FONDLEWIFE returns with Papers.
FOND.Good lack! good lack! I profess the poor man is in great torment; he lies as flat--Dear, you should heat a trencher, or a napkin.--Where's Deborah? Let her clap some warm thing to his stomach, or chafe it with a warm hand rather than fail.What book's this? [Sees the book that BELLMOUR forgot.]
LAET.Mr.Spintext's prayer-book, dear.Pray Heaven it be a prayer-book.[Aside.]
FOND.Good man! I warrant he dropped it on purpose that you might take it up and read some of the pious ejaculations.[Taking up the book.] O bless me! O monstrous! A prayer-book? Ay, this is the devil's paternoster.Hold, let me see: The Innocent Adultery.
LAET.Misfortune! now all's ruined again.[Aside.]
BELL.[Peeping].Damned chance! If I had gone a-whoring with the Practice of Piety in my pocket I had never been discovered.
FOND.Adultery, and innocent! O Lord! Here's doctrine! Ay, here's discipline!
LAET.Dear husband, I'm amazed.Sure it is a good book, and only tends to the speculation of sin.
FOND.Speculation! No no; something went farther than speculation when I was not to be let in.--Where is this apocryphal elder? I'll ferret him.
LAET.I'm so distracted, I can't think of a lie.[Aside.]
