the same
reasons ought to be convincing to me; which create your satisfaction
or disquiet。
LADY TOUCH。 But those which cause my disquiet I am willing to have
remote from your hearing。 Good my lord; don't press me。
LORD TOUCH。 Don't oblige me to press you。
LADY TOUCH。 Whatever it was; 'tis past。 And that is better to be
unknown which cannot be prevented; therefore let me beg you to rest
satisfied。
LORD TOUCH。 When you have told me; I will。
LADY TOUCH。 You won't。
LORD TOUCH。 By my life; my dear; I will。
LADY TOUCH。 What if you can't?
LORD TOUCH。 How? Then I must know; nay; I will。 No more trifling。
I charge you tell me。 By all our mutual peace to come; upon your
duty …
LADY TOUCH。 Nay; my lord; you need say no more; to make me lay my
heart before you; but don't be thus transported; compose yourself。
It is not of concern to make you lose one minute's temper。 'Tis
not; indeed; my dear。 Nay; by this kiss you shan't be angry。 O
Lord; I wish I had not told you anything。 Indeed; my lord; you have
frighted me。 Nay; look pleased; I'll tell you。
LORD TOUCH。 Well; well。
LADY TOUCH。 Nay; but will you be calm? Indeed it's nothing but …
LORD TOUCH。 But what?
LADY TOUCH。 But will you promise me not to be angry? Nay; you
mustnot to be angry with Mellefont? I dare swear he's sorry; and
were it to do again; would not …
LORD TOUCH。 Sorry for what? 'Death; you rack me with delay。
LADY TOUCH。 Nay; no great matter; onlywell; I have your promise。
Pho; why nothing; only your nephew had a mind to amuse himself
sometimes with a little gallantry towards me。 Nay; I can't think he
meant anything seriously; but methought it looked oddly。
LORD TOUCH。 Confusion and hell; what do I hear?
LADY TOUCH。 Or; may be; he thought he was not enough akin to me;
upon your account; and had a mind to create a nearer relation on his
own; a lover you know; my lord。 Ha; ha; ha。 Well; but that's all。
Now you have it; well remember your promise; my lord; and don't take
any notice of it to him。
LORD TOUCH。 No; no; no。 Damnation!
LADY TOUCH。 Nay; I swear you must not。