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！
wild he looks。
MEL。 By heaven； 'twere senseless not to be mad； and see such
witchcraft。
LADY TOUCH。 My lord； you hear him； he talks idly。
LORD TOUCH。 Hence from my sight； thou living infamy to my name；
when next I see that face； I'll write villain in't with my sword's
point。
MEL。 Now； by my soul； I will not go till I have made known my
wrongs。 Nay； till I have made known yours； which； if possible； are
greater；though she has all the host of hell her servants。
LADY TOUCH。 Alas； he raves！ Talks very poetry！ For heaven's sake
away； my lord； he'll either tempt you to extravagance； or commit
some himself。
MEL。 Death and furies； will you not hear me？Why by heaven she
laughs； grins； points to your back； she forks out cuckoldom with her
fingers； and you're running horn…mad after your fortune。 ＇As she is
going she turns back and smiles at him。＇
LORD TOUCH。 I fear he's mad indeed。Let's send Maskwell to him。
MEL。 Send him to her。
LADY TOUCH。 Come； come； good my lord； my heart aches so； I shall
faint if I stay。
SCENE XXI。
MELLEFONT alone。
MEL。 Oh； I could curse my stars； fate； and chance； all causes and
accidents of fortune in this life！ But to what purpose？ Yet；
'sdeath； for a man to have the fruit of all his industry grow full
and ripe； ready to drop into his mouth； and just when he holds out
his hand to gather it； to have a sudden whirlwind come； tear up tree
and all； and bear away the very root and foundation of his hopes：…
what temper can contain？ They talk of sending Maskwell to me； I
never had more need of him。 But what can he do？ Imagination cannot
form a fairer and more plausible design than this of his which has
miscarried。 O my precious aunt； I shall never thrive without I deal
with the devil； or another woman。
Women； like flames； have a destroying power；
Ne'er to be quenched； till they themselves devour。
ACT V。SCENE I。
LADY TOUCHWOOD and MASKWELL。
LADY TOUCH。 Was't not lucky？
MASK。 Lucky！ Fortune is your own； and 'tis her interest so to be。
By heaven I believe you can control her power； and she fears it：
though chance brought my lord； 'twas your own art that turned it to
advantage。
LADY TOUCH。 'Tis true it might have been my ruin。 But yonder's my
lord。 I believe he's coming to find you： I'll not be seen。
SCENE II。
MASKWELL alone。
MASK。 So； I durst not own my introducing my lord； though it
succeeded well for her； for she would have suspected a design which
I should have been puzzled to excuse。 My lord is thoughtful。 I'll
be so too； yet he shall know my thoughts： or think he does。
SCENE III。
＇To him＇ LORD TOUCHWOOD。
MASK。 What have I done？
LORD TOUCH。 Talking to himself！
MASK。 'Twas honestand shall I be rewarded for it？ No； 'twas
honest； therefore I shan't。 Nay； rather therefore I ought not； for
it rewards itself。
LORD TOUCH。 Unequalled virtue！ ＇Aside。＇
MASK。 But should it be known； then I have lost a friend！ He was an
ill man； and I have gained； for half myself I lent him； and that I
have recalled： so I have served myself； and what is yet better； I
have served a worthy lord to whom I owe myself。
LORD TOUCH。 Excellent man！ ＇Aside。＇
MASK。 Yet I am wretched。 Oh； there is a secret burns within this
breast； which； should it once blaze forth； would ruin all； consume
my honest character； and brand me with the name of villain。
LORD TOUCH。 Ha！
MASK。 Why do I love！ Yet heaven and my waking conscience are my
witnesses； I never gave one working thought a vent； which might
discover that I loved； nor ever must。 No； let it prey upon my
heart； for I would rather die； than seem once； barely seem；
dishonest。 Oh； should it once be known I love fair Cynthia； all
this that I have done would look like rival's malice； false
friendship to my lord； and base self…interest。 Let me perish first；
and from this hour avoid all sight and speech； and； if I can； all
thought of that pernicious beauty。 Ha！ But what is my distraction
doing？ I am wildly talking to myself； and some ill chance might
have directed malicious ears this way。 ＇Seems to start； seeing my
lord。＇
LORD TOUCH。 Start not； let guilty and dishonest souls start at the
revelation of their thoughts； but be thou fixed； as is thy virtue。
MASK。 I am confounded； and beg your Lordship's pardon for those
free discourses which I have had with myself。
LORD TOUCH。 Come； I beg your pardon that I overheard you； and yet
it shall not need。 Honest Maskwell！ Thy and my good genius led me
hither。 Mine； in that I have discovered so much manly virtue；
thine； in that thou shalt have due reward of all thy worth。 Give me
thy hand。 My nephew is the alone remaining branch of all our
ancient family： him I thus blow away； and constitute thee in his
room to be my heir …
MASK。 Now heaven forbid …
LORD TOUCH。 No moreI have resolved。 The writings are ready
drawn； and wanted nothing but to be signed； and have his name
inserted。 Yours will fill the blank as well。 I will have no reply。
Let me command this time； for 'tis the last in which I will assume
authority。 Hereafter； you shall rule where I have power。
MASK。 I humbly would petition …
LORD TOUCH。 Is't for yourself？ ＇MASKWELL pauses。＇ I'll hear of
nought for anybody else。
MASK。 Then witness heaven for me； this wealth and honour was not of
my seeking； nor would I build my fortune on another's ruin。 I had
but one desire …
LORD TOUCH。 Thou shalt enjoy it。 If all I'm worth in wealth or
interest can purchase Cynthia； she is thine。 I'm sure Sir Paul's
consent will follow fortune。 I'll quickly show him which way that
is going。
MASK。 You oppress me with bounty。 My gratitude is weak； and
shrinks beneath the weight； and cannot rise to thank you。 What；
enjoy my love！ Forgive the transports of a blessing so unexpected；
so unhoped for； so unthought of！
LORD TOUCH。 I will confirm it； and rejoice with thee。
SCENE IV。
MASKWELL alone。
MASK。 This is prosperous indeed。 Why let him find me out a
villain； settled in possession of a fair estate； and full fruition
of my love； I'll bear the railings of a losing gamester。 But should
he find me out before！ 'Tis dangerous to delay。 Let me think。
Should my lord proceed to treat openly of my marriage with Cynthia；
all must be discovered； and Mellefont can be no longer blinded。 It
must not be； nay； should my lady know itay； then were fine work
indeed！ Her fury would spare nothing； though she involved herself
in ruin。 No； it must be by stratagem。 I must deceive Mellefont
once more； and get my lord to consent to my private management。 He
comes opportunely。 Now will I； in my old way； discover the whole
and real truth of the matter to him； that he may not suspect one
word on't。
No mask like open truth to cover lies；
As to go naked is the best disguise。
SCENE V。
＇To him＇ MELLEFONT。
MEL。 O Maskwell； what hopes？ I am confounded in a maze of
thoughts； each leading into one another； and all ending in
perplexity。 My uncle will not see nor hear me。
MASK。 No matter； sir； don't trouble your head： all's in my power。
MEL。 How？ For heaven's sake？
MASK。 Little do you think that your aunt has kept her word。 How
the devil she wrought my lord into this dotage； I know not； but he's
gone to Sir Paul about my marriage with Cynthia； and has appointed
me his heir。
MEL。 The devil he has！ What's to be done？
MASK。 I have it； it must be by stratagem； for it's in vain to make
application to him。 I think I have that in my head that cannot
fail。 Where's Cynthia？
MEL。 In the garden。
MASK。 Let us go and consult her： my life for yours； I cheat my
lord。
SCENE VI。
LORD TOUCHWOOD； LADY TOUCHWOOD。
LADY TOUCH。 Maskwell your heir； and marry Cynthia！
LORD TOUCH。 I cannot do too much for so much merit。
LADY TOUCH。 But this is a thing of too great moment to be so
suddenly resolved。 Why Cynthia？ Why must he be married？ Is there
not reward enough in raising his low fortune； but he must mix his
blood with mine； and wed my niece？ How know you that my brother
will consent； or she？ Nay； he himself perhaps may have affections
otherwhere。
LORD TOUCH。 No； I am convinced he loves her。
LADY TOUCH。 Maskwell love Cynthia？ Impossible！
LORD TOUCH。 I tell you he confessed it to me。
LADY TOUCH。 Confusion！ How's this？ ＇Aside。＇
LORD TOUCH。 His humility long stifled his passion。 And his love of
Mellefont would have made him still conceal it。 But by
encouragement； I wrung the secret from him； and know he's no way to
be rewarded but in her。 I'll defer my farther proceedings in it
till you