The Devil's in the Fellow, I think----I was told before I married him, that thus 'twou'd be: But I thought I had Charms enough to govern him; and that where there was an Estate, a Woman must needs be happy; so my Vanity has deceiv'd me, and my Ambition has made me uneasy. But there's some Comfort still; if one wou'd be reveng'd of him, these are good times; a Woman may have a Gallant, and a separate Maintenance too--The surly Puppy--yet he's a Fool for't: for hitherto he has been no Monster: But who knows how far he may provoke me? I never lov'd him, yet I have been ever true to him; and that, in spite of all the Attacks of Art and Nature upon a poor weak Woman's Heart, in favour of a tempting Lover. Methinks so noble a Defence as I have made, shou'd be rewarded with a better Usage--Or who can tell?----Perhaps a good part of what I suffer from my Husband, may be a Judgment upon me for my Cruelty to my Lover.----Lord, with what pleasure could I indulge that Thought, were there but a Possibility of finding Arguments to make it good!----And how do I know but there may?--Let me see----What opposes?--My matrimonial Vow----Why, what did I vow? I think I promis'd to be true to my Husband. Well; and he promis'd to be kind to me. But he han't kept his Word----Why then I'm absolv'd from mine--Ay, that seems clear to me. The Argument's good between the King and the People, why not between the Husband and the Wife? O, but that Condition was not exprest--No matter, 'twas understood. Well, by all I see, if I argue the matter a little longer with myself, I shan't find so many Bug-bears in the Way as I thought I shou'd. Lord, what fine Notions of Virtue do we Women take up upon the Credit of old foolish Philosophers! Virtue's its own Reward, Virtue's this, Virtue's that----Virtue's an Ass, and a Gallant's worth forty on't. _Enter ~Belinda~._ _Lady Brute._ Good-morrow, dear Cousin. _Bel._ Good-morrow, Madam; you look pleas'd this Morning. _Lady Brute._ I am so. _Bel._ With what, pray? _Lady Brute._ With my Husband. _Bel._ Drown Husbands; for your's is a provoking Fellow: As he went out just now, I pray'd him to tell me what time of Day 'twas; and he ask'd me if I took him for the Church-Clock, that was oblig'd to tell all the Parish. _Lady Brute._ He has been saying some good obliging things to me too. In short, _Belinda_, he has us'd me so barbarously of late, that I cou'd almost resolve to play the downright Wife--and cuckold him. _Bel._ That would be downright indeed. _Lady Brute._ Why, after all, there's more to be said for't than you'd imagine, Child. I know, according to the strict Statute-Law of Religion, I shou'd do wrong: But if there were a Court of Chancery in Heav'n, I'm sure I shou'd cast him. _Bel._ If there were a House of Lords, you might. _Lady Brute._ In either I should infallibly carry my Cause. Why, he is the first Aggressor, not I. _Bel._ Ay, but you know we must return Good for Evil.