the match.

MEL. Death and amazement! Madam, upon my knees--

LADY PLYANT. Nay, nay, rise up; come, you shall see my good-nature. I
know love is powerful, and nobody can help his passion. 'Tis not your
fault; nor, I swear, it is not mine. How can I help it, if I have
charms? And how can you help it, if you are made a captive? I swear it
is pity it should be a fault. But my honour,--well, but your honour,
too--but the sin!--well, but the necessity--O Lord, here's somebody
coming, I dare not stay. Well, you must consider of your crime; and
strive as much as can be against it,--strive, be sure. But don't be
melancholic; don't despair. But never think that I'll grant you
anything. O Lord, no. But be sure you lay aside all thoughts of the
marriage, for though I know you don't love Cynthia, only as a blind for
your passion to me, yet it will make me jealous. O Lord, what did I say?
Jealous! no, no, I can't be jealous, for I must not love you; therefore
don't hope,--but don't despair neither. Oh, they're coming, I must fly.

SCENE VI.

MELLEFONT _alone_.

MEL. [_After a pause_.] So then, spite of my care and foresight, I am
caught, caught in my security. Yet this was but a shallow artifice,
unworthy of my Machiavellian aunt. There must be more behind: this is
but the first flash, the priming of her engine. Destruction follows
hard, if not most presently prevented.

SCENE VII.

[_To him_] MASKWELL.

MEL. Maskwell, welcome, thy presence is a view of land, appearing to my
shipwrecked hopes. The witch has raised the storm, and her ministers
have done their work: you see the vessels are parted.

MASK. I know it. I met Sir Paul towing away Cynthia. Come, trouble not
your head; I'll join you together ere to-morrow morning, or drown between
you in the attempt.

MEL. There's comfort in a hand stretched out to one that's sinking;
though ne'er so far off.

MASK. No sinking, nor no danger. Come, cheer up; why, you don't know
that while I plead for you, your aunt has given me a retaining fee. Nay,
I am your greatest enemy, and she does but journey-work under me.

MEL. Ha! how's this?

MASK. What d'ye think of my being employed in the execution of all her
plots? Ha, ha, ha, by heav'n, it's true: I have undertaken to break the
match; I have undertaken to make your uncle disinherit you; to get you
turned out of doors; and to--ha, ha, ha, I can't tell you for laughing.
Oh, she has opene