_Ven._ With all my heart, i' faith: how dost, sweet musk-cat? When shall we lie together? _Lus._ Wondrous knave, Gather him into boldness! 'sfoot, the slave's Already as familiar as an ague, And shakes me at his pleasure. Friend, I can Forget myself in private; but elsewhere I pray do you remember me. _Ven._ O, very well, sir--I conster myself saucy. _Lus._ What hast been? Of what profession? _Ven._ A bone-setter. _Lus._ A bone-setter! _Ven._ A bawd, my lord-- One that sets bones together. _Lus._ Notable bluntness! Fit, fit for me; e'en trained up to my hand: Thou hast been scrivener to much knavery, then? _Ven._ 'Sfoot, to abundance, sir: I have been witness To the surrenders of a thousand virgins: And not so little; I have seen patrimonies washed a-pieces, Fruit-fields turned into bastards, And in a world of acres Not so much dust due to the heir 'twas left to As would well gravel[190] a petition. _Lus._ Fine villain! troth, I like him wondrously: He's e'en shaped for my purpose. [_Aside._] Then thou know'st I' th' world strange lust? _Ven._ O Dutch lust! fulsome lust! Drunken procreation! which begets so many drunkards Some fathers dread not (gone to bed in wine) to slide from the mother, And cling[191] the daughter-in-law; Some uncles are adulterous with their nieces: Brothers with brothers' wives. O hour of incest! Any kin now, next to the rim o' th' sister, Is men's meat in these days; and in the morning, When they are up and dressed, and their mask on, Who can perceive this, save that eternal eye, That sees through flesh and all? Well, if anything be damned, It will be twelve o'clock at night; that twelve Will never 'scape; It is the Judas of the hours, wherein Honest salvation is betrayed to sin. _Lus._ In troth, it is true; but let this talk glide. It is our blood to err, though hell gape wide. Ladies know Lucifer fell, yet still are proud. Now, sir, wert thou as secret as thou'rt subtle, And deeply fathomed into all estates, I would embrace thee for a near employment; And thou shouldst swell in money, and be able To make lame beggars crouch to thee. _Ven._ My lord, Secret! I ne'er had that disease o' the mother, I praise my father: why are men made close, But to keep thoughts in best? I grant you this, Tell but some women a secret over night, Your doctor may find it in the urinal i' the morning. But, my lord-- _Lus._ So thou'rt confirmed in me, And thus I enter thee. [_Gives him money._ _Ven._ This Indian devil Will quickly enter any man but a usurer; He prevents that by entering the devil first.