the double-dealer(两面派)-第13节
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LORD FROTH。 Foh！
LADY FROTH。 Then she's always ready to laugh when Sneer offers
to speak； and sits in expectation of his no jest； with her gums bare； and her
mouth open …
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BRISK。 Like an oyster at low ebb； egad。 Ha； ha； ha！
CYNT。 ＇Aside＇ Well； I find there are no fools so inconsiderable in
themselves but they can render other people contemptible by exposing
their infirmities。
LADY FROTH。 Then that t'other great strapping ladyI can't hit of
her name； the old fat fool that paints so exorbitantly。
BRISK。 I know whom you meanbut deuce take me； I can't hit of
her name neither。 Paints； d'ye say？ Why； she lays it on with a trowel。
Then she has a great beard that bristles through it； and makes her look as if
she were plastered with lime and hair； let me perish。
LADY FROTH。 Oh； you made a song upon her； Mr。 Brisk。
BRISK。 He！ egad； so I did。 My lord can sing it。
CYNT。 O good； my lord； let's hear it。
BRISK。 'Tis not a song neither； it's a sort of an epigram； or rather an
epigrammatic sonnet； I don't know what to call it； but it's satire。 Sing it；
my lord。
LORD FROTH sings。
Ancient Phyllis has young graces； 'Tis a strange thing； but a true one；
Shall I tell you how？ She herself makes her own faces； And each morning
wears a new one； Where's the wonder now？
BRISK。 Short； but there's salt in't； my way of writing； egad。
SCENE XI。
＇To them＇ FOOTMAN。
LADY FROTH。 How now？
FOOT。 Your ladyship's chair is come。
LADY FROTH。 Is nurse and the child in it？
FOOT。 Yes； madam。
LADY FROTH。 O the dear creature！ Let's go see it。
LORD FROTH。 I swear； my dear； you'll spoil that child； with
sending it to and again so often； this is the seventh time the chair has gone
for her to…day。
LADY FROTH。 O law！ I swear it's but the sixthand I haven't
seen her these two hours。 The poor creatureI swear； my lord； you don't
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love poor little Sapho。 Come； my dear Cynthia； Mr。 Brisk； we'll go see
Sapho； though my lord won't。
CYNT。 I'll wait upon your ladyship。
BRISK。 Pray； madam； how old is Lady Sapho？
LADY FROTH。 Three…quarters； but I swear she has a world of wit；
and can sing a tune already。 My lord； won't you go？ Won't you？
What！ not to see Saph？ Pray； my lord； come see little Saph。 I knew you
could not stay。
SCENE XII。
CYNTHIA alone。
CYNT。 'Tis not so hard to counterfeit joy in the depth of affliction； as
to dissemble mirth in company of fools。 Why should I call 'em fools？
The world thinks better of 'em； for these have quality and education； wit
and fine conversation； are received and admired by the world。 If not；
they like and admire themselves。 And why is not that true wisdom？ for
'tis happiness： and for ought I know； we have misapplied the name all
this while； and mistaken the thing： since
If happiness in self…content is placed； The wise are wretched； and
fools only bless'd。
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
ACT IV
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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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 you
