Sir _Har._ Tis well design'd, and may the Soldier animate the Lover: For
my part, I'm so devoted to my Pleasures, and so strangely bigotted to a
single Life, I have sold an Estate of Two thousand a Year, to buy an
Annuity of Four: I love to Rake and Rattle thro' the Town, and each
Amusement, as it happens, pleases. The Ladies call me Mad Sir _Harry_, a
Careless, Affable, Obliging Fellow, whom, when they want, they send for. I
wear good Cloaths to 'Squire'em up and down; have Wit enough to Chat, and
make'em Giggle, and Sense enough to keep their Favours secret--But from
Romantick Love, Good Heav'n defend me. A Moment's Joy's not worth an Age's
Courtship; and when the Nymph's Demure, and Dull and Shy, and Foolish and
Freakish, and Fickle, there are Billiards at the _Smyrna_, Bowles at
_Marybone_, and Dice at the _Groom-Porter_'s--Are you for the Noon-Park.
_Col._ With all my Heart.
Sir _Har._ There the _Beau-Monde_ appear in all their Splendour--Here,
_Shrimp_, [_Enters._] entertain the _Collonel_'s Servant--An Hour hence
you'll hear of us at _White_'s. [_Exeunt._
_Shr._ Mr. _Knapsack_, are you for a Dish of _Bohee_: My Master has been
just drinking, and the Water boils--
[_Goes out, and returns with a Tea-Table._
_Knap._ Not to incommode you about it, Mr. _Shrimp_.
_Shr._ Well, Mr. _Knapsack_, we brave _Britains_ conquer all before us:
Why you have done Wonders this Campaign.
_Knap._ Ay, Mr. _Shrimp_, the Name of an _English_ General Thunder-strikes
the _French_, as much as it invigorates the Allies; for when he comes, he
cuts you off Ten or Twenty thousand, with the same Ease as a Countryman
wou'd mow down an Acre of Corn; tho', after all, I was in some pain for
our Forces, not being able to do 'em any personal Service; for you must
know, Mr. _Shrimp_, I am mightily subject to Convulsions, and just before
ev'ry Engagement I was unluckily seiz'd with so violent a Fit, they were
forc'd to carry me back to the next wall'd Town.
_Shr._ Are you for much Sugar in your Tea, Sir?
_Knap._ As much as you please, Sir.
_Shr._ Have you made many Campaigns, Mr. _Knapsack_?
_Knap._ This was the first, Mr. _Shrimp_, and I'm not positive that I
shall ever make another; for next Summer, I believe, some Business of
moment will confine me to this Kingdom--Pray, Mr. _Shrimp_, why don't you
exert your self in the Service; the Gentlemen of the Army wou'd be glad of
so sprightly an Officer as you among 'em.
_Shr._ O dear, Mr. _Knapsack_, I'm of so unfortunate a Stature, they'd
trample me under their Feet; besides, I have no Genius to Fighting; I
cou'd like a Commission in a Beau-Regiment, that always stays at home,
because a Scarlet-Lac'd-Suit, a Sash and Feather command Respect, keep off
Creditors, and make the Ladies fly into our Arms.
_Knap._ Ay, Mr. _Shrimp_, I don't doubt but you have good store
of Mistresses. Why you look a little thin upon the matter, ha!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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