SCENE II.

_A Room in the Jeweller’s House._

_Enter_ PHŒNIX _and Maid_.

MAID. Here, sir: now you are there, sir, she’ll come down to you instantly. I must not stay with you; my mistress would be jealous: you must do nothing to me; my mistress would find it quickly. [_Exit._ PHŒ. ’S foot, whither am I led? brought in by th’ hand? I hope it can be no harm to stay for a woman, though indeed they were never more dangerous: I have ventured hitherto and safe, and I must venture to stay now. This should be a fair room, but I see it not: the blind parlour calls she it?

_Enter_ JEWELLER’S WIFE.

JEW. WIFE. Where art thou, O my knight? PHŒ. Your knight? I am the duke’s knight. JEW. WIFE. I say you’re my knight, for I’m sure I paid for you. PHŒ. Paid for you?—hum.—’S foot, a light! [_Snatches in a light, and then extinguishes it._ JEW. WIFE. Now out upon the marmoset![903] Hast thou served me so long, and offer to bring in a candle? PHŒ. Fair room, villanous face, and worse woman! I ha’ learnt something by a glimpse a’ th’ candle. [_Aside._ JEW. WIFE. How happened it you came so soon? I looked not for you these two hours; yet, as the sweet chance is, you came as well as a thing could come, for my husband’s newly brought a-bed. PHŒ. And what has Jove sent him? JEW. WIFE. He ne’er sent him any thing since I knew him: he’s a man of a bad nature to his wife; none but his maids can thrive under him. PHŒ. Out upon him! JEW. WIFE. Ay, judge whether I have a cause to be a courtesan or no? to do as I do? An elderly fellow as he is, if he were married to a young virgin, he were able to break her heart, though he could break nothing else. Here, here; there’s just a hundred and fifty [_giving money_]; but I stole ’em so hardly from him, ’twould e’en have grieved you to have seen it. PHŒ. So ’twould, i’faith. JEW. WIFE. Therefore, prithee, my sweet Pleasure, do not keep company so much. How do you think I am able to maintain you? Though I be a jeweller’s wife, jewels are like women, they rise and fall; we must be content to lose sometimes, to gain often; but you’re content always to lose, and never to gain. What need you ride with a footman before you? PHŒ. O, that’s the grace! JEW. WIFE. The grace? ’tis sufficient grace that you’ve a horse to ride upon. You should think thus with yourself every time you go to bed,—if my head were laid, what would become of that horse? he would run a bad race then, as well as his master. PHŒ. Nay, and[904] you give me money to chide me—— JEW. WIFE. No, if it were as much more, I would think it foul scorn to chide you. I advise you to be thrifty, to take the time now, while you have it: you shall seldom get such another fool as I am, I warrant you. Why, there’s Metreza[905] Auriola keeps her love with half the cost that I am at: her friend can go a’ foot like a good husband, walk in worsted stockings, and inquire for the sixpenny ordinary.[906] PHŒ. Pox on’t, and would you have me so base? JEW. WIFE. No, I would not have you so base neither: but now and then, when you keep your chamber, you might let your footman out for eighteenpence a-day; a great relief at year’s end, I can tell you. PHŒ. The age must needs be foul when vice reforms it. [_Aside._ JEW. WIFE. Nay, I’ve a greater quarrel to you yet. PHŒ. I’faith, what is’t? JEW. WIFE. You made me believe at first the prince had you in great estimation, and would not offer to travel without you, nay, that he could not travel without your direction and intelligence. PHŒ. I’m sorry I said so, i’faith; but sure I was overflown[907] when I spoke it, I could ne’er ha’ said it else. JEW. WIFE. Nay more; you swore to me that you were the first that taught him to ride a great horse, and tread[908] the ring with agility. PHŒ. By my troth, I must needs confess I swore a great lie in that, and I was a villain to do it, for I could ne’er ride great horse in my life. JEW. WIFE. Why, lo, who would love you now but a citizen’s wife? so inconstant, so forsworn! You say women are false creatures; but, take away men, and they’d be honester than you. Nay, last of all, which offends me most of all, you told me you could countenance me at court; and you know we esteem a friend there more worth than a husband here. PHŒ. What I spake of that, lady, I’ll maintain. JEW. WIFE. You maintain? you seen at court? PHŒ. Why, by this diamond—— JEW. WIFE. O, take heed! you cannot have that; ’tis always in the eye of my husband. PHŒ. I protest I will not keep it, but only use it for this virtue, as a token to fetch you, and approve[909] my power, where you shall not only be received, but made known to the best and chiefest. JEW. WIFE. O, are you true? PHŒ. Let me lose my revenue[910] else. JEW. WIFE. That’s your word, indeed! and upon that condition take it, this kiss, and my love for ever. [_Giving the diamond._ PHŒ. Enough. JEW. WIFE. Give me thy hand, I’ll lead thee forth. PHŒ. I’m sick of all professions; my thoughts burn: He travels best that knows when to return. [_Aside._ [_Exeunt._