my spirits faint, a general dampness overspreads my face, a cold deadly
dew already vents through all my pores, and will to-morrow wash me for
ever from your sight, and drown me in my tomb.

LADY PLYANT. Oh, you have conquered, sweet, melting, moving sir, you
have conquered. What heart of marble can refrain to weep, and yield to
such sad sayings! [_Cries_.]

CARE. I thank Heaven, they are the saddest that I ever said. Oh! (I
shall never contain laughter.) [_Aside_.]

LADY PLYANT. Oh, I yield myself all up to your uncontrollable embraces.
Say, thou dear dying man, when, where, and how. Ah, there's Sir Paul.

CARE. 'Slife, yonder's Sir Paul, but if he were not come, I'm so
transported I cannot speak. This note will inform you. [_Gives her a
note_.]

SCENE III.

LADY PLYANT, SIR PAUL, CYNTHIA.

SIR PAUL. Thou art my tender lambkin, and shalt do what thou wilt. But
endeavour to forget this Mellefont.

CYNT. I would obey you to my power, sir; but if I have not him, I have
sworn never to marry.

SIR PAUL. Never to marry! Heavens forbid! must I neither have sons nor
grandsons? Must the family of the Plyants be utterly extinct for want of
issue male? O impiety! But did you swear, did that sweet creature
swear? ha! How durst you swear without my consent, ah? Gads-bud, who am
I?

CYNT. Pray don't be angry, sir, when I swore I had your consent; and
therefore I swore.

SIR PAUL. Why then the revoking my consent does annul, or make of none
effect your oath; so you may unswear it again. The law will allow it.

CYNT. Ay, but my conscience never will.

SIR PAUL. Gads-bud, no matter for that, conscience and law never go
together; you must not expect that.

LADY PLYANT. Ay, but, Sir Paul, I conceive if she has sworn, d'ye mark
me, if she has once sworn, it is most unchristian, inhuman, and obscene
that she should break it. I'll make up the match again, because Mr.
Careless said it would oblige him. [_Aside_.]

SIR PAUL. Does your ladyship conceive so? Why, I was of that opinion
once too. Nay, if your ladyship conceives so, I'm of that opinion again;
but I can neither find my lord nor my lady to know what they intend.

LADY PLYANT. I'm satisfied that my cousin Mellefont has been much
wronged.

CYNT. [_Aside_.] I'm amazed to find her of our side, for I'm sure she
loved him.

LADY PLYANT. I know my Lady Touchwood has no kindness for him; and
besides I have been informed by M