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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。
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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；
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
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
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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； mov