BEL. When first, great king, I came into the earth, I chose a wife both young and beautiful, The only daughter to a noble earl; But when the night came that I should her bed, I found another laid there in her stead: And in the morning when I found the change, Though I denied her, I was forc'd to take her. With her I liv'd in such a mild estate, Us'd her still kindly, lov'd her tenderly; Which she requited with such light regard, So loose demeanour, and dishonest life, That she was each man's whore, that was my wife. No hours but gallants flock'd unto my house, Such as she fancied for her loathsome lust, With whom, before my face, she did not spare To play the strumpet. Yea, and more than this, She made my house a stew for all resorts, Herself a bawd to others' filthiness: Which, if I once began but to reprove, O, then, her tongue was worse than all the rest! No ears with patience would endure to hear her, Nor would she ever cease, till I submit[ted]: And then she'd speak me fair, but wish me dead. A hundred drifts she laid to cut me off, Still drawing me to dangers of my life. And now, my twelvemonth being near expir'd, She poison'd me; and least that means should fail, She entic'd a captain to've murdered me. In brief, whatever tongue can tell of ill, All that may well be spoken of my dame. AKER. Poor Akercock was fain to fly her sight, For never an hour but she laid on me; Her tongue and fist walked all so nimbly. PLU. Doth then, Belphegor, this report of thine Against all women hold in general? BEL. Not so, great prince: for, as 'mongst other creatures, Under that sex are mingled good and bad. There are some women virtuous, chaste, and true; And to all those the devil will give their due. But, O, my dame, born for a scourge[482] to man! For no mortality [I] would endure that, Which she a thousand times hath offered me. PLU. But what new shapes are those upon thy head? BEL. These are the ancient arms of cuckoldry, And these my dame hath kindly left to me; For which Belphegor shall be here derided, Unless your great infernal majesty Do solemnly proclaim, no devil shall scorn Hereafter still to wear the goodly horn.