The Double-Dealer: A Comedy

LADY TOUCHWOOD, LORD TOUCHWOOD, MELLEFONT.

Lord Touch. Hell and amazement, she's in tears.

Lady Touch. [_Kneeling_.] Eternal blessings thank you.--Ha! my lord listening! O fortune has o'erpaid me all, all! all's my own! [_Aside_.]

Mel. Nay, I beseech you rise.

Lady Touch. [_Aloud_.] Never, never! I'll grow to the ground, be buried quick beneath it, e'er I'll be consenting to so damned a sin as incest! unnatural incest!

Mel. Ha!

Lady Touch. O cruel man, will you not let me go? I'll forgive all that's past. O heaven, you will not ravish me?

Mel. Damnation!

Lord Touch. Monster, dog! your life shall answer this! [_Draws and runs at_ MELLEFONT, _is held by_ LADY TOUCHWOOD.]

Lady Touch. O heavens, my lord! Hold, hold, for heaven's sake.

Mel. Confusion, my uncle! O the damned sorceress.

Lady Touch. Moderate your rage, good my lord! He's mad, alas, he's mad. Indeed he is, my lord, and knows not what he does. See how wild he looks.

Mel. By heaven, 'twere senseless not to be mad, and see such witchcraft.

Lady Touch. My lord, you hear him, he talks idly.

Lord Touch. Hence from my sight, thou living infamy to my name; when next I see that face, I'll write villain in't with my sword's point.

Mel. Now, by my soul, I will not go till I have made known my wrongs. Nay, till I have made known yours, which, if possible, are greater,--though she has all the host of hell her servants.

Lady Touch. Alas, he raves! Talks very poetry! For heaven's sake away, my lord, he'll either tempt you to extravagance, or commit some himself.

Mel. Death and furies, will you not hear me?--Why by heaven she laughs, grins, points to your back; she forks out cuckoldom with her fingers, and you're running horn-mad after your fortune. [_As she is going she turns back and smiles at him_.]

Lord Touch. I fear he's mad indeed.--Let's send Maskwell to him.

Mel. Send him to her.

Lady Touch. Come, come, good my lord, my heart aches so, I shall faint if I stay.