[_Looks on the letter._ _Tha._ He's stung already: As if his eyes were turn'd on Perseus' shield, Their motion's fix'd, like to the pool of Styx. _Abi._ Yonder's our flames; and from the hollow arches Of his quick eyes comes comet-trains of fire, 170 Bursting like hidden furies from their caves. _Cla._[323] [_reading._] _Yours till he sleep the sleep of all the world, Rogero._ _Rog._ Marry, and that lethargy seize you! Read again. [_Reads again._ _Cla._ _Thy servant so made by his stars, Rogero._ A fire on your wand'ring stars, Rogero! _Rog._ Satan, why hast thou tempted my wife? [_To_ CLARIDIANA. _Cla._ Peace, seducer; I am branded in the forehead with your star-mark. May the stars drop upon thee, and with their sulphur vapours choke thee, ere thou come at the gallows! 181 _Rog._ Stretch not my patience, Mahomet. _Cla._ Termagant,[324] that will stretch thy patience! _Rog._ Had I known this I would have poison'd thee in the chalice This morning, when we received the sacrament.[325] _Cla._ Slave, know'st thou this? [_showing the ring_] 'tis an appendix to the letter; But the greater temptation is hidden within. I will scour thy gorge like a hawk: Thou shalt swallow thine own stone in this letter, Seal'd and delivered in the presence of---- [_They bustle._ _Duke._ Keep them asunder; list to us, we command-- _Cla._ O violent villain! is not thy hand hereto, 192 And writ in blood to show thy raging lust? _Tha._ Spice of a new halter, when you go a-ranging thus like devils, would you might burn[326] for't as they do! _Rog._ Thus 'tis to lie with another man's wife: he shall be sure to hear on't again. But we are friends, sweet duck. [_Kisses_ THAIS. And this shall be my maxim all my life:-- Man never happy is till in a wife. 200 _Cla._ Here sink our hate lower than any whirlpool; And this chaste kiss I give thee for thy care, [_Kisses_ ABIGAIL. Thou[327] fame of women, full as wise as fair. _Duke._ You have saved us a labour in your love. But, gentlemen, why stood you so prepost'rously? Would you have headlong run to infamy-- In so defamed a death?