1ST CITIZEN. Fair mistress, I think well He doth so at some times that I were fain To do as well. THE WOMAN. Nay, then he will not die. 1ST CITIZEN. Why, see you, if one eat a piece of bread Baked as it were a certain prophet's way, Not upon coals, now--you shall apprehend-- If defiled bread be given a man to eat, Being thrust into his mouth, why he shall eat, And with good hap shall eat; but if now, say, One steal this, bread and beastliness and all, When scarcely for pure hunger flesh and bone Cleave one to other--why, if he steal to eat, Be it even the filthiest feeding-though the man Be famine-flayed of flesh and skin, I say He shall be hanged. 3D CITIZEN. Nay, stolen said you, sir? See, God bade eat abominable bread, And freely was it eaten--for a sign This, for a sign--and doubtless as did God, So may the devil; bid one eat freely and live, Not for a sign. 2D CITIZEN. Will you think thus of her? But wherefore should they get this fellow slain If he be clear toward her? 3D CITIZEN. Sir, one must see The day comes when a woman sheds her sin As a bird moults; and she being shifted so, The old mate of her old feather pecks at her To get the right bird back; then she being stronger Picks out his eyes-eh? 2D CITIZEN. Like enough to be; But if it be--Is not one preaching there With certain folk about him? 1ST CITIZEN. Yea, the same Who preached a month since from Ezekiel Concerning these twain-this our queen that is And her that was, and is not now so much As queen over hell's worm. 3D CITIZEN. Ay, said he not, This was Aholah, the first one of these, Called sisters only for a type--being twain, Twain Maries, no whit Nazarine? the first Bred out of Egypt like the water-worm With sides in wet green places baked with slime And festered flesh that steams against the sun; A plague among all people, and a type Set as a flake upon a leper's fell. 1ST CITIZEN. Yea, said he, and unto her the men went in, The men of Pharaoh's, beautiful with red And with red gold, fair foreign-footed men, The bountiful fair men, the courteous men, The delicate men with delicate feet, that went Curling their small beards Agag-fashion, yea Pruning their mouths to nibble words behind With pecking at God's skirts-small broken oaths Fretted to shreds between most dainty lips, And underbreath some praise of Ashtaroth Sighed laughingly. 2D CITIZEN. Was he not under guard For the good word? 1ST CITIZEN. Yea, but now forth again.-- And of the latter said he--there being two, The first Aholah, which interpreted-- 3D CITIZEN. But, of this latter?