the double-dealer(两面派)-第17章
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you are a better Christian than to think of living a nun； he？ Answer me？
CYNT。 I'm all obedience； sir； to your commands。
LADY PLYANT。 ＇Having read the letter。＇ O dear Mr。 Careless； I
swear he writes charmingly； and he looks charmingly； and he has charmed
me； as much as I have charmed him； and so I'll tell him in the wardrobe
when 'tis dark。 O criminy！ I hope Sir Paul has not seen both letters。
＇Puts the wrong letter hastily up； and gives him her own。＇ Sir Paul； here's
your letter； to…morrow morning I'll settle accounts to your advantage。
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SCENE IV。
＇To them＇ BRISK。
BRISK。 Sir Paul； gads…bud； you're an uncivil person； let me tell you；
and all that； and I did not think it had been in you。
SIR PAUL。 O law； what's the matter now？ I hope you are not angry；
Mr。 Brisk。
BRISK。 Deuce take me； I believe you intend to marry your daughter
yourself； you're always brooding over her like an old hen； as if she were
not well hatched； egad； he。
SIR PAUL。 Good strange！ Mr。 Brisk is such a merry facetious
person； he； he； he。 No； no； I have done with her； I have done with her
now。
BRISK。 The fiddles have stayed this hour in the hall； and my Lord
Froth wants a partner； we can never begin without her。
SIR PAUL。 Go； go child； go； get you gone and dance and be merry；
I'll come and look at you by and by。 Where's my son Mellefont？
LADY PLYANT。 I'll send him to them； I know where he is。
BRISK。 Sir Paul； will you send Careless into the hall if you meet
him？
SIR PAUL。 I will； I will； I'll go and look for him on purpose。
SCENE V。
BRISK alone。
BRISK。 So now they are all gone； and I have an opportunity to
practice。 Ah！ My dear Lady Froth； she's a most engaging creature； if
she were not so fond of that damned coxcombly lord of hers； and yet I am
forced to allow him wit too； to keep in with him。 No matter； she's a
woman of parts； and； egad； parts will carry her。 She said she would follow
me into the gallery。 Now to make my approaches。 Hem； hem！ Ah
ma… ＇bows。＇ dam！ Pox on't； why should I disparage my parts by thinking
what to say？ None but dull rogues think； witty men； like rich fellows； are
always ready for all expenses； while your blockheads； like poor needy
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scoundrels； are forced to examine their stock； and forecast the charges of
the day。 Here she comes； I'll seem not to see her； and try to win her with a
new airy invention of my own； hem！
SCENE VI。
＇To him＇ LADY FROTH。
BRISK ＇Sings； walking about。＇ 'I'm sick with love；' ha； ha； ha；
'prithee； come cure me。 I'm sick with；' etc。 O ye powers！ O my Lady
Froth； my Lady Froth； my Lady Froth！ Heigho！ Break heart； gods； I
thank you。 ＇Stands musing with his arms across。＇
LADY FROTH。 O heavens； Mr。 Brisk！ What's the matter？
BRISK。 My Lady Froth！ Your ladyship's most humble servant。
The matter； madam？ Nothing； madam； nothing at all； egad。 I was
fallen into the most agreeable amusement in the whole province of
contemplation： that's all（I'll seem to conceal my passion； and that will
look like respect。） ＇Aside。＇
LADY FROTH。 Bless me； why did you call out upon me so loud？
BRISK。 O Lord； I； madam！ I beseech your ladyshipwhen？
LADY FROTH。 Just now as I came in； bless me； why； don't you
know it？
BRISK。 Not I； let me perish。 But did I？ Strange！ I confess your
ladyship was in my thoughts； and I was in a sort of dream that did in a
manner represent a very pleasing object to my imagination； but… …but did I
indeed？To see how love and murder will out。 But did I really name my
Lady Froth？
LADY FROTH。 Three times aloud； as I love letters。 But did you
talk of love？ O Parnassus！ Who would have thought Mr。 Brisk could
have been in love； ha； ha； ha。 O heavens； I thought you could have no
mistress but the Nine Muses。
BRISK。 No more I have； egad； for I adore 'em all in your ladyship。
Let me perish； I don't know whether to be splenetic； or airy upon't； the
deuce take me if I can tell whether I am glad or sorry that your ladyship
has made the discovery。
LADY FROTH。 O be merry by all means。 Prince Volscius in love！
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Ha； ha； ha。
BRISK。 O barbarous； to turn me into ridicule！ Yet； ha； ha； ha。 The
deuce take me； I can't help laughing myself； ha； ha； ha； yet by heavens； I
have a violent passion for your ladyship； seriously。
LADY FROTH。 Seriously？ Ha； ha； ha。
BRISK。 Seriously； ha； ha； ha。 Gad I have； for all I laugh。
LADY FROTH。 Ha； ha； ha！ What d'ye think I laugh at？ Ha； ha；
ha。
BRISK。 Me； egad； ha； ha。
LADY FROTH。 No； the deuce take me if I don't laugh at myself； for
hang me if I have not a violent passion for Mr。 Brisk； ha； ha； ha。
BRISK。 Seriously？
LADY FROTH。 Seriously； ha； ha； ha。
BRISK。 That's well enough； let me perish； ha； ha； ha。 O miraculous；
what a happy discovery。 Ah my dear charming Lady Froth！
LADY FROTH。 Oh my adored Mr。 Brisk！ ＇Embrace。＇
SCENE VII。
＇To them＇ LORD FROTH。
LORD FROTH。 The company are all ready。 How now？
BRISK。 Zoons！ madam； there's my lord。 ＇Softly to her。＇
LADY FROTH。 Take no notice； but observe me。 Now； cast off；
and meet me at the lower end of the room； and then join hands again； I
could teach my lord this dance purely； but I vow； Mr。 Brisk； I can't tell
how to come so near any other man。 Oh here's my lord； now you shall
see me do it with him。 ＇They pretend to practise part of a country dance。＇
LORD FROTH。 Oh； I see there's no harm yet； but I don't like this
familiarity。 ＇Aside。＇
LADY FROTH。 Shall you and I do our close dance； to show Mr。
Brisk？
LORD FROTH。 No； my dear； do it with him。
LADY FROTH。 I'll do it with him； my lord； when you are out of the
way。
BRISK。 That's good； egad； that's good。 Deuce take me； I can
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hardly hold laughing in his face。 ＇Aside。＇
LORD FROTH。 Any other time； my dear； or we'll dance it below。
LADY FROTH。 With all my heart。
BRISK。 Come； my lord； I'll wait on you。 My charming witty angel！
＇To her。＇
LADY FROTH。 We shall have whispering time enough； you know；
since we are partners。
SCENE VIII。
LADY PLYANT and CARELESS。
