ost kind-hearted,
doting, prodigal humble servant, in Europe.

_Pala._ All I could do, in these three years I staid behind you, was
to comfort the poor creatures for the loss of you. But what's the
reason that, in all this time, a friend could never hear from you?

_Rho._ Alas, dear Palamede! I have had no joy to write, nor indeed to
do any thing in the world to please me. The greatest misfortune
imaginable is fallen upon me.

_Pala._ Pr'ythee, what's the matter?

_Rho._ In one word, I am married: wretchedly married; and have been
above these two years. Yes, faith, the devil has had power over me, in
spite of my vows and resolutions to the contrary.

_Pala._ I find you have sold yourself for filthy lucre; she's old, or
ill conditioned.

_Rho._ No; none of these: I'm sure she's young; and, for her humour,
she laughs, sings, and dances eternally; and, which is more, we never
quarrel about it, for I do the same.

_Pala._ You're very unfortunate indeed: then the case is plain, she is
not handsome.

_Rho._ A great beauty too, as people say.

_Pala._ As people say? why, you should know that best yourself.

_Rho._ Ask those, who have smelt to a strong perfume two years
together, what's the scent.

_Pala._ But here are good qualities enough for one woman.

_Rho._ Ay, too many, Palamede. If I could put them into three or four
women, I should be content.

_Pala._ O, now I have found it! you dislike her for no other reason
but because she's your wife.

_Rho._ And is not that enough? All that I know of her perfections now,
is only by memory. I remember indeed, that about two years ago I loved
her passionately; but those golden days are gone, Palamede: Yet I
loved her a whole half year, double the natural term of any mistress;
and I think, in my conscience, I could have held out another quarter,
but then the world began to laugh at me, and a certain shame, of being
out of fashion, seized me. At last, we arrived at that point, that
there was nothing left in us to make us new to one another. Yet still
I set a good face upon the matter, and am infinite fond of her before
company; but when we are alone, we walk like lions in a room; she one
way, and I another. And we lie with our backs to each other, so far
distant, as if the fashion of great beds was only invented to keep
husband and wife sufficiently asunder.

_Pala._ The truth is, your disease is very desperate; but, though you
cannot be cured you may be patched u