_Nick._ Nay, Madam, I'm in no very great haste, I am perfectly of your
Ladyship's Opinion, and can't think there's so mighty a Jest in Matrimony
as some People imagine; like a Country Fellow and a Wench, that will jig
it into Church after a blind Fidler, and are never in a dancing Humour
afterwards. People o' Quality are more apprehensive o' the matter, and
have a world o' business to do, we must first be seen particular together,
to give suspicion, and create Jealousies 'mongst the rest of your
Admirers; then it must be whisper'd to the Countess of _Intelligence_, to
carry about Town, or the Tea-Tables will drop for want of Tittle-tattle;
and afterwards your Ladyship's absolutely denying it, confirms ev'ry body
in the truth of it: As for Cloaths, Equipage and Furniture, they are soon
got ready, and if your Ladiship dislikes living i'the City, we'll take a
House at _Mile-End._
La. _Rod_. The City, Mr. _Nicknack,_ A very considerable Place! I have had
noble Suppers there. Suppers dress'd at _Russel_'s in _Ironmonger-lane_,
and have brought away Fifty Guineas at _Basset,_ when at this end o'the
Town I have lost three times Fifty for a sneaking Dish of _Chocolate_.
People too may talk of their want of Sense, but the suppressing
_Bartl'mew-Fair_ was a thing of that wondrous Consultation, it shews the
Citizens have prodigious Head-pieces.
_Nick_. Your Ladiship has a just Notion of the City. I have read sev'ral
Acts of Common Council, that have really a world of Wit in 'em; but I'm
afraid, Madam, _Collonel Blenheim_ has so far ingratiated himself with
your Ladiship, I shall have a troublesome Rival to deal with.
La. _Rod_. Not in the least, I admitted him only as a Visitant, but at
present I must be more particular with him; he's of late grown a little
irreverent towards our Sex, and I must check an insolent Humour he has got
of despising Matrimony; he'll be with me instantly, I'll dispose you, that
you may over-hear all, how I'll turn and wind him, cross him, humour him,
and confound him; when you think it proper make your Appearance, and we'll
both laugh at him.
_Nick._ If your Ladiship pleases, I had rather laugh in my Sleeve, for
those blustering Officers, that are us'd to destroy whole Batallions, make
no more of murdering one Man, than an Alderman does of eating up a single
_Turkey_.
La. _Rod_. Never fear him, Mr. _Nicknack_.
_Nick._ Nay, Madam, I have been Collonel i'th'_Train-Bands_ these seven
Years, and therefore ought not to want Courage; and tho' I never learnt to
fence, there's an admirable Master teaches three times a Week, at the
_Swan Tavern_ in _Cornhil_. [_Exeunt_.
Mrs. _Lov_. Now will I be Spitchcockt, if she han't an Inclination for the
_Collonel_, to coquet, and flirt and fleer, and plague half Mankind, only
because they like her, may be what you call a fine Lady, but in my mind
she has more fantastical Airs than a Kettle-Drummer. [_Exit._
SCENE, _a Room in the_ Rose-Tavern.
_The Bell rings_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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