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sCENE i] THE DOUBLE-DEALER 139<br />
Mel. Madam, pray give me leave to ask you one question.<br />
Lady Ply. D lord, ask me the question! I'll swear I'll<br />
refuse it! I swear I'll deny it!—therefore don't ask me: nay,<br />
you shan't ask me; I swear I'll deny it. O gcmini, you<br />
have brought all the blood into my face! I warrant I am<br />
as red as a turkey-cock; O fy, Cousin Mellcfont!<br />
Mel. Nay, madam, hear me; I mean—<br />
Lady Ply. Hear you! no, no; I'll deny you first, and<br />
hear you afterward. For one does not know how one's<br />
mind may change upon hearing.—Hearing is one of the<br />
senses, and all the senses are fallible; I won't trust my<br />
honour, I assure you; my honour is infallible and uncomeatable.<br />
Mel. For Heaven's sake, madam—<br />
Lady Ply. O name it no more!—Bless me, how can you<br />
talk of Heaven! and have so much wickedness in your<br />
heart? Maybe you don't think it a sin.—They say some<br />
of you gentlemen don't think it a sin.—Maybe it is no sin<br />
to them that don't think it so; indeed, if I did not think<br />
it a sin—but still my honour, if it were no sin.—But then,<br />
to marry my daughter, for the conveniency of frequent<br />
opportunities, I'll never consent to that; as sure as can be,<br />
I'll break the match.<br />
Mel. Death and amazement!—Madam, upon my knees—<br />
Lady Ply. Nay, nay, rise up! come, you shall sec my<br />
good nature. I know love is powerful, and nobody can<br />
help his passion: 'tis not your fault, nor I swear it is not<br />
mine.—How can I help it, if I have charms? and how<br />
can you help it if you are made a captive? I swear it is pity<br />
it should be a fault.—But my honour,—well, but your<br />
honour too—but the sin!—well, but the necessity—O Lord,<br />
here's somebody coming, I dare not stay. Well, you must<br />
consider of your crime; and strive as much as can be against<br />
it,—strive, be sure—but don't be melancholic, don't despair.<br />
—But never think that I'll grant you anything; O Lord, no,<br />
—But be sure you lay aside all thoughts of the marriage:<br />
for though I know you don't love Cynthia, only as a blind<br />
to your passion for me, yet it will make me jealous.—O<br />
Lord, what did I say? jealous! no, no, I can't be jealous,<br />
for I must not love you—therefore don't hope,—but don't<br />
despair neither.—O, they're coming! I must fly. [Exit.<br />
Mel. \Ajter a pause.] So then, spite of my care and<br />
foresight, I am caught, caught in my security.—Yet this
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