ly, I am afraid he
hath already defiled the tabernacle of our sister Comfort; while her good
husband is deluded by his godly appearance. I say that even lust doth
sparkle in his eyes and glow upon his cheeks, and that I would as soon
trust my wife with a lord's high-fed chaplain.

BAR. Sir, the hour draws nigh, and nothing will be done here until you
come.

FOND. And nothing can be done here until I go; so that I'll tarry, de'e
see.

BAR. And run the hazard to lose your affair, sir!

FOND. Good lack, good lack--I profess it is a very sufficient vexation
for a man to have a handsome wife.

BAR. Never, sir, but when the man is an insufficient husband. 'Tis
then, indeed, like the vanity of taking a fine house, and yet be forced
to let lodgings to help pay the rent.

FOND. I profess a very apt comparison, varlet. Go and bid my Cocky come
out to me; I will give her some instructions, I will reason with her
before I go.

SCENE III.

FONDLEWIFE _alone_.

And in the meantime I will reason with myself. Tell me, Isaac, why art
thee jealous? Why art thee distrustful of the wife of thy bosom? Because
she is young and vigorous, and I am old and impotent. Then why didst
thee marry, Isaac? Because she was beautiful and tempting, and because I
was obstinate and doting; so that my inclination was (and is still)
greater than my power. And will not that which tempted thee, also tempt
others, who will tempt her, Isaac? I fear it much. But does not thy
wife love thee, nay, dote upon thee? Yes. Why then! Ay, but to say
truth, she's fonder of me than she has reason to be; and in the way of
trade, we still suspect the smoothest dealers of the deepest designs. And
that she has some designs deeper than thou canst reach, thou hast
experimented, Isaac. But, mum.

SCENE IV.

FONDLEWIFE, LAETITIA.

LAET. I hope my dearest jewel is not going to leave me--are you, Nykin?

FOND. Wife--have you thoroughly considered how detestable, how heinous,
and how crying a sin the sin of adultery is? Have you weighed it, I say?
For it is a very weighty sin; and although it may lie heavy upon thee,
yet thy husband must also bear his part. For thy iniquity will fall upon
his head.

LAET. Bless me, what means my dear?

FOND. [_Aside_.] I profess she has an alluring eye; I am doubtful
whether I shall trust her, even with Tribulation himself. Speak, I say,
have you considered what it is to cuckold your husba