Play on Words

full length · drama

The Double-Dealer: A Comedy

by William Congreve

12 roles (0M / 0F / 12 any) · approx 138–191 minutes · 5 acts

Royalty-free Public domain — free to read, perform, and adapt. No licence needed.

Characters

Mel supporting 125 speeches
Mask supporting 117 speeches
Lady Touch supporting 91 speeches
Sir Paul supporting 84 speeches
Lord Touch supporting 77 speeches
Cynt supporting 74 speeches
Lady Plyant supporting 66 speeches
Care supporting 65 speeches
Lady Froth supporting 63 speeches
Brisk supporting 62 speeches
Lord Froth supporting 48 speeches
Saygrace minor 5 speeches

Read the play

CYNTHIA, LORD TOUCHWOOD.

Cynt. My lord musing!

Lord Touch. He has a quick invention, if this were suddenly designed. Yet he says he had prepared my chaplain already.

Cynt. How's this? Now I fear indeed.

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.

Monologues from this play