_Mon._ There's not a moment's trouble her naughty husband gives her, but I feel it too. _Flip._ I don't know what you mean. _Mon._ If she did but know what part I take in her sufferings---- _Flip._ Mighty obscure. _Mon._ Well, I'll say no more; but---- _Flip._ All Hebrew. _Mon._ If thou wou'dst but tell her on't. _Flip._ Still darker and darker. _Mon._ I should not be ungrateful. _Flip._ Ah, now I begin to understand you. _Mon._ _Flippanta_--there's my purse. _Flip._ Say no more; now you explain, indeed----You are in love? _Mon._ Bitterly--and I do swear by all the Gods---- _Flip._ Hold----Spare 'em for another time, you stand in no need of 'em now. A usurer that parts with his purse, gives sufficient proof of his sincerity. _Mon._ I hate my wife, _Flippanta_. _Flip._ That we'll take upon your bare word. _Mon._ She's the devil, _Flippanta_. _Flip._ You like your neighbour's better. _Mon._ Oh!----an angel. _Flip._ What pity it is the law don't allow trucking! _Mon._ If it did, _Flippanta_! _Flip._ But since it don't, Sir----keep the reins upon your passion: Don't let your flame rage too high, lest my lady shou'd be cruel, and it should dry you up to a mummy. _Mon._ 'Tis impossible she can be so barbarous, to let me die. Alas, _Flippanta_, a very small matter wou'd save my life. _Flip._ Then y'are dead--for we women never grant any thing to a man who will be satisfied with a little. _Mon._ Dear _Flippanta_, that was only my modesty; but since you'll have it out----I am a very dragon; and so your lady'll find----if ever she thinks fit to be----Now I hope you'll stand my friend. _Flip._ Well, Sir, as far as my credit goes, it shall be employ'd in your service. _Mon._ My best _Flippanta_--tell her--I'm all hers--tell her--my body's hers--tell her--my soul's hers--and tell her--my estate's hers. Lord have mercy upon me, how I'm in love! _Flip._ Poor man! what a sweat he's in! But hark--I hear my master; for heaven's sake compose yourself a little; you are in such a fit, o' my conscience he'll smell you out. _Mon._ Ah dear, I'm in such an emotion, I dare not be seen; put me in this closet for a moment. _Flip._ Closet, man! it's too little, your love wou'd stifle you. Go air yourself in the garden a little, you have need on't, i'faith. [_She puts him out._ _~Flippanta~ sola._ A rare adventure, by my troth. This will be curious news to the wives. Fortune has now put their husbands into their hands, and I think they are too sharp to neglect its favours. _Enter ~Gripe~._ _Gripe._ O, here's the right hand; the rest of the body can't be far off. Where's my wife, huswife? _Flip._ An admirable question!----Why, she's gone abroad, Sir. _Gripe._ Abroad, abroad, abroad already? Why, she uses to be stewing in her bed three hours after this time, as late as 'tis: What makes her gadding so soon?