Sec. What should I say?—how miraculously sorts this!—was not I at home, and called thee last night?
Wi. Yes, sir, the harmless sleep you broke; and my answer to you would have witnessed it, if you had had the patience to have stayed and answered me; but your so sudden retreat made me imagine you were gone to
Master Bramble’s, and so rested patient and hopeful of your coming again, till this your unbelieved absence brought me abroad with no less than wonder, to seek you where the false knight had carried you. 285
Sec. Villain and monster that I was! how have I abused thee! I was suddenly gone indeed; for my sudden jealousy transferred me. I will say no more but this: dear wife, I suspected thee.
Wi. Did you suspect me? 290
Sec. Talk not of it, I beseech thee; I am ashamed to imagine it. I will home, I will home; and every morning on my knees ask thee heartily forgiveness.
[Exeunt.
[Slit.] Now will I descend my honourable prospect; the farthest seeing sea-mark of the world; no marvel, then, if I could see two miles about me. I hope the red tempest’s anger be now over-blown, which sure, I think, Heaven sent as a punishment for profaning holy Saint Luke’s memory[78] with so ridiculous a custom. Thou dishonest satire! farewell to honest married men, farewell to all sorts and degrees of thee! Farewell, thou horn of hunger, that call’st the inns o’ court to their manger! Farewell, thou horn of abundance, that adornest the headsmen of the commonwealth! Farewell, thou horn of direction, that is the city lanthorn! Farewell, thou horn of pleasure, the ensign of the huntsman! Farewell, thou horn of destiny, th’ ensign of the married man! Farewell, thou horn tree, that bearest nothing but stone-fruit! 309
[Exit.
[73] Horn-fair was held at Charlton on St. Luke’s Day, 18th October.—The tradition was that King John cuckolded a miller who lived near Charlton, and compensated him by giving him all the land that he could see from his house, looking down the river; the condition being that the miller should walk round the estate annually on St. Luke’s Day with a pair of buck’s horns fastened on his head.