the double-dealer(两面派)-第21节
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LORD TOUCH。 Cynthia here！ Alone； fair cousin； and
melancholy？
CYNT。 Your lordship was thoughtful。
LORD TOUCH。 My thoughts were on serious business not worth
your hearing。
CYNT。 Mine were on treachery concerning you； and may be worth
your hearing。
LORD TOUCH。 Treachery concerning me？ Pray be plain。 Hark！
What noise？
MASK。 （within） Will you not hear me？
LADY TOUCH。 （within） No； monster！ traitor！ No。 CYNT。
My lady and Maskwell！ This may be lucky。 My lord； let me entreat
you to stand behind this screen and listen： perhaps this chance may give
you proof of what you ne'er could have believed from my suspicions。
SCENE XVII。
LADY TOUCHWOOD with a dagger； MASKWELL； CYNTHIA
and LORD TOUCHWOOD abscond； listening。
LADY TOUCH。 You want but leisure to invent fresh falsehood； and
soothe me to a fond belief of all your fictions： but I will stab the lie that's
forming in your heart； and save a sin； in pity to your soul。
MASK。 Strike then； since you will have it so。
LADY TOUCH。 Ha！ A steady villain to the last。
MASK。 Come； why do you dally with me thus？
LADY TOUCH。 Thy stubborn temper shocks me； and you knew it
would； this is cunning all； and not courage。 No； I know thee well； but
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thou shalt miss thy aim。
MASK。 Ha； ha； ha！
LADY TOUCH。 Ha！ Do you mock my rage？ Then this shall
punish your fond； rash contempt。 Again smile！ ＇Goes to strike。＇ And
such a smile as speaks in ambiguity！ Ten thousand meanings lurk in each
corner of that various face。
Oh！ that they were written in thy heart； That I； with this； might lay thee
open to my sight！ But then 'twill be too late to know …
Thou hast； thou hast found the only way to turn my rage。 Too well
thou knowest my jealous soul could never bear uncertainty。 Speak； then；
and tell me。 Yet are you silent。 Oh； I am wildered in all passions。 But
thus my anger melts。 ＇Weeps。＇ Here； take this poniard； for my very
spirits faint； and I want strength to hold it； thou hast disarmed my soul。
＇Gives the dagger。＇
LORD TOUCH。 Amazement shakes me。 Where will this end？
MASK。 So； 'tis welllet your wild fury have a vent； and when you
have temper； tell me。
LADY TOUCH。 Now； now； now I am calm and can hear you。
MASK。 ＇Aside。＇ Thanks； my invention； and now I have it for you。
First； tell me what urged you to this violence： for your passion broke in
such imperfect terms； that yet I am to learn the cause。 LADY TOUCH。
My lord himself surprised me with the news you were to marry Cynthia；
that you had owned our love to him； and his indulgence would assist you
to attain your ends。
CYNT。 How； my lord？
LORD TOUCH。 Pray forbear all resentments for a while； and let us
hear the rest。
MASK。 I grant you in appearance all is true； I seemed consenting to
my lordnay； transported with the blessing。 But could you think that I；
who had been happy in your loved embraces； could e'er be fond of an
inferior slavery？
LORD TOUCH。 Ha！ Oh； poison to my ears！ What do I hear？
CYNT。 Nay； good my lord； forbear resentment； let us hear it out。
LORD TOUCH。 Yes； I will contain； though I could burst。
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MASK。 I； that had wantoned in the rich circle of your world of love；
could be confined within the puny province of a girl？ No。 Yet though I
dote on each last favour more than all the rest； though I would give a limb
for every look you cheaply throw away on any other object of your love：
yet so far I prize your pleasures o'er my own； that all this seeming plot that
I have laid has been to gratify your taste and cheat the world； to prove a
faithful rogue to you。
LADY TOUCH。 If this were true。 But how can it be？
MASK。 I have so contrived that Mellefont will presently； in the
chaplain's habit； wait for Cynthia in your dressing…room； but I have put the
change upon her； that she may be other where employed。 Do you
procure her night…gown； and with your hoods tied over your face； meet
him in her stead。 You may go privately by the back stairs； and；
unperceived； there you may propose to reinstate him in his uncle's favour；
if he'll comply with your desireshis case is desperate； and I believe he'll
yield to any conditions。 If not here； take this； you may employ it better
than in the heart of one who is nothing when not yours。 ＇Gives the
dagger。＇
LADY TOUCH。 Thou can'st deceive everybody。 Nay； thou hast
deceived me； but 'tis as I would wish。 Trusty villain！ I could worship
thee。 MASK。 No more； it wants but a few minutes of the time； and
Mellefont's love will carry him there before his hour。
LADY TOUCH。 I go； I fly； incomparable Maskwell！
SCENE XVIII。
MASKWELL； CYNTHIA； LORD TOUCHWOOD。
MASK。 So； this was a pinch indeed； my invention was upon the rack；
and made discovery of her last plot。 I hope Cynthia and my chaplain will
be ready； I'll prepare for the expedition。
SCENE XIX。
CYNTHIA and LORD TOUCHWOOD。
CYNT。 Now； my lord？
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LORD TOUCH。 Astonishment binds up my rage！ Villainy upon
villainy！ Heavens； what a long track of dark deceit has this discovered！ I
am confounded when I look back； and want a clue to guide me through the
various mazes of unheard…of treachery。 My wife！ Damnation！ My
hell！
CYNT。 My lord； have patience； and be sensible how great our
happiness is； that this discovery was not made too late。
LORD TOUCH。 I thank you； yet it may be still too late； if we don't
presently prevent the execution of their plots；ha； I'll do't。 Where's
Mellefont； my poor injured nephew？ How shall I make him ample
satisfaction？
CYNT。 I dare answer for him。
LORD TOUCH。 I do him fresh wrong to question his forgiveness；
for I know him to be all goodness。 Yet my wife！ Damn her：… she'll
think to meet him in that dressing…room。 Was't not so？ And Maskwell
will expect you in the chaplain's chamber。 For once； I'll add my plot
too：… let us haste to find out； and inform my nephew； and do you； quickly
as you can； bring all the company into this gallery。 I'll expose the
strumpet； and the villain。
SCENE XX。
LORD FROTH and SIR PAUL。
LORD FROTH。 By heavens； I have slept an age。 Sir Paul； what
o'clock is't？ Past eight； on my conscience； my lady's is the most inviting
couch； and a slumber there is the prettiest amusement！ But where's all
the company？
SIR PAUL。 The company； gads…bud； I don't know； my lord； but
here's the strangest revolution； all turned topsy turvy； as I hope for
providence。
LORD FROTH。 O heavens； what's the matter？ Where's my wife？
SIR PAUL。 All turned topsy turvy as sure as a gun。
LORD FROTH。 How do you mean？ My wife？
SIR PAUL。 The strangest posture of affairs！
LORD FROTH。 What； my wife？
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SIR PAUL。 No； no； I mean the family。 Your lady's affairs may be
in a very good posture； I saw her go into the garden with Mr。 Brisk。
LORD FROTH。 How？ Where； when； what to do？
SIR PAUL。 I suppose they have been laying their heads together。
LORD FROTH
