774Gon. I prithy, Skalliger, tell me what thou thinkst:

775Could any woman of our dignity

776Endure such quips and peremptory taunts,

777As I do daily from my doting father?

778Doth't not suffice that I him keepe of almes,

779Who is not able for to keepe himselfe?

780But as if he were our better, he should thinke

781To check and snap me vp at euery word.

782I cannot make me a new fashioned gowne,

783And set it forth with more then common cost;

784But his old doting doltish withered wit,

785Is sure to giue a sencelesse check for it.

786I cannot make a banquet extraordinary,

787To grace my selfe, and spread my name abroad,

788But he, old foole, is captious by and by,

789And sayth, the cost would well suffice for twice.

790Iudge then, I pray, what reason ist, that I

791Should stand alone charg'd with his vaine expence,

792And that my sister Ragan should go free,

793To whom he gaue as much, as vnto me?

C4 I prithy,

794I prithy, Skalliger, tell me, if thou know,

795By any meanes to rid me of this woe.

796 Skal.Your many fauours still bestowde on me,

797Binde me in duty to aduise your Grace,

798How you may soonest remedy this ill.

799The large allowance which he hath from you,

800Is that which makes him so forget himselfe:

801Therefore abbridge it halfe, and you shall see,

802That hauing lesse, he will more thankfull be:

803For why, abundance maketh vs forget

804The fountaynes whence the benefits do spring.

805Gon. Well, Skalliger, for thy kynd aduice herein,

806I will not be vngratefull, if I liue:

807I haue restrayned halfe his portion already,

808And I will presently restrayne the other,

809That hauing no meanes to releeue himselfe,

810He may go seeke elsewhere for better helpe. Exit.

811Skal. Go, viperous woman, shame to all thy sexe:

812The heauens, no doubt, will punish thee for this:

813And me a villayne, that to curry fauour,

814Haue giuen the daughter counsell 'gainst the father.

815But vs the world doth this experience giue,

816That he that cannot flatter, cannot liue. Exit.