Eu. Were not you afraid then?

Xa. Nay, I snatch’d up a three legg’d Stool, and if he had but touch’d me with his Finger, he should have known he had to do with a Woman of Spirit.

Eu. Ah! my Xantippe, that was not becoming.

Xa. What becoming?  If he does not use me like a Wife, I won’t use him like a Husband.

Eu. But St. Paul teaches, that Wives ought to be subject to their own Husbands with all Reverence.  And St. Peter proposes the Example of Sarah to us, who call’d her Husband Abraham Lord.

Xa. I have heard those Things, but the same Paul likewise teaches that Men should love their Wives as Christ lov’d his Spouse the Church.  Let him remember his Duty and I’ll remember mine.

Eu. But nevertheless when Things are come to that Pass that one must submit to the other, it is but reasonable that the Wife submit to her Husband.

Xa. Yes indeed, if he deserves the Name of a Husband who uses me like a Kitchen Wench.

Eu. But tell me, Xantippe, did he leave off threatening after this?

Xa. He did leave off, and it was his Wisdom so to do, or else he would have been thresh’d.

Eu. But did not you leave off Scolding at him?

Xa. No, nor never will.

Eu. But what does he do in the mean Time?

Xa. What!  Why sometimes he pretends himself to be fast asleep, and sometimes does nothing in the World but laugh at me; sometimes he catches up his Fiddle that has but three Strings, scraping upon it with all his Might, and drowns the Noise of my Bawling.

Eu. And does not that vex you to the Heart?

Xa. Ay, so that it is impossible to be express’d, so that sometimes I can scarce keep my Hands off of him.

Eu. Well, my Xantippe, give me Leave to talk a little freely with you.

Xa. I do give you Leave.

Eu. Nay, you shall use the same Freedom with me.  Our Intimacy, which has been in a Manner from our very Cradles, requires this.

Xa. You say true, nor was there any of my Playfellows that I more dearly lov’d than you.

Eu. Let your Husband be as bad as bad can be, think upon this, That there is no changing.  Heretofore, indeed, Divorce was a Remedy for irreconcilable Disagreements, but now this is entirely taken away:  He must be your Husband and you his Wife to the very last Day of Life.

Xa. The Gods did very wrong that depriv’d us of this Privilege.

Eu. Have a Care what you say.  It was the Will of Christ.

Xa. I can scarce believe it.

Eu. It is as I tell you.  Now you have nothing left to do but to study to suit your Tempers and Dispositions one to another, and agree together.