_Horn._ Yes, it often happens that a cuckold is but his wife's spy, and is more upon family duty when he is with her gallant abroad, hindering his pleasure, than when he is at home with her playing the gallant. But the hardest duty a married woman imposes upon a lover is keeping her husband company always. _Quack._ And his fondness wearies you almost as soon as hers. _Horn._ A pox! keeping a cuckold company, after you have had his wife, is as tiresome as the company of a country squire to a witty fellow of the town, when he has got all his money. _Quack._ And as at first a man makes a friend of the husband to get the wife, so at last you are fain to fall out with the wife to be rid of the husband. _Horn._ Ay, most cuckold-makers are true courtiers; when once a poor man has cracked his credit for 'em, they can't abide to come near him. _Quack._ But at first, to draw him in, are so sweet, so kind, so dear! just as you are to Pinchwife. But what becomes of that intrigue with his wife? _Horn._ A pox! he's as surly as an alderman that has been bit; and since he's so coy, his wife's kindness is in vain, for she's a silly innocent. _Quack._ Did she not send you a letter by him? _Horn._ Yes; but that's a riddle I have not yet solved. Allow the poor creature to be willing, she is silly too, and he keeps her up so close-- _Quack._ Yes, so close, that he makes her but the more willing, and adds but revenge to her love; which two, when met, seldom fail of satisfying each other one way or other. _Horn._ What! here's the man we are talking of, I think. _Enter_ PINCHWIFE, _leading in his_ Wife _masked, muffled, and in her_ Sister's _gown._ Pshaw! _Quack._ Bringing his wife to you is the next thing to bringing a love-letter from her. _Horn._ What means this? _Pinch._ The last time, you know, sir, I brought you a love-letter; now, you see, a mistress; I think you'll say I am a civil man to you. _Horn._ Ay, the devil take me, will I say thou art the civilest man I ever met with; and I have known some. I fancy I understand thee now better than I did the letter. But, hark thee, in thy ear-- _Pinch._ What? _Horn._ Nothing but the usual question, man: is she sound, on thy word? _Pinch._ What, you take her for a wench, and me for a pimp? _Horn._ Pshaw! wench and pimp, paw[82] words; I know thou art an honest fellow, and hast a great acquaintance among the ladies, and perhaps hast made love for me, rather than let me make love to thy wife. _Pinch._ Come, sir, in short, I am for no fooling. _Horn._ Nor I neither: therefore prithee, let's see her face presently. Make her show, man: art thou sure I don't know her? _Pinch._ I am sure you do know her. _Horn._ A pox! why dost thou bring her to me then? _Pinch._ Because she's a relation of mine-- _Horn._ Is she, faith, man? then thou art still more civil and obliging, dear rogue. _Pinch._ Who desired me to bring her to you. _Horn._ Then she is obliging, dear rogue.