Bayes. The third week.
Johns. I vow you'll get a world of money.
Bayes. Why, faith, a man must live; and if you don't thus pitch upon some new device, egad, you'll never do't; for this age (take it o' my word) is somewhat hard to please. But there is one pretty odd passage in the last of these plays, which may be executed two several ways, wherein I'd have your opinion, gentlemen.
Johns. What is't, sir.
Bayes. Why, sir, I make a male person to be in love with a female.
Smith. Do you mean that, Mr. Bayes, for a new thing?
Bayes. Yes, sir, as I have order'd it. You shall hear: he having passionately lov'd her through my five whole plays, finding at last that she consents to his love, just after that his mother had appear'd to him like a ghost, he kills himself: that's one way. The other is, that she coming at last to love him, with as violent a passion as he lov'd her, she kills herself. Now my question is, which of these two persons should suffer upon this occasion?
Johns. By my troth, it is a very hard case to decide.
Bayes. The hardest in the world, egad, and has puzzled this pate very much. What say you, Mr. Smith?
Smith. Why truly, Mr. Bayes, if it might stand with your justice now, I would spare 'em both.