KING. You have prevented well, so has this good alderman; I wish you many scholars. WIFE. [_To_ STEPH.] You make some doubts of me in this, sir: Did you not say that women are forgetful? KING. You have vex'd her now, sir: how do you answer that? STEPH. No, my lord, she's exempt from the proverb. WIFE. No, my lord, I'll help it better: I do confess That women are forgetful, yet ne'ertheless I am exempt: I know my fate, and find My dear husband must not leave me behind, But I must go before him;[107] and 'tis said, The grave's good rest when women go first to bed. STEPH. Thanks for thy excuse, good wife, but not thy love To fill my grave before me: I would not live to see that day. WIFE. Prythee, no more, I had rather be angry than flatter'd. KING. You have a wonder, master sheriff; a priceless jewel. STEPH. Many jewels, my good lord; a brother, wife, and child, For this I would have strove even with a father: Howe'er rough storms did in my brows appear, Within my bosom it was always clear. O. FOS. I give him to you now, sir. STEPH. I take him, and to him back do give All that myself behind in 'state shall leave. O. FOS. And all that you gave me, I do bestow; So in one hour become full heir to two. BREW. I claim a third by this bond's virtue; [_Pointing to_ JANE. See, as a father thou art heir to those. JANE. I will not go to him, father, on any of these conditions. ROB. You shall have love to boot too, sweet Jane. JANE. Nay, an' you play booty, I dare not trust you. ROB. What shall I say? Accept my hand and heart,[108] Tied in a true love's knot, never to part. JANE. Ay, marry, sir, these are better conditions than the inheritance of three fathers. Let me have love in _esse_; let lands follow in _posse_. Now I'll have thee as fast as the priest can despatch us, let him read as fast as he can. KING. The liveliest harmony that e'er I heard! All instruments compar'd to these sweet tunes Are dull and harsh: I joy to see so good a child, A woman wonder; brothers reconciled. [_To_ BREWEN.] You, worthy sir, did invite us to a feast, We'll not forget it, but will be your guest; Because we'll view these wonders o'er again, Whose records do deserve a brazen pen; But this above the rest in golden text Shall be insculp'd, _A woman never vex'd_. FOOTNOTES: [103] This speech is not appropriated in the original, although divided from the wife's: neither are the words between brackets altogether an insertion of my own. The speech appears thus in the original:--