JUS.  The woman saith but reason, Master Arthur,
And therefore give her licence to depart.

O. LUS.  Here is dry justice, not to bid us drink! 
Hark thee, my friend, I prythee lend thy cup;
Now, Master Justice, hear me but one word;
You think this woman hath had little wrong,
But, by this wine which I intend to drink—­

JUS.  Nay, save your oath, I pray you do not swear;
Or if you swear, take not too deep an oath.

O. LUS.  Content you, I may take a lawful oath
Before a Justice; therefore, by this wine—­

Y. LUS.  A profound oath, well-sworn, and deeply took;
’Tis better thus than swearing on a book.

O. LUS.  My daughter hath been wronged exceedingly.

JUS.  O, sir, I would have credited these words
Without this oath:  but bring your daughter hither,
That I may give her counsel, ere you go.

O. LUS.  Marry, God’s blessing on your heart for that! 
Daughter, give ear to Justice Reason’s words.

JUS.  Good woman, or good wife, or mistress, if you have done amiss, it should seem you have done a fault; and making a fault, there’s no question but you have done amiss:  but if you walk uprightly, and neither lead to the right hand nor the left, no question but you have neither led to the right hand nor the left; but, as a man should say, walked uprightly; but it should appear by these plaintiffs that you have had some wrong:  if you love your spouse entirely, it should seem you affect him fervently; and if he hate you monstrously, it should seem he loathes you most exceedingly, and there’s the point at which I will leave, for the time passes away:  therefore, to conclude, this is my best counsel:  look that thy husband so fall in, that hereafter you never fall out.

O. LUS.  Good counsel, passing good instruction;
Follow it, daughter.  Now, I promise you,
I have not heard such an oration
This many a day.  What remains to do?

Y. LUS.  Sir, I was call’d as witness to this matter,
I may be gone for aught that I can see.

JUS.  Nay, stay, my friend, we must examine you. 
What can you say concerning this debate
Betwixt young Master Arthur and his wife?

Y. LUS.  Faith, just as much, I think, as you can say,
And that’s just nothing.

JUS.  How, nothing?  Come, depose him; take his oath;
Swear him, I say; take his confession.

O. ART.  What can you say, sir, in this doubtful case?

Y. LUS.  Why, nothing, sir.

JUS.  We cannot take him in contrary tales,
For he says nothing still, and that same nothing
Is that which we have stood on all this while;
He hath confess’d even all, for all is nothing. 
This is your witness, he hath witness’d nothing
Since nothing, then, so plainly is confess’d,
And we by cunning answers and by wit
Have wrought him to confess nothing to us,
Write his confession.