Or else turn thieves too, and be chok’d for it,
Die a dog’s death, be perch’d upon a tree;
Hang’d betwixt heaven and earth, as fit for neither. 
The curse of heaven that’s due to reprobates
Descends upon my brothers and my children,
And I am parent to it—­ay, I am parent to it.

    Enter BUTLER.

BUT.  Where are you, sir?

SCAR.  Why star’st thou, what’s thy haste?

BUT.  Here’s fellows swarm like flies to speak with you.

SCAR.  What are they?

BUT.  Snakes, I think, sir; for they come with stings in their mouths, and their tongues are turn’d to teeth too:  they claw villainously, they have ate up your honest name and honourable reputation by railing against you:  and now they come to devour your possessions.

SCAR.  In plainer evargy,[424] what are they? speak.

BUT.  Mantichoras,[425] monstrous beasts, enemies to mankind, that have double rows of teeth in their mouths.  They are usurers, they come yawning for money, and the sheriff with them is come to serve an extent upon your land, and then seize on your body by force of execution:  they have begirt the house round.

SCAR.  So that the roof our ancestors did build
For their sons’ comfort, and their wives for charity,
I dare not to look out at.

BUT.  Besides, sir, here’s your poor children—­

SCAR.  Poor children they are indeed.

BUT.  Come with fire and water, tears in their eyes and burning grief in their hearts, and desire to speak with you.

SCAR.  Heap sorrow upon sorrow! tell me, are
My brothers gone to execution
For what I did? for every heinous sin
Sits on his soul, by whom it did begin. 
And so did theirs by me.  Tell me withal,
My children carry moisture in their eyes,
Whose speaking drops say, father, thus must we
Ask our relief, or die with infamy,
For you have made us beggars.  Yet when thy tale has kill’d me,
To give my passage comfort from this stage,
Say all was done by enforc’d marriage: 
My grave will then be welcome.

BUT.  What shall we do, sir?

SCAR.  Do as the devil does, hate (panther-like) mankind![426]
And yet I lie; for devils sinners love,
When men hate men, though good like some above.

    Enter SCARBOROW’S wife KATHERINE, with two Children.

BUT.  Your wife’s come in, sir.

SCAR.  Thou li’st, I have not a wife.  None can be call’d
True man and wife, but those whom heaven install’d,
Say—­

KATH.  O my dear husband!

SCAR.  You are very welcome.  Peace:  we’ll have compliment. 
Who are you, gentlewoman?

KATH.  Sir, your distressed wife, and these your children,

SCAR.  Mine!  Where, how, begot? 
Prove me by certain instance that’s divine,
That I should call them lawful, or thee mine.

KATH.  Were we not married, sir?