Mr. _Ven._ Nay then, since you are so rough, I tell you plainly you are--a---- _Comp._ A what? What am I, heh? Mr. _Ven._ A Coxcomb. _Comp._ A Coxcomb! a Cuckold you mean, and you a Fool for your pains. Mr. _Ven._ The Child is mine, I am the Father of it, and will keep it. _Comp._ Yes if you can, I know you will. But pray tell me, is not my Wife the Mother? You may be as far from being the Father as I am, for my Wife's acquainted with more Whore-masters besides your self; ay, and as crafty Merchants too, let me tell you that. _Peg._ No indeed Husband, I had to do with no body else, 'twas he begot, indeed and indeed now. Yet for all that, the Child's mine, I bred it and bore it, and I'll have it and keep it, so I will. Mrs. _Ven._ Pray hold there Mrs. Jill-flurt, the Child's my Husband's, and he shall have it, or I'll tear your Eyes out, ye Whore you. _Comp._ Good Words, Mistress; d'ye hear, give good Words you'd best, or I shall tell you your own. Mr. _Ven._ I'll have no more to say to ye, the Law shall determine it; in the mean time Nurse keep the Child for me, there, there's Money for thee. [_Gives her Money. _Comp._ There's Money for me too, keep it for me, Nurse; give him both thy Duggs at once, I pay thee for the right one, Girl. _Nurse._ I have two Hands, you see Gentlemen; this does but show ye how the Law will hamper ye; even thus you'l be used, Gentlemen, if you go to Law. Mr. _Ven._ It can't be helpt, for I won't lose my Right. _Comp._ Nor I mine for all you're a Merchant. Mrs. _Ven._ Nor I mine for all I did not bear it. _Peg._ Nor I, tho but a poor Sailer's Wife. Mr. _Ven._ Well, fare ye well, we shall meet in another Place--Come _Winny_. [_Exit_ Venter _and his Wife._ _Comp._ Ay, ay, I'll meet you when and where you dare, and do your worst, I fear you not: By the Lord _Harry_ the World's come to a fine Pass, that we must go to Law for our Children. No wonder the Lawyers are all so rich, yet e're the Law shall have a Limb, a Leg, a Joint or Nail of this same Boy, _'T shall cost me more than a whole Child in getting, Some win by play, and standers by with Betting._ [Exeunt. SCENE the Third. _Enter_ Spruce, Arabella _with a Letter in her Hand_, Clara, _Mr._ Venter, _and Mrs._ Venter. Mr. _Ven._ From whence came that Letter, Niece? _Ara._ From _Putney_, Sir, and from my Husband. Mr. _Ven._ And pray be free; Does he tell ye the Cause of his leaving you so abruptly on his Wedding-day? _Ara._ Yes; Sir, yet this had been sufficient to have let me known what he is gone about, without the formal Addition of an Epistle. _Spruce._ That, why what is that I pray Madam? _Ara._ His Will, Sir, wherein he makes me his sole Executrix. _Spr._ Will! why what the Devil does he mean, seriously I can't find it out? _Ara._ Why, Sir, he's gone to fight. _Spr._ How fight, Madam! On my Soul then I believe _Friendly_'s Second. _Ara._ You're in the right, he is so, and I am lost for ever!