MRS MA. When I have had my humour.
Y. ART. Good friends, for manners' sake awhile withdraw.
BRA. It is our pleasure, sir, to stand aside.
[MISTRESS SPLAY and BRABO stand aside.
Y. ART. Mary, what cause hast thou to use me thus?
From nothing I have rais'd thee to much wealth;
'Twas more than I did owe thee: many a pound,
Nay, many a hundred pound, I spent on thee
In my wife's time; and once, but by my means,
Thou hadst been in much danger: but in all things
My purse and credit ever bare thee out.
I did not owe thee this. I had a wife,
That would have laid herself beneath my feet
To do me service; her I set at nought
For the entire affection I bare thee.
To show that I have lov'd thee, have I not,
Above all women, made chief choice of thee?
An argument sufficient of my love!
What reason then hast thou to wrong me thus?
MRS MA. It is my humour.
Y. ART. O, but such humours honest wives should purge:
I'll show thee a far greater instance yet
Of the true love that I have borne to thee.
Thou knew'st my wife: was she not fair?
MRS MA. So, so.
Y. ART. But more than fair: was she not virtuous?
Endued with the beauty of the mind?
MRS MA. Faith, so they said.