Merc. _Item_, that she shall keep no male servants in her house: _Item_, no rival lap-dog for a bedfellow: _Item_, that she shall never pray to any of the gods. _Phæd._ What, would you have me an atheist? _Merc._ No devotion to any he-deity, good Phædra. _Brom._ Here's no provision made for children yet. _Phæd._ Well remembered, Bromia; I bargain that my eldest son shall be a hero, and my eldest daughter a king's mistress. _Merc._ That is to say, a blockhead, and a harlot, Phædra. _Phæd._ That's true; but who dares call them so? Then, for the younger children--But now I think on't, we'll have no more, but Mass and Miss; for the rest would be but chargeable, and a burden to the nation. _Merc._ Yes, yes; the second shall be a false prophet: he shall have wit enough to set up a new religion, and too much wit to die a martyr for it. _Phæd._ O what had I forgot? there's pin-money, and alimony, and separate maintenance, and a thousand things more to be considered, that are all to be tacked to this act of settlement. _Sos._ I am a fool, I must confess; but yet I can see as far into a mill-stone as the best of you. I have observed, that you women-wits are commonly so quick upon the scent, that you often over-run it: now I would ask of Madam Phædra, that in case Mr Heaven there should be pleased to break these articles, in what court of judicature she intends to sue him? _Phæd._ The fool has hit upon't:--Gods, and great men, are never to be sued, for they can always plead privilege of peerage; and therefore for once, monsieur, I'll take your word; for, as long as you love me, you'll be sure to keep it: and, in the mean time, I shall be gaining experience how to manage some rich cully; for no woman ever made her fortune by a wit. _It thunders; and the company within doors_, AMPHITRYON, ALCMENA, POLIDAS, _and_ TRANIO, _all come running out, and join with the rest, who were on the stage before_. _Amph._ Sure 'tis some god; he vanished from our sight, And told us, we should see him soon return. _Alcm._ I know not what to hope, nor what to fear. A simple error is a real crime, And unconsenting innocence is lost. _A second peal of Thunder. After which_, JUPITER _appears in a Machine_.