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176 WILLIAM CONGREVE [ACT v
lent him, and that I have recalled; so I have served myself,
and what is yet better, I have served a worthy lord, to
whom I owe myself.
Lord Touch. [Aside.] Excellent man!
Mask. Yet I am wretched.—D there is a secret burns
within this breast, which should it once blaze forth, would
ruin all, consume my honest character, and brand me with
the name of villain!
Lord Touch. [Aside.] Ha!
Mask. Why do I love! Yet Heaven and my waking conscience
are my witnesses, 1 never pave one working
thought a vent, which might discover that I loved, nor ever
must; no, let it prey upon my heart; for I would rather
die, than seem once, barely seem dishonest.—O, should it
once be known I love fair Cynthia, all this that I have
done would look like rival's malice, false friendship to my
lord, and base self-interest. Let me perish first, and from
this hour avoid all sight and speech, and, if I can, all
thought of that pernicious beauty. Ha! but what is my
distraction doing? I am wildly talking to myself, and some
ill chance might have directed malicious ears this way.
[Seems to start, seeing Lord TOUCHWOOD.
Lord Touch. Start not—let guilty and dishonest souls
start at the revelation of their thoughts, but be thou fixed
as is thy virtue.
Majf(. I am confounded, and beg your lordship's pardon
for those free discourses which I have had with myself.
Lord Touch. Come, I beg your pardon that I overheard
you, and yet it shall not need. Honest Maskwell! thy and
my good genius led me hither: mine, in that I have discovered
so much manly virtue; thine, in that thou shalt
have due reward of all thy worth. Give me thy hand—my
nephew is the alone remaining branch of all our ancient
family; him I thus blow away, and constitute thee in his
room to be my heir.
Mask. Now, Heaven forbid—
Lord Touch. No more—I have resolved.—The writings
are ready drawn, and wanted nothing but to be signed, and
have his name inserted:—yours will fill the blank as well.—
I will have no reply.—Let me command this time; for 'tis
the last in which I will assume authority—hereafter you
shall rule where I have power.