SOPH. I have a wife; would she were so preferr'd! I could be but her subject, so I'm now; I allow her her own friend to stop her mouth, And keep her quiet, quit him his table free, And the huge feeding of his great stone horse, On which he rides in pomp about the city, Only to speak to gallants in bay-windows; Marry, his lodging he pays dearly for: He gets me all my children, there I save by't: Beside, I draw my life out by the bargain Some twelve years longer than the times appointed; When my young prodigal gallant kicks up's heels At one-and-thirty, and lies dead and rotten Some five-and-forty years, before I'm coffin'd. 'Tis the right way to keep a woman honest, One friend is barricado to a hundred, And keeps 'em out: nay, more--a husband's sure To have his children all of one man's getting, And he that performs best, can have no better. I'm e'en as happy then, that save a labour. [_Exit_ SOPHONIRUS. TYR. Thy honours with thy daughters love shall rise, I shall read thy deservings in her eyes. HEL. O, may they be eternal books of pleasure. To show you all delight! GOV. The loss of her sits closer to my heart Than that of kingdom or the whorish pomp Of this world's titles, that with flattery swells us, And makes us die like beasts fat for destruction. O, she's a woman, and her eye will stand Upon advancement, never weary wonder[449]. But when she turns her head by chance, and sees The fortunes that are my companions, She'll snatch her eyes off, and repent the looking. TYR. 'Tis well-advis'd; we doom thee, Govianus, To banishment for ever from our kingdom. GOV. What could be worse to one whose heart is lock'd Up in another's bosom? Banishment! And why not death? Is that too easy for me? TYR. But that the world would call our way to dignity A path of blood, it should be the first act in all our reign. GOV. She's lost for ever; farewell, virtuous men, Too honest for your greatness! now you're mightier Than when we knew the kingdom; your style's heavier Than ponderous nobility. Farewell! 3D NOB. How's that, sir?