MONTANUS. Profecto, I really cannot.
JERONIMUS. Listen, wife: you must know that I am the head of the house, and that I am her father.
MAGDELONE. You must also know that I am the mistress of the house, and that I am her mother.
JERONIMUS. I say that a father is always more than a mother.
MAGDELONE, And I say not, for there can be no doubt that I am her mother, but whether you—I had better not say any more, for I am getting excited.
LISBED (weeping). Oh, my heart, can't you say just for my sake that it is flat?
MONTANUS. I cannot, my doll, nam contra naturam est.
JERONIMUS. What did you mean by that, my wife? Am I not her father as surely as you are her mother?—Listen, Lisbed, am I not your father?
LISBED. I think so, for my mother says so; but I know that she is my mother.
JERONIMUS. What do you think of this talk, Mr. Bailiff: