Sir _Cau_. Six and five’s Eleven--
[_Throws, and pulls the Hat towards him_.
_Gay_. Cater Tray--Pox of the Dice--
Sir _Cau_. Two fives--one and twenty--
[_Sets up, pulls the Hat nearer_.
_Gay_. Now, Luck--Doublets of sixes--nineteen.
Sir _Cau_. Five and four--thirty--
[_Draws the Hat to him_.
Sir _Feeb_. Now if he wins it, I’ll swear he has a Fly indeed--’tis
impossible without Doublets of sixes--
_Gay_, Now Fortune smile--and for the future frown. [_Throws_.
Sir _Cau_.--Hum--two sixes--
[_Rises and looks dolefully round_.
L. _Ful_. How now? what’s the matter you look so like an Ass, what have
you lost?
Sir _Cau_. A Bauble--a Bauble--’tis not for what I’ve lost--but because
I have not won--
Sir _Feeb_. You look very simple, Sir--what think you of _Cato_ now?
Sir _Cau_. A wise Man may have his failings--
L. _Ful_. What has my Husband lost?--
Sir _Cau_. Only a small parcel of Ware that lay dead upon my hands,
Sweet-heart.
_Gay_. But I shall improve ‘em, Madam, I’ll warrant you.
L. _Ful_. Well, since ‘tis no worse, bring in your fine Dancer,
Cousin, you say you brought to entertain your Mistress with.
[Bearjest _goes out_.
_Gay_. Sir, you’ll take care to see me paid to Night?
Sir _Cau_. Well, Sir--but my Lady, you must know, Sir, has the common
frailties of her Sex, and will refuse what she even longs for, if
persuaded to’t by me.
_Gay_. ‘Tis not in my Bargain to sollicit her, Sir, you are to procure
her--or three hundred pounds, Sir; chuse you whether.
Sir _Cau_. Procure her! with all my soul, Sir; alas, you mistake my
honest meaning, I scorn to be so unjust as not to see you a-bed
together; and then agree as well as you can, I have done my part--In
order to this, Sir--get but your self conveyed in a Chest to my house,
with a Direction upon’t for me; and for the rest--
_Gay_. I understand you.
Sir _Feeb_. _Ralph_, get supper ready.
_Enter_ Bea. _with Dancers; all go out but Sir_ Cautious.
Sir _Cau_. Well, I must break my Mind, if possible, to my Lady--but if
she shou’d be refractory now--and make me pay Three hundred Pounds--why,
sure she won’t have so little Grace--Three hundred Pounds sav’d, is
three hundred pounds got--by our account--Cou’d All--
_Who of this City-Privilege are free,
Hope to be paid for Cuckoldom like me;
Th’unthriving Merchant, whom gray Hair adorns,
Before all Ventures wou’d ensure his Horns;
For thus, while he but lets spare Rooms to hire,
His Wife’s cracked Credit keeps his own entire_.
[_Exit_.
ACT V.
SCENE I. _Sir_ Cautious _his House_.
_Enter_ Bellmour _alone, sad_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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