_Rog._ O, my liege, I had rather roar to death with Phalaris' bull, than, Darius-like, to have one of my wings extend to Atlas, the other to Europe. 210 What is a cuckold, learn of me: Few can tell his pedigree, Nor his subtile nature conster. Born a man but dies a monster: Yet great antiquaries say, They spring from out Methusala, Who after Noah's flood was found To have his crest with branches crown'd. God in Eden's happy shade This same [wondrous] creature made. 220 Then to cut off all mistaking, Cuckolds are of women's making; From whose snares, good Lord deliver us! _Cla._ Amen, amen! Before I would prove a cuckold, I would endure a winter's pilgrimage in the frozen zone--go stark naked through Muscovia, where the climate is nine degrees colder than ice. And thus much to all married men:-- Now I see great reason why 230 Love should marry jealousy: Since man's best of life is fame, He hath need preserve the same; When 'tis in a woman's keeping, Let not Argus' eyes be sleeping. The box[328] unto Pandora given By the better powers of heaven, That contains pure chastity, And each virgin sovereignty, Wantonly she oped and lost, 240 Gift whereof a god might boast. Therefore, shouldst thou Diana wed, Yet be jealous of her bed. _Duke._ Night,[329] like a masque, is enter'd heaven's great hall, With thousand torches ushering the way. To Risus will we consecrate this evening; Like[330] Mycerinus cheating th' oracle, We'll make this night the day. Fair joys befall Us and our actions. Are you pleasèd all? [_Exeunt omnes._ [314] This scene is printed throughout as verse in old eds. [315] "I and U"--so the editor of 1820. Old eds. "IOV." [316] Old eds. "him." [317] Wrinkled. [318] Old eds. "then." [319] _i.e._, subject for dissection. [320] Topsel in his account of the lion writes:--"Their sight and their smelling are most excellent, for they sleep with their eyes open, and because of the brightness of their eyes they cannot endure the light of fire, for fire and fire cannot agree: also their smelling (for which cause they are called _Odorati_) is very eminent, for _if the lioness have committed adultery with the leopard the male discovereth it by the sense of his nose_."--_History of Fourfooted Beasts_, ed. 1658, p. 360. [321] Topsel has some remarks on the fondness of leopards for wine. [322] Quy. "Them, and _yourself too_"? [323] Not marked in old eds.