you may make it a purgatory; and with a little penance and my
absolution all this may turn to good account.

LADY TOUCH. [Aside.] Hold in my passion, and fall, fall a little,
thou swelling heart; let me have some intermission of this rage, and
one minute's coolness to dissemble. [She weeps.]

MEL. You have been to blame. I like those tears, and hope they are
of the purest kind,--penitential tears.

LADY TOUCH. O the scene was shifted quick before me,--I had not
time to think. I was surprised to see a monster in the glass, and
now I find 'tis myself; can you have mercy to forgive the faults I
have imagined, but never put in practice?--O consider, consider how
fatal you have been to me, you have already killed the quiet of this
life. The love of you was the first wandering fire that e'er misled
my steps, and while I had only that in view, I was betrayed into
unthought of ways of ruin.

MEL. May I believe this true?

LADY TOUCH. O be not cruelly incredulous.--How can you doubt these
streaming eyes? Keep the severest eye o'er all my future conduct,
and if I once relapse, let me not hope forgiveness; 'twill ever be
in your power to ruin me. My lord shall sign to your desires; I
will myself create your happiness, and Cynthia shall be this night
your bride. Do but conceal my failings, and forgive.

MEL. Upon such terms I will be ever yours in every honest way.