thy husband love thee not. The hour for both to come is six—a dark time fit for purblind lovers; and with cleanly conveyance by the nigglers our maids, they shall be translated into our bed-chambers. Your husband into mine, and mine into yours.
Tha. But you mean they shall come in at the backdoors? 71
Abi. Who? our husbands? nay, an’ they come not in at the fore-doors there will be no pleasure in ’t. But we two will climb over our garden-pales, and come in that way (the chastest that are in Venice will stray for a good turn), and thus wittily will we be stowed—you into my house to your husband, and I into your house to my husband; and I warrant thee before a month come to an end, they’ll crack louder of this night’s lodging than the bedsteads. 80
Tha. All is if our maids keep secret.
Abi. Mine is a maid I’ll be sworn; she has kept her secrets hitherto.
Tha. Troth, and I never had any sea-captain boarded in my house.
Abi. Go to, then; and the better to avoid suspicion, thus we must insist: they must come up darkling, recreate themselves with their delight an hour or two, and after a million kisses or so— 89
Tha. But is my husband content to come darkling?
Abi. What, not to save mine honour? He that will run through fire, as he has profess’d, will, by the heat of his love, grope in the dark! I warrant him he shall save mine honour.