Sir _Har_. Why, look you, Child, do'st thee consider what an Income two
hundred a Year is; some Country Gentlemen han't more to make their Elder
Sons Esquires, and raise Portions for eleven awkard Daughters. Besides,
my Dear, thou art but a whiffling sort of a Pinnace, I have been proffer'd
lovely, large, First Rate Ladies for half the Mony. There's _Winny
Wag-tail_ in _Channel Row_, wou'd have left it to my Generosity; Mrs.
_Tippet_ the Furrier's Wife in _Walbrook_ wou'd have taken five hundred
Pound down, and _Sufan Sigh-fort_ the quaking Sempstress had n't the
Assurance to ask me above the rent of her Shop.----I must tell you, Love,
the Nation's over stock'd with Women, I can have a hundred and fifty
Furbuloe Scarf-makers for as many Silver Thimbles; and but last Long
Vacation, a very considerable Pleader offer'd me his two Daughters for Six
and Eight Pence a Night.
Mrs. _Lov_. Sir _Harry_, this Discourse suits not my Genius, I have a
Fortune, tho' not thousands enough to keep me from that odious thing you'd
tempt me to; therefore if you pursue this Humour any farther, I must
acquaint my Lady with it.
Sir _Har_. Why, then, Madam, do I most devoutly pray to _Venus_ there, and
each kind Creature here, that the Men may avoid you, as if you had n't a
Lure about you, that for madness you may turn Gam'ster, lose all your
Fortune at Play, and then grow crooked for want of Mony to buy you a new
Pair of Stayes. [_Exit._
Mrs. _Lov_. Was ever any thing so impudent! he's a charming Fellow tho',
and two hundred a Year is a charming Allowance too.--But Virtue! Virtue!--
Oh! that I had liv'd in good King Some-body's Days.
_Enter Major_ Bramble.
_Bra_. Madam _Lovejoy_, your most humble Servant, here's a Ring that was
pawn'd to me for twenty Guineas by a Welch Knight, on his being chose High
Sheriff o'the County, and the Mony not being paid in due time, it's become
forfeited; I therefore entreat the Favour of you to wear it.
Mrs. _Lov_. Your very humble Servant, Major, they are delicate Stones
indeed; but what Service must I do you in return of so great a Compliment?
_Bra_. Only that, Madam, of being my Advocate to Lady _Rodomont_, whose
Beauty I have long admir'd, and whose Estate I do profoundly reverence.
[_Aside._] Nor can I on a just survey of my Person and Parts find the
least Obstacle, why her Inclinations shou'd n't mount like mine, that
without much Ceremony or foppish Courtship, we might unite Circumstances,
and astonish the World at the Sight of a couple so prodigiously well
pair'd.
Mrs. _Lov_. Were my Fortune, Major, equal to my Lady's, my Judgment wou'd
be as much admir'd in such a Choice as my Happiness wou'd be envy'd; but
my Lady's of so uncommon a cold Constitution so whimsically gay, and fond
of new Diversions, she laughs at ev'ry serious Thought of Love.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account