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,Two Attorneys.Mr. Trefusis.
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.