CON. Well, I see now a rich well-practis'd bawd May purse more fees in a summer's progress Than a well-traded lawyer in a whole term. Pandarism! why, 'tis grown a liberal science, Or a new sect, and the good professors Will (like the Brownist) frequent gravel-pits shortly, For they use woods and obscure holes already. [_Exit._ _Enter_ TAFFATA _and_ BOUTCHER. TAF. Not marry a widow? BOUT. No. TAF. And why? Belike, you think it base and servant-like To feed upon reversion: you hold us widows, But as a pie thrust to the lower end, That hath had many fingers in't before, And is reserv'd for gross and hungry stomachs. BOUT. You much mistake me. TAF. Come, in faith, you do: And let me tell you that's but ceremony; For though the pie be broken up before, Yet, says the proverb, the deeper is the sweeter. And though a capon's wings and legs be carv'd, The flesh left with the rump, I hope, is sweet. I tell you, sir, I have been woo'd and sued to By worthy knights of fair demesnes: nay, more, They have been out of debt; yet till this hour I neither could endure to be in love Or be beloved; but proffer'd ware is cheap. What's lawful, that is loath'd, and things denied Are with more stronger appetite pursu'd. I am too yielding. BOUT. You mistake my thoughts. But know, thou wonder of this continent, By one more skill'd in unknown fate than was The blind Achaian Prophet,[340] 'twas foretold, A widow should endanger both my life, My soul, my lands, and reputation. This checks my thoughts, and cools th' essential fire Of sacred love, more ardent in my breast Than speech can utter. TAF. A trivial idle jest! Is't[341] for a man of your repute and note To credit fortune-tellers? A petty rogue, That never saw five shillings in a heap, Will take upon him to divine men's fate, Yet never knows himself shall die a beggar, Or be hanged up for pilfering table-cloths, Shirts and smocks, hang'd out to dry on hedges. Tis merely[342] base to trust them: or if there be A man in whom the Delphic god hath breath'd His true divining fire, that can foretell The fix'd decree of fate--he likewise knows What is within the everlasting book Of destiny decreed, cannot by wit Or man's invention be dissolv'd or shunn'd. Then give thy love free scope, embrace and kiss, And to the distaff-sisters leave th' event. BOUT. How powerful are their words whom we affect! Small force shall need to win the strongest fort, If to his state the captain be perfidious. I must entreat you license my depart For some few hours. TAF. Choose what you will of time: There lies your way. [_Moves away._ BOUT. I will entreat her [_aside._] Stay. TAF. Did you call, sir?