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I would he would keep from home like a wise man;

'Tis no place for him now. I would not see him

Of any friend alive. It is not fit

We two should come together; we have abused

Each other mightily: he used me ill

To employ me thus, and I ha' used him worse.

I'm too much even with him.

Enter Anselmus.

Yonder's a sight on him.

WIFE

My loved and honoured lord! Most welcome, sir.

[They kiss.]

LEONELLA

[Aside] Oh, there's a kiss! Methinks my lord might taste

Dissimulation rank in't, if he had wit.

He takes but of the breath of his friend's lip.

A second kiss is here, but that she keeps

For her first friend. We women have no cunning!

WIFE

You parted strangely from me.

ANSELMUS

That's forgotten.

Votarius! I make speed to be in thine arms.

[Embraces Votarius.]

VOTARIUS

You never come too soon, sir.

ANSELMUS

How goes business?

VOTARIUS

Pray think upon some other subject, sir.

What news at court?

ANSELMUS

Pish, answer me!

VOTARIUS

Alas, sir, would you have me work by wonders,

To strike fire out of ice? Y'are a strange lord, sir.

Put me to possible things and find 'em finished

At your return to me. I can say no more.

ANSELMUS

[Taking him aside] I see by this thou didst not try her throughly.

VOTARIUS

How, sir, not throughly! By this light, he lives not

That could make trial of a woman better.

ANSELMUS

I fear thou wast too slack.

VOTARIUS

Good faith, you wrong me, sir.

She never found it so.

ANSELMUS

Then I've a jewel,

And nothing shall be thought too precious for her.

I may advance my forehead and boast purely.

Methinks I see her worth with clear eyes now.

Oh, when a man's opinion is at peace,

'Tis a fine life to marry! No state's like it.

[To Wife] My worthy lady, freely I confess

To thy wronged heart, my passion had alate

Put rudeness on me, which I now put off.

I will no more seem so unfashionable

For pleasure and the chamber of a lady.

WIFE

I'm glad you're changed so well, sir.

VOTARIUS

[Aside] Thank himself for't.

Exeunt Wife and Anselmus.

LEONELLA

[Aside] This comes like physic when the party's dead.

Flows kindness now, when 'tis so ill deserved?

This is the fortune still. Well, for this trick,

I'll save my husband and his friend a labour;

I'll never marry as long as I'm honest,

For commonly queans have the kindest husbands.

Exit Leonella, manet Votarius.

VOTARIUS

I do not like his company now; 'tis irksome.

His eye offends me. Methinks 'tis not kindly

We two should live together in one house,

And 'tis impossible to remove me hence.

I must not give way first. She is my mistress,

And that's a degree kinder than a wife.

Women are always better to their friends

Than to their husbands, and more true to them.

Then let the worst give place, whom she 'as least need on,

He that can best be spared, and that's her husband.

I do not like his overboldness with her;

He's too familiar with the face I love.

I fear the sickness of affection;

I feel a grudging on't. I shall grow jealous

E'en of that pleasure which she has by law,

I shall go so near with her!

Enter Bellarius passing over the stage.

Ha, what's he?

Life, 'tis Bellarius, my rank enemy!

Mine eye snatched so much sight of him. What's his business?

His face half darkened, stealing through the house

With a whoremaster's pace: I like it not.

This lady will be served like a great woman,

With more attendants, I perceive, than one;

She has her shift of friends. My enemy one?

Do we both shun each other's company

In all assemblies public, at all meetings,

And drink to one another in one mistress?

My very thought's my poison. 'Tis high time

To seek for help. Where is our head physician?

A doctor of my making and that lecher's!

Oh, woman, when thou once leav'st to be good,

Thou car'st not who stands next thee! Every sin

Is a companion for thee, for thy once-cracked honesty

Is like the breaking of whole money:

It never comes to good, but wastes away.

Enter Anselmus.

ANSELMUS

Votarius.

VOTARIUS

Ha!

ANSELMUS

We