The City Bride | Page 9

Bride: 'Tis very strange you'l say; and may be my Case in another way.
Ara. Come, Sir, never fear: A Man and afraid; Fie, fie!
Sum. Give me your Hand, I'll wait on you; and if you are (as I believe you) True and Just, you are the World's Wonder! Come, Madam.
[Exeunt.
SCENE II.
Enter two Boys, one with a Child in his Arms. Compass on the other side.
1 Boy. Jack, Who's this?
2 Boy. O Jeminy! I'll be hang'd if it ben't Goodman Compass, that they said was dead three Years ago.
1 Boy. Od's Life, and so it is!
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 th? 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.
Comp. He, he, he, I was going down, as you say Peg, but I thought better on't, and turn'd back: I heard an ill Report of my Neighbours there; the devouring Sharks, and other Sea-Monsters, whose Company, to tell you the Truth, I did not like; and therefore resolv'd to come home and bide with thee my Girl--Come kiss thy poor Hubby, kiss me I say, for Sorrow begins to ebb apace.
Peg. A thousand, thousand Welcomes home dear Numpy!
Comp. An Ocean of Thanks, kind Peggy: Well, and how goes all at Home? What Lank still, poor Peg? Wil't ne're be full Sea at our Wharf?
Peg. Alas, Husband, what do you mean?
Comp. A Lass, is it, or a Lad, Wench? I shou'd be glad of both; I look'd for a pair of Compasses long afore now.
Peg. What, and you from home, Love?
Comp. I from home? Why th? I was from