with each other could no more be confined within the limits of virtue, than flax and fire, when joined together, could be kept from burning. For, he knew that Egistus was a man, and, therefore, subject to love, and his wife was a woman, and therefore, might be overcome; so that revolving these things in his mind, he began to be jealous, that imagining his bed was defiled, and his person dishonoured, he was restless till he had sent them to rest in their graves. For, after the devil of jealousy had once possessed him, he misconstrued all they said or did, even their most innocent and inoffensive words and actions. The queen, having no other design, in the civility and respect she shewed to Egistus, but to honour him whom her husband so loved, and for whom he himself had such a respect. And, when she saw her husband's countenance was so altered to her, that she had nothing but frowns, and sour looks, instead of that pleasant smiling aspect with which he was used to entertain her heretofore, she examined all her actions with the strictest scrutiny imaginable, and could not see wherein she had given him any just occasion for this alteration; and, therefore, intended to take a time to demand of him what it was that had rendered him more morose and out of humour than he used to be. But Pandosta, taking it for granted, that his friend Egistus had played some foul play was resolved to dissemble the grudge he bore him, that he might the better revenge the supposed injury he had received; and, therefore, opening his mind to his cup-bearer, he told him the jealousy he had conceived of Egistus: and that he was resolved to revenge it by poisoning him; and, that it might be done without any suspicion of treachery, he would refer the execution of it to his hand, and that he would liberally reward him for it. Fra-
