An epithalamium, without delay!
Davenant.My lord doth jest?
Rochester. By Heaven no! Than this
Nought could be less a subject for a jest.
Dame Guggligoy.Ah! traitor! What of all your fiery oaths?
Davenant [to Rochester, in an undertone.
Upon my soul, the lady, in her kind,
Is far from commonplace. I wish you joy
Of your fresh conquest.
Rochester [in an undertone.
Conquest! She's my wife,
And nothing more! The term is an affront.
Dame Guggligoy. My tears are thrown away. He listens not.
Davenant [in an undertone.
While she doth drivel on, explain to me—
Rochester [in an undertone.
Cromwell doth give her to me, with a dowry;
All from pure kindliness.
Dame Guggligoy [pulling him by the sleeve.
My husband dear!
What says she?
Rochester [in an undertone.
I will tell you the whole tale.
But for the nonce you needs must understand
That by good right the hag doth call me so.
'Tis done. A guardhouse for a chapel served;
A drum preached us a sermon, and it was
A corporal who married us. I' faith
I trembled at the end lest martial law
Should of a camp-bed make the nuptial couch.
But by good fortune—
