[214] Old eds. “Sweuia.”
SCENE II.
Venice.—A street.
Enter at several doors Abigail and Thais.
Abi. Thais, you’re an early riser. I have that to show will make your hair stand an-end.[215]
Tha. Well, lady, and I have that to show you will bring your courage down. What would you say and I would name a party saw your husband court, kiss, nay, almost go through for the hole?
Abi. How, how? what would I say? nay, by this light! what would I not do? If ever Amazon fought better, or more at the face than I’ll do, let me never be thought a new married wife. Come, unmask her; ’tis
some admirable creature, whose beauty you need not paint; I warrant you, ’tis done to your hand. 12
Tha. Would any woman but I be abused to her face? Prithee read the contents. Know’st thou the character?
Abi. ’Tis my husband’s hand, and a love-letter; but for the contents I find none in it. Has the lustful monster, all back and belly, starved me thus? What defect does he see in me? I’ll be sworn, wench, I am of as pliant and yielding a body to him, e’en which way he will—he may turn me as he list himself. What? and dedicate to thee! Ay, marry, here’s a stile so high as a man cannot help a dog o’er it. He was wont to write to me in the city-phrase, My good Abigail. Here’s astonishment of nature, unparallel’d excellency, and most unequal rarity of creation!—three such words will turn any honest woman in the world[216] whore; for a woman is never won till she know not what to answer; and beshrew me if I understand any of these. You are the party, I perceive, and here’s a white sheet, that your husband has promis’d me to do penance in: you must not think to dance the shaking of the sheets[217] alone; though there be not such rare phrases in ’t, ’tis more to the matter: a legible hand, but for the dash or the (he) and (as):[218] short bawdy parentheses as ever you saw, to the purpose; he has not left out a prick, I warrant you, wherein he has promis’d to do me any good; but the law’s in mine own hand. 36