Comedy
A young roué, Mr. Homer, vies with Mr. Pinchwife for the affections of Pinchwife's young wife Margery. Having spread the rumour that he is a eunuch in order to allay the suspicions of jealous husbands, Homer concentrates on seducing Margery, whom he saw one evening at the theatre. Pinchwife, realising his wife's attractions, has kept his marriage a secret and has sequestered her in the house, permitting only his sister Alithea to visit. But Margery, now interested in Homer, wheedles another visit to the theatre, which Pinchwife permits only if she dresses as a boy. He then introduces her as his wife's brother.
Homer sees through the deception and flirts with her. Worried, Pinchwife has Margery write Homer a letter intended to discourage his attentions, but she substitutes a love letter.
While writing a second love letter, Margery is caught by her husband. She convinces him she is writing it for Alithea, who, she says, loves Homer. Determined to marry Alithea to him immediately, Pinchwife takes her to him, not realising that he is escorting Margery dressed in Alithea's clothes. Margery is subsequently seduced by Homer before Pinchwife returns with Alithea and several others. Alithea's maid Lucy takes the blame for all the lying, and a quack doctor reaffirms Horner's impotence. Pinchwife pretends to believe that he has not been cuckolded, and the dissatisfied Margery remains unwillingly faithful.