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wanton。 Maskwell is flesh and blood at best； and opportunities between
them are frequent。 His affection to you； you have confessed； is grounded
upon his interest； that you have transplanted； and should it take root in my
lady； I don't see what you can expect from the fruit。
MEL。 I confess the consequence is visible； were your suspicions just。
But see； the company is broke up； let's meet 'em。
SCENE IV。
＇To them＇ LORD TOUCHWOOD； LORD FROTH； SIR PAUL
PLYANT； and BRISK。
LORD TOUCH。 Out upon't； nephew。 Leave your father…in…law and
me to maintain our ground against young people！
MEL。 I beg your lordship's pardon。 We were just returning。
SIR PAUL。 Were you； son？ Gadsbud； much better as it is。 Good；
strange！ I swear I'm almost tipsy； t'other bottle would have been too
powerful for me；as sure as can be it would。 We wanted your company；
but Mr。 Briskwhere is he？ I swear and vow he's a most facetious
person； and the best company。 And； my Lord Froth； your lordship is so
merry a man； he； he； he。
LORD FROTH。 Oh； foy； Sir Paul； what do you mean？ Merry！
Oh； barbarous！ I'd as lieve you called me fool。
SIR PAUL。 Nay； I protest and vow now； 'tis true； when Mr。 Brisk
jokes； your lordship's laugh does so become you； he； he； he。
LORD FROTH。 Ridiculous！ Sir Paul； you're strangely mistaken； I
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find champagne is powerful。 I assure you； Sir Paul； I laugh at nobody's
jest but my own； or a lady's； I assure you； Sir Paul。
BRISK。 How？ how； my lord？ what； affront my wit！ Let me perish；
do I never say anything worthy to be laughed at？
LORD FROTH。 Oh； foy； don't misapprehend me； I don't say so； for I
often smile at your conceptions。 But there is nothing more unbecoming a
man of quality than to laugh； 'tis such a vulgar expression of the passion；
everybody can laugh。 Then especially to laugh at the jest of an inferior
person； or when anybody else of the same quality does not laugh with one…
…ridiculous！ To be pleased with what pleases the crowd！ Now when I
laugh； I always laugh alone。
BRISK。 I suppose that's because you laugh at your own jests； i'gad；
ha； ha； ha。
LORD FROTH。 He； he； I swear though； your raillery provokes me to
a smile。
BRISK。 Ay； my lord； it's a sign I hit you in the teeth； if you show
'em。
LORD FROTH。 He； he； he； I swear that's so very pretty； I can't
forbear。
CARE。 I find a quibble bears more sway in your lordship's face than
a jest。
LORD TOUCH。 Sir Paul； if you please we'll retire to the ladies； and
drink a dish of tea to settle our heads。
SIR PAUL。 With all my heart。 Mr。 Brisk； you'll come to us； or call
me when you joke； I'll be ready to laugh incontinently。
SCENE V。
MELLEFONT； CARELESS； LORD FROTH； BRISK。
MEL。 But does your lordship never see comedies？
LORD FROTH。 Oh yes； sometimes； but I never laugh。
MEL。 No？
LORD FROTH。 Oh no； never laugh indeed； sir。
CARE。 No！ why； what d'ye go there for？
LORD FROTH。 To distinguish myself from the commonalty and
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mortify the poets； the fellows grow so conceited； when any of their foolish
wit prevails upon the side…boxes。 I swear；he； he； he； I have often
constrained my inclinations to laugh；he； he； he； to avoid giving them
encouragement。
MEL。 You are cruel to yourself； my lord； as well as malicious to
them。
LORD FROTH。 I confess I did myself some violence at first； but
now I think I have conquered it。
BRISK。 Let me perish； my lord； but there is something very
particular in the humour； 'tis true it makes against wit； and I'm sorry for
some friends of mine that write； but； i'gad； I love to be malicious。 Nay；
deuce take me； there's wit in't； too。 And wit must be foiled by wit； cut a
diamond with a diamond； no other way； i'gad。
LORD FROTH。 Oh； I thought you would not be long before you
found out the wit。
CARE。 Wit！ In what？ Where the devil's the wit in not laughing
when a man has a mind to't？
BRISK。 O Lord； why can't you find it out？ Why； there 'tis； in the
not laughing。 Don't you apprehend me？ My lord； Careless is a very
honest fellow； but harkee； you understand me； somewhat heavy； a little
shallow； or so。 Why； I'll tell you now； suppose now you come up to me
nay； prithee； Careless； be instructed。 Suppose； as I was saying； you come
up to me holding your sides； and laughing as if you wouldwellI look
grave； and ask the cause of this immoderate mirth。 You laugh on still；
and are not able to tell me； still I look grave； not so much as smile。
CARE。 Smile； no； what the devil should you smile at； when you
suppose I can't tell you！
BRISK。 Pshaw； pshaw； prithee don't interrupt me。 But I tell you；
you shall tell me at last； but it shall be a great while first。
CARE。 Well； but prithee don't let it be a great while； because I long
to have it over。
BRISK。 Well then； you tell me some good jest or some very witty
thing； laughing all the while as if you were ready to die； and I hear it； and
look thus。 Would not you be disappointed？
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CARE。 No； for if it were a witty thing I should not expect you to
understand it。
LORD FROTH。 Oh； foy； Mr。 Careless； all the world allows Mr。
Brisk to have wit； my wife says he has a great deal。 I hope you think her
a judge。
BRISK。 Pooh； my lord； his voice goes for nothing； I can't tell how to
make him apprehend。 Take it t'other way。 Suppose I say a witty thing
to you？
CARE。 Then I shall be disappointed indeed。
MEL。 Let him alone； Brisk； he is ob