_Duke._ We'll use him like a felon; cut him off, For fear he do pollute our sounder parts. Yet why should he steal, That is a loaden vine? Riches to him Were adding sands into the Libyan shore, 10 Or far less charity. What say the other prisoners? _Watch._ Like men, my lord, fit for the other world, They take't upon their death, they slew your nephew. _Duke._ And he is yet alive; keep them asunder; We may scent out the wile. _Enter_ CLARIDIANA _and_ ROGERO _bound; with a_ Friar _and_ Officers. _Rog._ My friend, is it the rigour of the law I should be tied thus hard, I'll undergo it; If not, prithee then slacken. Yet I have deserved it; This murder lies heavy on my conscience. _Cla._ Wedlock, ay, here's my wedlock! O whore, whore, whore! 21 _Friar._ O, sir, be qualified. _Cla._ Sir,[314] I am to die a dog's death, and will snarl a little at the old signor. You are only a parenthesis, which I will leave out of my execrations; but first to our _quondam_ wives, that makes us cry our vowels in red capital letters, "I[315] and U are cuckolds!" O may bastard-bearing, with the pangs of childbirth, be doubled to 'em![316] May they have ever twins, and be three week in travail between! May they be so rivell'd[317] with painting by that time they are thirty, that it may be held a work of condign merit but to look upon 'em! May they live to ride in triumph in a dung-cart, and be brown'd with all the odious ceremonies belonging to 't! may the cucking-stool be their recreation, and a dungeon their dying-chamber! May they have nine lives like a cat, to endure this and more! May they be burnt for witches of a sudden! And lastly, may the opinion of philosophers prove true, that women have no souls! 39 _Enter_ THAIS _and_ ABIGAIL. _Tha._ What, husband--at your prayers so seriously? _Cla._ Yes, a few orisons. Friar, thou that stand'st between the soul of men and the devil, keep these female spirits away, or I will renounce my faith else. _Abi._ O husband, I little thought to see you in this taking! _Rog._ O whore, I little thought to see you in this taking! I am governor of this castle of cornets; my grave will be stumbled at, thou adult'rate whore! I might have lived like a merchant. _Abi._ So you may still, husband. 50 _Rog._ Peace! thou art very quick with me. _Abi._ Ay, by my faith, and so I am, husband; belike you know I am with child. _Rog._ A bastard, a bastard, a bastard! I might have lived like a gentleman, and now I must die like a hanger on, show tricks upon a wooden horse, and run through an alphabet of scurvy faces! Do not expect a good look from me. _Abi._ O me unfortunate! 59