The City Bride (1696): Or, The Merry CuckoldHarris, Joseph
General
The City Bride (1696): Or, The Merry Cuckold
Harris, Joseph
English drama
_Bon._ As soon shall Heav'n reverse the Fate of Hell, as I recal what I
have said, or plant thee in my Breast again.
_Fri._ Nay, then I am lost to thee, and all the World besides.
[_Rises._
_Bon._ Thou are indeed for ever lost to me; see what a miserable Wretch
thy Folly now has made thee: A Creature so far below my Pity, that I
despise and scorn thy base Submission, and will never hear thee more,
more.
_Fri._ Say but thou hast forgiven me, and I will ask no more.
_Bon._ I never will.
_Fri._ O cruel _Bonvile_!
_Bon._ More barbarous _Friendly_: Hold off, or I will use thee like a
Dog, tread thee to Earth, and spurn thee like a Slave, base as thou art.
_Fri._ Still thou art my Friend----
_Bon._ Thou ly'st, I have abjured the Name.
_Fri._ Let me but go with thee.
_Bon._ Not for the World; I'de rather venture my self with Crocodiles,
catch the last dying Gasps of some poor Wretch infested with the Plague,
than trust my self with thee.
_Farewel, I leave thee with the greatest Curse,
Condemn'd to Woman, Hell affords no worse._
[_Exit, breaking from him._
Friendly solus, _rising in a Passion._
_Fri._ Death and Destruction, am I thus despised! Condemned to Woman's
Lust, and scorn'd by Man. By _Bonvile_ too, after imploring, like a
School-Boy, at his Feet--My Blood boils high, and scalds my very Heart!
My inward Grief calls on me for Revenge, and I am all on fire! O that I
had the proud _Bonvile_ here now at my Feet, I'de use him worse than he
did me before.
_But since that open Force yields no Relief,
Private Revenge shall ease my swelling Grief.
With Thoughts of Jealousy I'll fill his Soul,
Which shall its Powers of all their Rest controul.
Thus for a Woman I've begun a War,
And for her sake must damn my Soul like her._[Exit.
SCENE the Second.
_Enter_ Nurse, Compass, _and his Wife._
_Nurse._ Indeed you must pardon me, I can't let ye see the Child; to
tell you the Truth, I am commanded to the contrary.
_Comp._ Commanded! Prethee who commanded thee?
_Nurse._ The Father.
_Comp._ The Father, Why who am I?
_Nurse._ Not the Father sure, the Civil Law has found it otherwise.
_Comp._ The Civil Law found it otherwise! Why then the Uncivil Law shall
make it mine again, I'll be as dreadful as a _Shrove-Tuesday_ to thee;
for I'll besiege thy squalling catterwauling Castle, with my Friends the
Mob, and gut thy stinking Nursery, but I'll both see and have my Child.
_Nurse._ Harkee, Goodman Swabber, say but half so much again, and I'll
call the Constable, and lay Burglary to your Charge. You wou'd not be so
hot if the Enemy were in View, nor if you had to do with any body but a
poor innocent Woman, so you wou'd'nt.
_Peg._ Good Husband be patient, and let me alone with her: Come, come,
good Nurse, let him see the Boy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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