Fa. Well, and I pray what have Men in these more excellent than we have?  In both Sexes, there are many Drunkennesses, Brawls, Fightings, Murders, Wars, Rapines, and Adulteries.

Eu. But we Men alone fight for our Country.

Fa. And you Men often desert from your Colours, and run away like Cowards; and it is not always for the Sake of your Country, that you leave your Wives and Children, but for the Sake of a little nasty Pay; and, worse than Fencers at the Bear-Garden, you deliver up your Bodies to a slavish Necessity of being killed, or yourselves killing others.  And now after all your Boasting of your warlike Prowess, there is none of you all, but if you had once experienced what it is to bring a Child into the World, would rather be placed ten Times in the Front of a Battle, than undergo once what we must so often.  An Army does not always fight, and when it does, the whole Army is not always engaged.  Such as you are set in the main Body, others are kept for Bodies of Reserve, and some are safely posted in the Rear; and lastly, many save themselves by surrendring, and some by running away.  We are obliged to encounter Death, Hand to Hand.

Eu. I have heard these Stories before now; but the Question is, Whether they are true or not?

Fa. Too true.

Eu. Well then, Fabulla, would you have me persuade your Husband never to touch you more?  For if so, you’ll be secure from that Danger.

Fa. In Truth, there is nothing in the World I am more desirious of, if you were able to effect it.

Eu. If I do persuade him to it, what shall I have for my Pains?

Fa. I’ll present you with half a Score dry’d Neats-Tongues.

Eu. I had rather have them than the Tongues of ten Nightingales.  Well, I don’t dislike the Condition, but we won’t make the Bargain obligatory, before we have agreed on the Articles.

Fa. And if you please, you may add any other Article.

Eu. That shall be according as you are in the Mind after your Month is up.

Fa. But why not according as I am in the Mind now?

Eu. Why, I’ll tell you, because I am afraid you will not be in the same Mind then; and so you would have double Wages to pay, and I double Work to do, of persuading and dissuading him.

Fa. Well, let it be as you will then.  But come on, shew me why the Man is better than the Woman.

Eu. I perceive you have a Mind to engage with me in Discourse, but I think it more adviseable to yield to you at this Time.  At another Time I’ll attack you when I have furnished myself with Arguments; but not without a Second neither.  For where the Tongue is the Weapon that decides the Quarrel; seven Men are scarce able to Deal with one Woman.

Fa. Indeed the Tongue is a Woman’s Weapon; but you Men are not without it neither.