SCENE IV.

_Venice.--A street._

_Enter_ Lady LENTULUS, ABIGAIL, _and_ THAIS.

_Abi._ Well, madam, you see the destiny that follows marriage: Our husbands are quiet now, and must suffer the law.

_Tha._ If my husband had been worth the begging, some courtier would have had him; he might be begg'd[287] well enough, for he knows not his own wife from another.

_Lady Lent._ O, you're a couple of trusty wenches, to deceive your husbands thus!

_Abi._ If we had not deceived them thus, we had been truss'd wenches.

_Tha._ Our husbands will be hang'd, because they think themselves cuckolds. 11

_Abi._ If all true cuckolds were of that mind, the hangman would be the richest occupation, and more wealthy widows than there be younger brothers to marry them.

_Tha._ The merchant venturers would be a very small company.

_Abi._ 'Tis twelve to one of that; however the rest 'scape, I shall fear a massacre.

_Tha._ If my husband hereafter, for his wealth, chance to be dubb'd, I'll have him call'd the knight of the supposed horn. 22

_Abi._ Faith, and it sounds well.

_Lady Lent._ Come, madcaps, leave jesting, and let's deliver them out of their earthly purgation; you are the spirits that torment them; but my love and lord, kind Mendoza, will lose his life to preserve mine honour, not for hate to others.

_Abi._ By my troth, if I had been his judge, I should have hang'd him, for having no more wit; I speak as I think, for I would not be hang'd for ne'er a man under the heav'ns. 32

_Tha._ Faith, I think I should for my husband: I do not hold the opinion of the philosopher, that writes, we love them best that we enjoy first; for I protest I love my husband better than any that did know me before.

_Abi._ So do I; yet life and pleasure are two sweet things to a woman.

_Lady Lent._ He that's willing to die to save mine honour, I'll die to save his. 40

_Abi._ Tut, believe it who that list, we love a lively man, I grant you; but to maintain that life I'll ne'er consent to die. This is a rule I still will keep in breast, Love well thy husband, wench, but thyself best!

_Tha._ I have followed your counsel hitherto, and mean to do still.

_Lady Lent._ Come, we neglect our business; 'tis no jesting; To-morrow they are executed 'less we reprieve them. We be their destinies to cast their fate. 50 Let's all go.

_Abi._ I fear not to come late.

[_Exeunt._

[287] _i.e._, he might be _begged for a fool_.--See Nares' _Glossary_.