WID. Ay, sir, 'tis wonderful: but is it well? For it is now my chief affliction. I have heard you say, that the child of heaven Shall suffer many tribulations; Nay, kings and princes share them with their subjects: Then I that know not any chastisement, How may I know my part of childhood?[58] DOC. 'Tis a good doubt; but make it not extreme. 'Tis some affliction that you are afflicted For want of affliction; cherish that: Yet wrest it not to misconstruction; For all your blessings are free gifts from heaven-- Health, wealth, and peace; nor can they turn to curses But by abuse. Pray, let me question you: You lost a husband--was it no grief to you? WID. It was; but very small. No sooner I Had given it entertainment as a sorrow, But straight it turn'd unto my treble joy: A comfortable revelation prompts me then, That husband (whom in life I held so dear) Had chang'd a frailty to unchanging joys; Methought I saw him stellified in heaven, And singing hallelujahs 'mongst a quire Of white-sainted souls: then again it spake, And said it was a sin for me to grieve At his best good, that I esteemed best: And thus this slender shadow of a grief Vanish'd again. DOC. All this was happy; nor can you wrest it from A heavenly blessing: do not appoint the rod; Leave still the stroke unto the magistrate: The time is not passed, but you may feel enough. WID. One taste more I had, although but little, Yet I would aggravate to make the most on't; Thus 'twas: the other day it was my hap, In crossing of the Thames, To drop that wedlock ring from off my finger That once conjoin'd me and my dead husband; It sank; I priz'd it dear--the dearer, 'cause it kept Still in mine eye the memory of my loss; Yet I griev'd [less] the loss; and [I] did joy withal, That I had found a grief: and this is all The sorrow I can boast of. DOC. This is but small. WID. Nay, sure I am of this opinion, That had I suffered a draught to be made for it, The bottom would have sent it up again, I am so wondrously fortunate. DOC. You would not suffer it? _Enter_ CLOWN. WID. Not for my whole estate. CLOWN. O mistress! where are you? I think you are the fortunatest woman that ever breathed on two shoes: the thief is found. WID. The thief! what thief? I never was so happy to be robbed. CLOWN. Bring him away, Jug: nay, you shall see the strangest piece of felony discovered that ever you saw, or your great grandmother's grandam before, or after; a pirate, a water-thief. WID. What's all this? CLOWN. Bring him away, Jug: yet the villain would not confess a word, till it was found about him. WID. I think the fellow's mad. CLOWN. Did you not lose your wedding-ring the other day?