The London-Bawd: With Her Character and Life: Discovering the Various and Subtle Intrigues of Lewd WomenAnonymous
General
The London-Bawd: With Her Character and Life: Discovering the Various and Subtle Intrigues of Lewd Women
Anonymous
Prostitution -- England -- London
An Amorous Spark having observed a very fine Woman sitting in a
_Goldsmiths_ Shop behind the Counter, was so much taken with her, that
nothing wou'd serve him but enjoying her; which yet he was altogether at a
Loss how to accomplish, having no manner of Acquaintance either with her or
her Husband. In this hopeless condition he goes to a Bawd, who had several
times assisted him in his Love Intreagues, and tells her at what a non-plus
he was how to accomplish his Design: The Bawd at first persuades him off of
her, and promises to help him to one that shall not only equal but surpass
her: But all that was in vain, for nothing wou'd Satify but, only this very
Person. Well, says this Mistress in the Mystery of Iniquity, I'll tell you
how you shall obtain your Purpose, if you are resolv'd to pursue it: Do but
that, says he, and you'll oblige me for ever,--Well then, says she, you
must take an opportunity to go into the Shop when she's there, and buy some
little Trifle or other of her, or her Husband, and repeat this so often,
buying sometimes one thing, and sometimes another, till by degrees you have
brought your self acquainted with her and her Husband, and in so doing, you
cann't miss of an opportunity to sound her Inclinations: If Pleasure has
the Ascendant over her, you'll gain your Point the sooner; but if money be
the Idol she adores, you must attack her with Gifts, and making Presents to
her, and you cannot fail of Prevailing: The Gentleman lik'd her counsel
very well, and was resolv'd to take it: And accordingly took an opportunity
to buy a Silver _Snush-Box_; and having before bought some fine French
Walnuts, he presented his Mistress with some, and by cracking of them, had
an opportunity to tarry longer in the Shop, and gaze more on that Beauty
which had already overcome him. In two or three days after, he comes again
and buys half a dozen Silver Spoons and Forks, and then brought some
peaches to his Mistress and presents her with them; and a Week after buys
some other odd things; and still brought something or other which he
presented to his Mistress; who always look'd upon it as the Effect of his
good-nature, and Affable Temper, and had no apprehension of his being her
humble Servant. After he had drove this Trade of being a constant Customer
to the Shop for several Weeks together, and had made no farther progress of
his Amours save to be look'd on as a Friend and Acquaintance, and once or
twice invited to Dinner; at one of which times her Husband was call'd down
into the Shop, to a Customer; in which Interim, he took an opportunity to
acquaint her somewhat darkly with his Passion, which she either did not, or
wou'd not understand; So that he begun almost to Despair, and complain'd to
the Bawd how much charge he had been at, and what little likelihood there
was of attaining his end.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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