[To them] FONDLEWIFE.
FOND.Here are fifty pieces in this purse, Sir Joseph; if you will tarry a moment, till I fetch my papers, I'll wait upon you down-stairs.
LAET.Ruined, past redemption! what shall I do--ha! this fool may be of use.(Aside.) [As FONDLEWIFE is going into the chamber, she runs to SIR JOSEPH, almost pushes him down, and cries out.] Stand off, rude ruffian.Help me, my dear.O bless me! Why will you leave me alone with such a Satyr?
FOND.Bless us! What's the matter? What's the matter?
LAET.Your back was no sooner turned, but like a lion he came open mouthed upon me, and would have ravished a kiss from me by main force.
SIR JO.O Lord! Oh, terrible! Ha, ha, ha.Is your wife mad, Alderman?
LAET.Oh! I'm sick with the fright; won't you take him out of my sight?
FOND.O traitor! I'm astonished.O bloody-minded traitor!
SIR JO.Hey-day! Traitor yourself.By the Lord Harry, I was in most danger of being ravished, if you go to that.
FOND.Oh, how the blasphemous wretch swears! Out of my house, thou son of the whore of Babylon; offspring of Bel and the Dragon.--Bless us! ravish my wife! my Dinah! Oh, Shechemite! Begone, Isay.
SIR JO.Why, the devil's in the people, I think.
