THE ABBESS.
[COMEDY OF ERRORS, Act V. Scene 1.]
Adr. It was the copy of our conference :
In bed, he slept not for my urging it ;
At board, he fed not for my urging it ;
Alone, it was the subject of my theme ;
In company, I often glanced it ;
Still did I tell him it was vile and bad.
Abb. And thereof came it, that thy man was mad :
The venom clamours of a jealous woman
Poison more deadly than a mad dog's tooth.
It seems, his sleep was hinder'd by thy railing :
And therefore comes it, that his head is light.
Thou say'st, his meat was sauced by thy upbraidings:
Unquiet meals make ill digestions,
Thereof the raging fire of fever bred ;
And what's a fever but a fit of madness?
Thou say'st his sports were hinder'd by thy brawls :
Sweet recreation barr'd, what doth ensue,
But moody and dull melancholy,
(Kinsman to grim and comfortless despair ;)
And, at her heels, a huge infectious troop
Of pale distempertures, and foes to life ?
In food, in sport, and life-preserving rest
To be disturb'd, would mad or man, or beast ;
The consequence is then, thy jealous fits
Have scared thy husband from the use of wits.
