_Lady Fid._ Well, that's spoken again like a man of honour: all men of honour desire to come to the test. But, indeed, generally you men report such things of yourselves, one does not know how or whom to believe; and it is come to that pass, we dare not take your words no more than your tailor's, without some staid servant of yours be bound with you. But I have so strong a faith in your honour, dear, dear, noble sir, that I'd forfeit mine for yours, at any time, dear sir. _Horn._ No, madam, you should not need to forfeit it for me; I have given you security already to save you harmless, my late reputation being so well known in the world, madam. _Lady Fid._ But if upon any future falling-out, or upon a suspicion of my taking the trust out of your hands, to employ some other, you yourself should betray your trust, dear sir? I mean, if you'll give me leave to speak obscenely, you might tell, dear sir. _Horn._ If I did, nobody would believe me. The reputation of impotency is as hardly recovered again in the world as that of cowardice, dear madam. _Lady Fid._ Nay, then, as one may say, you may do your worst, dear, dear sir. _Sir Jasp._ Come, is your ladyship reconciled to him yet? have you agreed on matters? for I must be gone to Whitehall. _Lady Fid._ Why, indeed, Sir Jasper, Master Horner is a thousand, thousand times a better man than I thought him. Cousin Squeamish, sister Dainty, I can name him now. Truly, not long ago, you know, I thought his very name obscenity; and I would as soon have lain with him as have named him. _Sir Jasp._ Very likely, poor madam. _Mrs. Dain._ I believe it. _Mrs. Squeam._ No doubt on't. _Sir Jasp._ Well, well--that your ladyship is as virtuous as any she, I know, and him all the town knows--he! he! he! therefore now you like him, get you gone to your business together, go, go to your business, I say, pleasure, whilst I go to my pleasure, business. _Lady Fid._ Come, then, dear gallant. _Horn._ Come away, my dearest mistress. _Sir Jasp._ So, so; why, 'tis as I'd have it. [_Exit._ _Horn._ And as I'd have it. _Lady Fid._ Who for his business from his wife will run, Takes the best care to have her business done. [_Exeunt._ ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I.--_A Room in_ PINCHWIFE'S _House._ _Enter_ ALITHEA _and_ Mrs. PINCHWIFE. _Alith._ Sister, what ails you? you are grown melancholy. _Mrs. Pinch._ Would it not make any one melancholy to see you go every day fluttering about abroad, whilst I must stay at home like a poor lonely sullen bird in a cage? _Alith._ Ay, sister; but you came young, and just from the nest to your cage: so that I thought you liked it, and could be as cheerful in't as others that took their flight themselves early, and are hopping abroad in the open air.