The City Bride | Page 3

is blank). The top line on page 44, which is partly
cut away, reads: Cla. Who (if thou ever lov'dst me ...
Vinton A. Dearing University of California Los Angeles

THE CITY BRIDE:
OR,
The Merry Cuckold.
A COMEDY,
Acted at the New Theatre, in Little Lincolns Inn-Fields.
BY
His Majesty's Servants.
First Edition.
Spero Meliora.
LONDON:

Printed for A. Roper and E. Wilkinson at the Black-Boy, and R. Clavel
at the Peacock, in Fleet-street. 1696.

PROLOGUE:
Spoke by Mr. THURMOND.
Three Ways there are, and all accounted fair, To gain your Favour:
Begging, Borrowing, Prayer. If as a Beggar, I your Alms implore }
Methinks your Charity shou'd aid the Poor; } Besides, I never beg'd of
you before. } If I address by Prayer, and loud Complaints I then oblige
yee, for I make you Saints; And sure none here can think it Superstition,
To pray to Saints that are of no Religion! If Invocation will not do my
Work, A Man may borrow of a Jew or Turk; Pray lend me Gentlemen
your Applause and Praise, I'll take it for as good as Currant Bays; And
if I ne're repay it, 'tis no more, Than many of you Sparks have done
before: With this distinction, that you ran indebt For want of Money,
we for want of Wit. In vain I plead! a Man as soon may get Mill'd Silver,
as one favour from the Pit. ----Hold then----now I think on't, I'll e'en
turn Thief, and steal your kind Affection, And when I've got your Hearts,
claim your protection: You can't convict me sure for such a crime,
Since neither Mare nor Lap-dog, I purloin: While you Rob Ladies
Bosoms every day, } And filch their pretious Maiden-heads away; } I'll
plead good nature for this Brat the Play: } A Play that plagues no more
the thread-bare Theme Of powder'd Beaux, or tricks o'th' Godly Dame,
But in your humours let's ye all alone, And not so much as Fools
themselves runs down. Our Author try'd his best, and Wisemen tell, 'Tis
half well doing to endeavour well: What tho' his poor Allay runs not so
fine; Yet, let it pass as does our present Coin; For wanting fairer Ore,
and riches mould He stamps in Brass, what others print in Gold: Smile
on him but this time, the next perhaps, If he guess right he may deserve
your Claps.

Dramatis Personæ.

|Bonvile, The Bridegroom. |Mr. Boman. | |Friendly, His Friend, in Love
with Clara. |Mr. Thurmond. | |Justice Merryman, Father to Arabella.
|Mr. Bright. | |Summerfield, A Gentleman, but Younger Brother, | | |
necessitated to take the High-Way. |Mr. Scudemore.| |Mr. Ventre, A
Merchant. |Mr. Arnold. | |Mr. Spruce, A City Beau. |Mr. Bayly. |
|Compasse, A Master of a Vessel. |Mr. Freeman. | |A Councellor. |Mr.
Davis. | |Pettifog, } |Mr. Trefusis. | | } Two Attorneys. | | |Dodge, } |Mr.
Eldred. | | | | |Sailers, Neighbours, Drawers, Servants, Boys, | | | Singers
and Dancers. | | | | | |Arabella, The Bride. |Mrs. Boman. | |Clara,
Friendly's Mistriss, but secretly in Love | | | with Bonvile. |Mrs. Boutell.
| |Mrs. Ventre, The Merchant's Wife. |Mrs. Lacy. | |Peg, Compasses
Wife. |Mrs. Perin. | |Nurse. |Mrs. Lawson. | |Lucy, Clara's Maid. |Miss
Prince. | | | | |Women Neighbours. | |
SCENE London.

THE CITY BRIDE: OR, THE Merry Cuckold.

ACT I. SCENE the I.
The Curtain draws up, and discovers several sitting at a Banquet. An
Entertainment of Instrumental Musick, Compos'd by Signior Finger:
Then a Song, set by Mr. John Eccles, and Sung by Young La Roche.
SONG.
Many I've lik'd, and some Enjoy'd, But if I said I Lov'd, I ly'd.
Inconstant as the wandring Bee, From once touch'd Sweets I us'd to
flee; Nor all the Power of Female Skill, Cou'd curb the freedom of my
Will: Clarinda only found the Art, To Conquer and so keep my Heart.

[After this a Dance, and then the Scene shuts.
Enter Friendly and Clara.

Friend. This is a Day of Mirth and Jollity my Clara.
Clara. 'Tis so, for such as can be merry, Mr. Friendly.
Friend. Why not for us my Love, we have a Noble President, and
methinks shou'd Imitate (thrô Envy) this their happiness.
Clara. I am not of your Opinion.
Friend. Why not my Fair?
Clara. I'll tell you, because I purpose not to Marry.
Fri. Prithee be serious, and reform that Thought: Think of my past
Service, and judge by that my future; weigh all the respect I have paid
you long, and ever lov'd you beyond my self.
Cla. I know your Weakness, and will reward it too.
Fri. I am sure you will, you must be kind; And