_Maq._ O, believe me, a most secret power: look ye, a Chaldean or an Assyrian, I am sure 'twas a most sweet Jew, told me, court any woman in the right sign, you shall not miss. But you must take her in the right vein then; as, when the sign is in Pisces, a fishmonger's wife is very sociable; in Cancer, a precisian's wife is very flexible; in Capricorn, a merchant's wife hardly holds out; in Libra, a lawyer's wife is very tractable, especially if her husband be at the term; only in Scorpio 'tis very dangerous meddling. Has the duke sent any jewel, any rich stones? 73 _Mal._ Ay, I think those are the best signs to take a lady in. _Enter_ Captain. By your favour, signior, I must discourse with the Lady Maria, Altofront's duchess; I must enter for the duke. _Capt._ She here shall give you interview: I received the guardship of this citadel from the good Altofront, and for his use I'll keep't, till I am of no use. 80 _Mal._ Wilt thou? O heavens, that a Christian should be found in a buff-jerkin! Captain Conscience, I love thee, captain. We attend. [_Exit_ Captain. And what hope hast thou of this duchess' easiness? _Maq._ 'Twill go hard, she was a cold creature ever; she hated monkeys, fools, jesters, and gentlemen-ushers extremely; she had the vile trick on't, not only to be truly modestly honourable in her own conscience, but she would avoid the least wanton carriage that might incur suspect; as, God bless me, she had almost brought bed-pressing out of fashion; I could scarce get a fine for the lease of a lady's favour once in a fortnight. 92 _Mal._ Now, in the name of immodesty, how many maidenheads has thou brought to the block? _Maq._ Let me see: heaven forgive us our misdeeds!--Here's the duchess. _Enter_ MARIA _with_ Captain. _Mal._ God bless thee, lady! _Maria._ Out of thy company! _Mal._ We have brought thee tender of a husband. _Maria._ I hope I have one already. 100 _Maq._ Nay, by mine honour, madam, as good ha' ne'er a husband as a banished husband; he's in another world now. I'll tell ye, lady, I have heard of a sect that maintained, when the husband was asleep the wife might lawfully entertain another man, for then her husband was as dead; much more when he is banished. _Maria._ Unhonest creature! _Maq._ Pish, honesty is but an art to seem so: Pray ye, what's honesty, what's constancy, But fables feign'd, odd old fools' chat, devis'd 110 By jealous fools to wrong our liberty?