The City Bride (1696): Or, The Merry CuckoldHarris, Joseph
General
The City Bride (1696): Or, The Merry Cuckold
Harris, Joseph
English drama
_Sum._ Ha! your Wife.
_Bon._ Yes Sir, my Wife, I think the word needs no explaining.
_Mer._ Pray, Sir, at my Request bear with him, he's strangely out of
Order I assure you.
_Bon._ The Jewels are as I left 'em ; but the Jewel of her Heart is lost
and thrown away.--Madam, I sent you my Will, did you receive it.
_Ara._ Yes, I did.
_Bon._ Let me see it.
_Ara._ You shall.
[_Exit_ Ara.
_Bon._ Sir, I desire a Word or two in private with you,
[_to_ Summer.
_Sum._ With all my Heart, Sir.
_Mer._ What's that, what's that, I'll have no Whispering, Gentlemen.
_Enter_ Arabella _with the Will._
_Ara._ There's your Will, Sir.
[_Throws it down,_ Bonvile _takes it up._
_Bon._ 'Tis well now as you've chang'd your Mind, I'll change this too,
and find another to supply your Place: There's no harm done, the
Marriage is not yet consummated, and you are free to enjoy any, so am I.
_Ara._ As you please for that: A Man may make a Garment for the Moon,
count all the Stars which twinckle in the Skies, or empty the vast
Ocean, Drop by Drop, sooner than please a Mind so light, so various as
yours.
_Mer._ Ods bobs, what's this you talk of, altering your Will?
_Bon._ Yes, Sir, I am so resolved, and will see 't perform'd within this
Hour: My Lawyer lives hard by, and so farewel.
[_Exit. Bon._
_Mer._ Farewel thou peevish Boy, I can alter my Will too so I can, marry
can I; I had left him 20000 Pound after my Death, and he shall see I can
find another Executor too. Within this Hour did he say, Gad I'll be with
one as soon as he, unless he rides Post to the Devil, and that's the
nearest way to a Lawyer.
_Sum._ I'll follow him, and asswage his Passion.
_Mer._ By no means, Sir.--But now I think on't, I'll go with you, and
find him out: But did you ever see the like, did you ever see the like?
Come Sir, come follow me
[_Exit._ Merr. & Summer.
_Cla._ Dear _Arabella_ what can all this mean?
_Ara._ Can you be doubtful of the Effect, who are your self the Cause?
_Cla._ I the Cause, Inform me how?
_Ara._ O _Clara, Clara_, your Syrens Voice has drawn my _Bonvile_ from
these spotless Virgins Arms, and made me ever wretched!
_Cla._ Who (if thou ever lov'dst me) tax'd me with a Crime so foul, as I
abhor to hear it only named?
_Ara._ _Friendly._.
_Cla._ O _Arabella_, forgive and pity me, who am indeed the innocent,
unhappy Cause of all those Griefs which now afflict you both; which I'll
relate in brief, if you will please to withdraw one Moment with me.
_Ara._ With all my Heart.
_Cla._ Come then:
_And since your Ruine I did first conspire,
I'll all appease, thus Fire's expell'd by Fire._
[_Exeunt._
_Enter Justice_ Merryman _and_ Summerfield.
_Mer._ Sir, do you take me for your Friend?
_Sum._ Why d' you ask me such a Question, Sir? 'twere base Ingratitude
to entertain any other Thought.
_Mer._ Why then d' ye see, Sir; as you are my Friend, you must not fight
my Son _Bonvile_.
_Sum._ Not fight him Sir! you amaze me.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account