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Why didst thou long to be restrained? Pray speak, sir.

VOTARIUS

A man cannot cozen you of the sin of weakness,

Or borrow it of a woman for one hour,

But how he's wondered at, where, search your lives,

We shall ne'er find it from you. We can suffer you

To play away your days in idleness,

And hide your imperfections with our loves,

Or the most part of you would appear strange creatures,

And now 'tis but our chance to make an offer

And snatch at folly, running, yet to see

How earnest y'are against us, as if we had robbed you

Of the best gift your natural mother left you!

WIFE

'Tis worth a kiss, i'faith, and thou shalt ha't

Were there not one more left for my lord's supper.

And now, sir, I've bethought myself.

VOTARIUS

That's happy!

WIFE

You say we're weak, but the best wits on you all

Are glad of our advice, for aught I see,

And hardly thrive without us.

VOTARIUS

I'll say so too.

To give you encouragement and advance your virtues

'Tis not good always to keep down a woman.

WIFE

Well, sir, since y'ave begun to make my lord

A doubtful man of me, keep on that course

And ply his faith still with that poor belief

That I'm inclining unto wantonness.

Take heed you pass no further now.

VOTARIUS

Why, dost think

I'll be twice mad together in one moon?

That were too much for any freeman's son

After his father's funeral.

WIFE

Well, then thus, sir.

Upholding still the same, as being emboldened

By some loose glance of mine, you shall attempt,

After y'ave placed my lord in some near closet,

To thrust yourself into my chamber rudely,

As if the game went forward to your thinking.

Then leave the rest to me. I'll so reward thee

With bitterness of words--but prithee pardon 'em--

My lord shall swear me into honesty

Enough to serve his mind all his life after.

Nay, for a need, I'll draw some rapier forth,

That shall come near my hand as 'twere by chance,

And set a lively face upon my rage.

But fear thou nothing; I too dearly love thee

To let harm touch thee.

VOTARIUS

Oh, it likes me rarely!

I'll choose a precious time for't.

WIFE

Go thy ways; I'm glad I had it for thee.

Exit Votarius. Enter Leonella.

[LEONELLA]

Madam, my lord entreats your company.

WIFE

Pshaw ye!

LEONELLA

Pshaw ye!

My lords entreats your company.

WIFE

What [now]?

Are ye so short-heeled?

LEONELLA

I am as my betters are, then!

WIFE

How came you by such impudence alate, minion?

Y'are not content to entertain your playfellow

In your own chamber closely, which I think

Is large allowance for a lady's woman.

There's many a good knight's daughter is in service

And cannot get such favour of her mistress

But what she has by stealth; she and the chambermaid

Are glad of one between 'em: and must you

Give such bold freedom to your long-nosed fellow

That every room must take a taste of him?

LEONELLA

Does that offend your ladyship?

WIFE

How think you, forsooth?

LEONELLA

Then he shall do't again!

WIFE

What!

LEONELLA

And again, madam,

So often till it please your ladyship;

And when you like it, he shall do't no more.

WIFE

What's this?

LEONELLA

I know no difference, virtuous madam,

But in love all have privilege alike.

WIFE

Y'are a bold quean!

LEONELLA

And are not you my mistress?

WIFE

This well, i'faith!

LEONELLA

[Aside] You spare not your own flesh no more than I;

Hell take me and I spare you!

WIFE

[Aside] Oh, the wrongs

That ladies do their honours when they make

Their slaves familiar with their weaknesses!

They're ever thus rewarded for that deed:

They stand in fear e'en of the grooms they feed.

I must be forced to speak my woman fair now,

And be first friends with her. Nay, all too little.

She may undo me at her pleasure else;

She knows the way so well, myself not better.

My wanton folly made a key for her

To all the private treasure of my heart;

She may do what she list.--Come, Leonella,

I am not angry with thee.

LEONELLA

Pish!

WIFE

Faith, I am not.

LEONELLA

Why, what care I and you be?

WIFE