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LADY FROTH。 More wit than anybody。
BRISK。 I'm everlastingly your humble servant； deuce take me；
madam。
LORD FROTH。 Don't you think us a happy couple？
CYNT。 I vow； my lord； I think you the happiest couple in the world；
for you're not only happy in one another； and when you are together； but
happy in yourselves； and by yourselves。
LORD FROTH。 I hope Mellefont will make a good husband too。
CYNT。 'Tis my interest to believe he will； my Lord。
LORD FROTH。 D'ye think he'll love you as well as I do my wife？
I'm afraid not。
CYNT。 I believe he'll love me better。
LORD FROTH。 Heav'ns！ that can never be。 But why do you think
so？
CYNT。 Because he has not so much reason to be fond of himself。
LORD FROTH。 Oh； your humble servant for that； dear madam。
Well； Mellefont； you'll be a happy creature。
MEL。 Ay； my lord； I shall have the same reason for my happiness
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
that your lordship has； I shall think myself happy。
LORD FROTH。 Ah； that's all。
BRISK。 ＇To LADY FROTH。＇ Your ladyship is in the right； but；
i'gad； I'm wholly turned into satire。 I confess I write but seldom； but
when I dokeen iambics； i'gad。 But my lord was telling me your
ladyship has made an essay toward an heroic poem。
LADY FROTH。 Did my lord tell you？ Yes； I vow； and the subject
is my lord's love to me。 And what do you think I call it？ I dare swear
you won't guessTHE SILLABUB； ha； ha； ha。
BRISK。 Because my lord's title's Froth； i'gad； ha； ha； ha； deuce take
me； very e propos and surprising； ha； ha； ha。
LADY FROTH。 He； ay； is not it？ And then I call my lord Spumoso；
and myself； what d'ye think I call myself？
BRISK。 Lactilla； may be；i'gad； I cannot tell。
LADY FROTH。 Biddy； that's all； just my own name。
BRISK。 Biddy！ I'gad； very pretty。 Deuce take me if your
ladyship has not the art of surprising the most naturally in the world。 I
hope you'll make me happy in communicating the poem。
LADY FROTH。 Oh； you must be my confidant； I must ask your
advice。
BRISK。 I'm your humble servant； let me perish。 I presume your
ladyship has read Bossu？
LADY FROTH。 Oh yes； and Racine； and Dacier upon Aristotle and
Horace。 My lord； you must not be jealous； I'm communicating all to Mr。
Brisk。
LORD FROTH。 No； no； I'll allow Mr。 Brisk； have you nothing about
you to shew him； my dear？
LADY FROTH。 Yes； I believe I have。 Mr。 Brisk； come； will you go
into the next room？ and there I'll shew you what I have。
LORD FROTH。 I'll walk a turn in the garden； and come to you。
SCENE III。
MELLEFONT； CYNTHIA。
MEL。 You're thoughtful； Cynthia？
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CYNT。 I'm thinking； though marriage makes man and wife one flesh；
it leaves 'em still two fools； and they become more conspicuous by setting
off one another。
MEL。 That's only when two fools meet； and their follies are opposed。
CYNT。 Nay； I have known two wits meet； and by the opposition of
their wit render themselves as ridiculous as fools。 'Tis an odd game we're
going to play at。 What think you of drawing stakes； and giving over in
time？
MEL。 No； hang't； that's not endeavouring to win； because it's
possible we may lose； since we have shuffled and cut； let's even turn up
trump now。
CYNT。 Then I find it's like cards； if either of us have a good hand it
is an accident of fortune。
MEL。 No； marriage is rather like a game at bowls： fortune indeed
makes the match； and the two nearest； and sometimes the two farthest； are
together； but the game depends entirely upon judgment。
CYNT。 Still it is a game； and consequently one of us must be a loser。
MEL。 Not at all； only a friendly trial of skill； and the winnings to be
laid out in an entertainment。 What's here； the music？ Oh； my lord has
promised the company a new song； we'll get 'em to give it us by the way。
＇Musicians crossing the stage。＇ Pray let us have the favour of you； to
practise the song before the company hear it。
SONG。
I。
Cynthia frowns whene'er I woo her； Yet she's vext if I give over； Much
she fears I should undo her； But much more to lose her lover： Thus； in
doubting； she refuses； And not winning； thus she loses。
II。 Prithee； Cynthia； look behind you； Age and wrinkles will o'ertake
you； Then too late desire will find you； When the power must forsake you：
Think； O think o' th' sad condition； To be past； yet wish fruition。
MEL。 You shall have my thanks below。 ＇To the musicians； they
go out。＇
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SCENE IV。
＇To them＇ SIR PAUL PLYANT and LADY PLYANT。
SIR PAUL。 Gadsbud！ I am provoked into a fermentation； as my
Lady Froth says； was ever the like read of in story？
LADY PLYANT。 Sir Paul； have patience； let me alone to rattle him
up。
SIR PAUL。 Pray； your ladyship； give me leave to be angry。 I'll
rattle him up； I warrant you； I'll firk him with a CERTIORARI。
LADY PLYANT。 You firk him； I'll firk him myself； pray； Sir Paul；
hold you contented。
CYNT。 Bless me； what makes my father in such a passion？ I never
saw him thus before。
SIR PAUL。 Hold yourself contented； my Lady Plyant。 I find
passion coming upon me by inflation； and I cannot submit as formerly；
therefore give way。
LADY PLYANT。 How now！ will you be pleased to retire and …
SIR PAUL。 No； marry will I not be pleased： I am pleased to be
angry； that's my pleasure at this time。
MEL。 What can this mean？
LADY PLYANT。 Gads my life； the man's distracted； why； how now；
who are you？ What am I？ Slidikins； can't I govern you？ What did I
marry you for？ Am I not to be absolute and uncontrollable？