第 二十一 章 · MELLEFONT _alone_.

MEL. Oh, I could curse my stars, fate, and chance; all causes and

accidents of fortune in this life! But to what purpose? Yet, 'sdeath,

for a man to have the fruit of all his industry grow full and ripe, ready

to drop into his mouth, and just when he holds out his hand to gather it,

to have a sudden whirlwind come, tear up tree and all, and bear away the

very root and foundation of his hopes:--what temper can contain? They

talk of sending Maskwell to me; I never had more need of him. But what

can he do? Imagination cannot form a fairer and more plausible design

than this of his which has miscarried. O my precious aunt, I shall never

thrive without I deal with the devil, or another woman.

Women, like flames, have a destroying power,

Ne'er to be quenched, till they themselves devour.

SCENE 22.