Lov.  Will, have they forsaken thee upon it?

Bib.  No, I assure you, sir.

Lov.  No, I warrant ’em:  A cuckold has the signification of an honest well-meaning citizen; one, that is not given to jealousies or suspicions; a just person to his wife, &c.; one that, to speak the worst of him, does but to her, what he would be content should be done to her by other men.

Franc.  But that another man should be the father of his children, as they say; I don’t think that a civil thing, husband.

Lov.  Not civil, landlady! why all things are civil, that are made so by custom.

Bib.  Why may not he get as fine children as I, or any man?

Franc.  But if those children, that are none of yours, should call you father, William!

Bib.  If they call me father, and are none of mine, I am the more beholden to ’em.

Franc.  Nay, if that be your humour, husband, I am glad I know it, that I may please you the better another time, as they say. [Exit FRANCES.

Bib.  Nay, but Frances, Frances! ’tis such another woman. [Exit BIBBER.

Lov.  ’Tis such another man:—­My coat and sword, boy, I must go to Justice Trice’s; bring the women; and come after me. [Exit LOVEBY.

ACT IV.  SCENE I.

A Table set with Cards upon it.

TRICE walking:  Enter Servant.

Serv.  Sir, some company is without upon justice-business.

Trice.  Saucy rascal, to disturb my meditations. [Exit Servant.—­Ay, it shall be he:  Jack Loveby, what think’st thou of a game at piquet, we two, hand to fist? you and I will play one single game for ten pieces:  ’Tis deep stake, Jack, but ’tis all one between us two:  You shall deal, Jack:—­Who I, Mr Justice! that’s a good one; you must give me use for your hand then; that’s six i’the hundred.—­Come, lift, lift;—­mine’s a ten; Mr Justice:—­mine’s a king; oh ho, Jack, you deal.  I have the advantage of this, i’faith, if I can keep it. [He deals twelve a piece, two by two, and looks on his own cards.] I take seven, and look on this—­Now for you, Jack Loveby.

Enter LOVEBY behind.

Lov.  How’s this?  Am I the man he fights with?

Trice.  I’ll do you right, Jack; as I am an honest man, you must discard this; there’s no other way:  If you were my own brother, I could do no better for you.—­Zounds, the rogue has a quint-major, and three aces younger hand.—­[Looks on the other cards.] Stay; what am I for the point?  But bare forty, and he fifty-one:  Fifteen, and five for the point, twenty, and three by aces, twenty-three; well, I am to play first:  one, twenty-three; two, twenty-three; three, twenty-three; four, twenty-three;—­Pox on’t, now I must play into his hand:  five:—­now you take it, Jack;—­five, twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty, and the cards forty.