_Comp._ O _London_! sweet _London_! Do I live to see thee once again? My Eyes are full of Brine for Joy. And if my dear _Peggy_ be but living still, I shall cry 'em out. _1 Boy._ Goodman _Compass_, I am glad to see you; You are welcome home. _Comp._ Thank you, good Lad: Honest _Jack_ here too? Why, thou art grown a little Man since I saw thee last: What, is that thy own, heh? _2 Boy._ I am fain to keep it, you see, whoever got it; it may be other Mens Cases as well as mine. _Comp._ Thou say'st true _Jack_: But whose pretty Knave is it? _2 Boy._ My Dame's where I live. _Comp._ And not thy Master's? _2 Boy._ Nay, nay, I can't tell that neither: My Master loves it as well as if it were his own, and for ought I see better than my Dame. _Comp._ A very good Lad by my Troth! _2 Boy._ But, Goodman _Compass_, I can tell you News, Your Wife has a brave Boy too of her own, not above a Quarter old, as big as two of this. _Comp._ Ha! say'st thou so, _Jack_? Ha, ha, ha, by my Troth I am heartily glad to hear it: I'll give thee a dozen of Ale, and thy News be true, Boy. _1 Boy._ I assure you 'tis very true: All your Neighbours can tell you the same. _Comp._ Ha, ha, ha! But a Quarter old, and so lusty, say you? What plaguy thundering Boys are got now-a-days: I Gad, I shall split my Sides with Laughing; Ha, ha, ha.--But _Jack_, I have been loth to ask thee all this while, for fear of ill News, how does my Wife? _2 Boy._ O never better, nor ever so lusty and handsome--And truly she wears better Clothes than she was wont, especially on Holy-days: she has Silk-Gowns, and Lac'd-Petticoats, and fine _Holland_-Smocks too, they say, that have seen 'em: And some of our Neighbours say, they were taken up in _Cheap_. _Comp._ Like enough, _Jack_; and there they must be paid for--Well, good Lads, go and tell my Wife the joyful Tidings of my Return. _2 Boy._ That I will with all my Heart, for she heard you were dead long ago. _1 Boy._ Nay, I'll go along with you _Jack_. _2 Boy._ Come then. [_Exeunt 2 Boys._ _Comp._ Well, _Peggy_, if I am one of the Livery, I thank thee for it: The Cuckolds are the greatest Company in all the City: And we have more Aldermen among us, than all the other put them together. _Enter_ Peg, Compass_'s Wife._ _Peg._ O my dear sweet Honey-suckle! Art thou alive? I am glad to see thee with all my Heart and Soul, so I am. [_Runs and kisses him._] _Comp._ O, ho! good Spouse, give me leave to shed a few pearly Tears; the Fountain of Love will have its Course: And tho I cannot Sing at first sight, yet I can Cry you see. I am as it were new come into the World; and Children Cry before they Laugh, a long time you know. _Peg._ Yes; and so thou art new born indeed to me, my _Numpy_; for I was told you were dead long since, and never thought to see this dear sweet Face of thine again: I heard thou wert div'd to the bottom of the Sea, and that you never did intend to see poor _Peggy_ more.