_Bos._ What do you intend to do? _Ferd._ Can you guess? _Bos._ No. _Ferd._ Do not ask, then: He that can compass me, and know my drifts, May say he hath put a girdle 'bout the world, And sounded all her quicksands. _Bos._ I do not Think so. _Ferd._ What do you think, then, pray? _Bos._ That you are Your own chronicle too much, and grossly Flatter yourself. _Ferd._ Give me thy hand; I thank thee: I never gave pension but to flatterers, Till I entertainèd thee. Farewell. That friend a great man's ruin strongly checks, Who rails into his belief all his defects. [_Exeunt_. SCENE II.--_The Bed-chamber of the_ DUCHESS. _Enter_ DUCHESS, ANTONIO, _and_ CARIOLA. _Duch._ Bring me the casket hither, and the glass.-- You get no lodging here to-night, my lord. _Ant._ Indeed, I must persuade one. _Duch._ Very good: I hope in time 'twill grow into a custom, That noblemen shall come with cap and knee To purchase a night's lodging of their wives. _Ant._ I must lie here. _Duch._ Must! you are lord of mis-rule. _Ant._ Indeed, my rule is only in the night. _Duch._ To what use will you put me? _Ant._ We'll sleep together. _Duch._ Alas, What pleasure can two lovers find in sleep! _Cari._ My lord, I lie with her often; and I know She'll much disquiet you. _Ant._ See, you are complained of. _Cari._ For she's the sprawling'st bedfellow. _Ant._ I shall like her the better for that. _Cari._ Sir, shall I ask you a question? _Ant._ Ay, pray thee, Cariola. _Cari._ Wherefore still, when you lie with my lady, Do you rise so early? _Ant._ Labouring men Count the clock oftenest, Cariola, Are glad when their task's ended. _Duch._ I'll stop your mouth. [_Kisses him._ _Ant._ Nay, that's but one; Venus had two soft doves To draw her chariot; I must have another-- [_She kisses him again._ When wilt thou marry, Cariola? _Cari._ Never, my lord. _Ant._ O, fie upon this single life! forego it. We read how Daphne, for her peevish[125] flight, Became a fruitless bay-tree; Syrinx turned To the pale empty reed; Anaxarete Was frozen into marble: whereas those Which married, or proved kind unto their friends, Were by a gracious influence transhaped Into the olive, pomegranate, mulberry, Became flowers, precious stones, or eminent stars. _Cari._ This is a vain poetry: but I pray you tell me, If there were proposed me, wisdom, riches, and beauty, In three several young men, which should I choose. _Ant._ 'Tis a hard question: this was Paris' case, And he was blind in't, and there was great cause; For how was't possible he could judge right, Having three amorous goddesses in view, And they stark naked? 'twas a motion Were able to benight the apprehension Of the severest counsellor of Europe. Now I look on both your faces so well formed, It puts me in mind of a question I would ask. _Cari._ What is't?