Throwing restraint upon us. Or say they strike us,
Or scant our former having in despite.
Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace,
Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know
70
Their wives have sense like them. They see and smell
And have their palates both for sweet and sour,
As husbands have. What is it that they do
When they change us for others? Is it sport?
I think it is. And doth affection breed it?
75
I think it doth. Is 't frailty that thus errs?
It is so too. And have not we affections,
Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?
Then let them use us well, else let them know,
The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.
may stop sleeping with us, and give it out to other women instead.
Or they may get insanely jealous, and keep us from going anywhere.
Or let's say they hit us, or cut back on the money they
give us out of spite. We have feelings. We may be able to forgive
them, but we want to get back at them too. Husbands need to know
that their wives are human beings too. They see, smell, and taste
sweet and sour just like their husbands. Why do they replace us with
other women? Do they do it for fun? I think they do. Is it out of
lust? I think so. Is it a weakness? It is. And don't we
have passions, and a taste for fun, and weaknesses, just like men?
Then tell them to treat us well. Or let them figure out that the bad
things we do are just what we learned from them.
DESDEMONA
80
Good night, good night. Heaven me such uses send,
Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend!
DESDEMONA
Good night, good night. I pray that God will let me learn from
women like that—not to follow their bad example, but to
avoid it!
