JEWELLER'S WIFE

Is my sweet Knight coming, are you cer taine he's coming? A Barbers shop, Oh he's a trim Knight, would he venture his body into a Barbers shop, when he knows 'tis as dangerous as a piece of Ireland: Oh yonder, yonder, he comes, get you back again, and look you say as I aduiz'de you. My mask, my mask. My pleasure welcome: I have God single, none but you shall accompany me to the Justice of peace my Father's. Weeping cozen? News as cold to the heart as and old men kind ness: my uncle dead? No Gentleman sir, he's a Knight. He's my husbands own brother, I can tell you (sir: I can assure you father, my husband and he has lain both in one belly. I told you his affection. But here I bar you from all plots to night, The time is yet too heavy to be light. Well we shall see your temper. I'll do my best endeavour to multiply, I assure you. No by my faith.— And do but whirl the Ring a'th door once a bout, my maidservant shall be taught to understand the language. Good rest my effectual pleasure. Where art thou, Oh my Knight! I say you're my knight, for I'm sure I paid for you Now out upon the Marmoset, hast thou served me so long, and offer to bring in a Candle? How happened it you came so soon, I looked not for you these two hours: yet as the sweet chance is, you came as well as a thing could come, for my hus: band's newly brought a bed. He never sent him any thing since I knew him, he's a man of a bade nature to his wife, none but his Maids can thrive under him. I, judge whither I have a cause to be a Courtesan or no? to do as I do, and elderly fellow as he is, if he were married to a young Virgin, he were able to break her heart, though he could break nothing else: here, here, there's joust a hundred and fifty, but I stole e'm so hardly from him, twold ee'ne have grieved you to have seen it. Therefore prithee my sweet pleasure, do not keep company so much, how do you think I am a ble to maintain you? though I be a Jewellers wife, Jewels are Like women, they rise & fall, we must be con tent to lose sometime, to gain often, but you're content always to lose, and never to gain: what needs you ride with a Footman before you? No, I would not have you so base neither: but now and then, when you keep your Chamber, you might let your Footman out for eighteen pence a day, a great relief at years end I can tell you. Nay, I've a greater quarrel to you yet. Nay more, you swore to me, that you were the first that taught him to ride a great horse, and tread the Ring with agility. O take heed, you cannot have that, 'tis always in the eye of my husband. Give me thy hand, isle lead thee forth. Who would not love a friend at Court? what fine Galleries and rooms am I brought through? I had thought my knight durst not have shown his face here, I. Ah me! This is the worst room that ever I came in. Your worship is to great for me to know: I'm but a small timbred-woman when I'm out of my apparel, and dare not venture upon greatness. That purse? Oh death has the Knight served me so? given away my Favours? 'Tis long of those, an't Like your grace, that come in upon us, & will never leave marrying of our widows till they make they all as free as their first husbands. Let me have pardon I beseech your grace, and I'll peach they all, all the close women that are, and upon my knowledge there's above five thousand within the walls and the liberties. I will hereafter live so modestly, I will not lie with mine own husband, nor come near a man in the way of honesty. My father! 'tis mine own father. My father! i'faith sir I, simply though I stand here a Citizens wife: I am a Justice of Peaces Daughter. Why then let him run a little before I beseech thee, for a my troth he will discover us else. The grace? 'tis sufficient grace that y'aue a Horse to ride upon, you should think thus with your self e very time you go to bed if my head were laid, what would become of that horse? he would run a bade raze then as well as his Master. You made me believe at first the Prince had you in great estimation, and would not offer to Travail without you, nay, that he could not travail without your Direction and intelligence. Why should I desire your company else? What and idle question's that? why do you hinke I cannot make room for you in my Father's house, as well as in my husbands, th'are both good for nothing else? Nay Father though I say it, that should not say it, he looks to me more Like a husband then a Kins man. Lady, that word is worth and hundred Angels at all times, for it cost more: if I live till tomorrow night, my sweet pleasure thou shalt have them. Come ee'n much about this time, when Ta uerns give up their Ghosts, and Gentlemen are in their first cast.— No, if it were as much more, I would think it foul scorn to chide you, I advise you to be thrifty, to take the time now, while you have it, you shall seldom get such and other fool as I am, I warrant you: why there's Mettrezza Auriola keeps her love with half the cost that I am at, her friend can go a foot Like a good Husband, walk in wosted Stockings, and inquire for the Sixpenny ordinary. O are you true? Why lo, who would love you now but a Citti zens wife? so inconstant, so for sworn: you say women are false Creatures, but take away men, and thei'd be honester then you—Nay last of all, which offends me most of all, you told me you could countenance me at Court, and you know we esteem a friend there, more worth then a Husband here. That's your word indeed, and upon that con dition take it this kiss and my love for ever. You maintain? you seen it court?