+Æmi.+ You were best plead innocence too, 'tis your safest refuge: but I did not think a man of your age and beard had been so lascivious to keep a disguised callet[355] under my nose; a base cockatrice[356] in page's apparel to wait upon you, and rob me of my due benevolence! There's no law nor equity to warrant this. +Lor.+ Why, do I any such thing? +Æmi.+ Pray, what else is the boy, but your own hermaphrodite? a female siren in a male outside! Alas! had I intended what you suspect and accuse me for, I had been more wary, more private in the carriage, I assure you. +Lor.+ Why, is that boy otherwise than he appears to be? _Enter +Lionel+._ +Æmi.+ 'Tis a thing will be quickly search'd out. Your secret bawdry and the murder of my good name will not long lie hid, I warrant you. +Lio.+ Now is my cue to second her. [_Aside._ +Lor.+ Signior Lionel, most welcome. I would entreat your advice here to the clearing of a doubt. +Lio.+ What's that, sir? +Lor.+ 'Tis concerning the boy you placed with me. +Lio.+ Ay, what of him? +Lor.+ Whether it were an enchantment or no, or an illusion of the sight, or if I could persuade myself it was a dream, 'twere better; but my imagination so persuaded me, that I heard my wife and him interchanging amorous discourse together. To what an extremity of passion the frailty of man's nature might induce me to! +Lio.+ Very good. +Lor.+ Not very good, neither; but, after the expense of so much anger and distraction, my wife comes upon me again, and affirms that he is no boy, but a disguised mistress of my own, and upon this swells against me, as if she had lain all night in the leaven. +Æmi.+ Have not I reason? +Lor.+ Pray, sir, will you inform us of the verity of his sex. +Lio.+ Then take it upon my word, 'tis a woman. +Æmi.+ Now, sir, what have you to answer? +Lor.+ I am not yet thoroughly satisfied; but if it be a woman, I must confess my error. +Æmi.+ What satisfaction's that, after so great a wrong, and the taking away of my good name? You forget my deserts, and how I brought you a dowry of ten talents: besides, I find no such superfluity of courage in you to do this, neither. +Lor.+ Well, were he a boy or no, 'tis more than I can affirm; yet this I'll swear, I entertained him for no mistress, and, I hope, you for no servant; therefore, good wife, be pacified. +Æmi.+ No, sir, I'll call my kindred and my friends together, then present a joint complaint of you to the senate, and if they right me not, I'll protest there's no justice in their court or government.