VOT. His very name shoots like a fever through me, Now hot, now cold: which cheek shall I turn toward him, For fear he should read guiltiness in my looks? I would he would keep from hence, like a wise man: 'Tis no place for him now; I would not see him Of any friend alive! it is not fit We two should come together, we have abus'd Each other mightily; he used me ill T'employ me thus, and I have used him worse; I'm too much even with him---- _Enter_ ANSELMUS. Yonder's a sight of him. WIFE. My lov'd and honour'd lord? Most welcome, sir. LEO. O, there's a kiss! methinks my lord might taste Dissimulation rank in't, if he had wit. He takes but of the breath of his friend's life, A second kiss is hers, but that she keeps For her first friend: we women have no cunning! [_Aside._ WIFE. You parted strangely from me. ANS. That's forgotten! Votarius, I make speed to be in thine arms. VOT. You never 'come too soon, sir. ANS. How goes business? [_Aside._ VOT. Pray, think upon some other subject, sir. What news at court? ANS. Pish! answer me. [_Aside._ VOT. Alas! sir, would you have me work my wonders, To strike fire out of ye? y' are a strange lord, sir; Put me to possible things, and find 'em finish'd At your return to me; I can say no more. [_Aside._ ANS. I see by this thou didst not try her throughly. [_Aside._ VOT. How, sir, not throughly! by this light, he lives not, That could make trial of a woman better. [_Aside._ ANS. I fear thou wast too slack. [_Aside._ VOT. Good faith, you wrong me, sir. She never found it so. [_Aside._ ANS. Then I've a jewel, And nothing shall be thought too precious for her. I may advance my forehead, and breathe[462] purely: Methinks I see her worth with clear eyes now. O, when a man's opinion is at peace, 'Tis a fine life to marry! no state's like it. [_Aside._ My worthy lady, freely I confess To thy wrong'd heart my passion had a-late Put rudeness on me, which I now put off: I will no more seem so unfashionable For pleasure and the chamber of a lady. WIFE. I'm glad you're chang'd so well, sir. [_Exeunt_ WIFE _and_ ANSELMUS. VOT. Thank himself for't. LEO. This comes like physic, when the party's dead. Flows kindness now, when 'tis so ill-deserv'd? This is the fortune still: well, for this trick I'll save my husband and his friend a labour: I'll never marry as long as I am honest, For commonly queans have the kindest husbands.