Mrs. _Driv_. Look ye, Mrs. _Jenny_, I know you, and I know Mrs.
_Flauntit_; but ‘tis not Beauty or Wit that takes now-a-days; the Age
is altered since I took upon me this genteel Occupation: but ‘tis a fine
Petticoat, right Points, and clean Garnitures, that does me Credit, and
takes the Gallant, though on a stale Woman. And again, Mrs. _Jenny_,
she’s kept, and Men love as much for Malice, as for Lechery, as they
call it. Oh, ‘tis a great Mover to Joy, as they say, to have a Woman
that’s kept.
_Jen_. Well! Be it so, we may arrive to that excellent Degree of
Cracking, to be kept too one day.
Mrs. _Driv_. Well, well, get your selves in order to go up to the
Gentlemen.
_Flaunt_. _Driver_, what art thou talking to those poor Creatures?
Lord, how they stink of Paint and Pox, faugh--
Mrs. _Driv_. They were only complaining that you that were kept,
shou’d intrude upon the Privileges of the Commoners.
_Flaunt_. Lord, they think there are such Joys in Keeping, when I vow,
_Driver_, after a while, a Miss has as painful a Life as a Wife; our
Men drink, stay out late, and whore, like any Husbands.
_Driv_. But I hope in the Lord, Mrs. _Flauntit_, yours is no such Man;
I never saw him, but I have heard he’s under decent Correction.
_Flaunt_. Thou art mistaken, _Driver_, I can keep him within no moderate
Bounds without Blows; but for his filthy Custom of Wenching, I have
almost broke him of that--but prithee, _Driver_, who are these Gentlemen?
_Driv_. Truly, I know not; but they are young, and fine as Princes: two
of ‘em were disguis’d in masking Habits last Night, but they have sent
’.m away this Morning, and they are free as Emperors--One of ‘em has
lost a Thousand Pound at Play, and never repin’d at it; one’s a Knight,
and I believe his Courage is cool’d, for he has ferreted my Maids over
and over to Night--But ‘tis the fine, young, handsom Squire that I
design you for.
_Flaunt_. No matter for his Handsomness, let me have him that has
most Money.
[_Exeunt_.
SCENE III. _Another Chamber in the Brothel, a Table with Box and Dice_.
_Enter_ Bellmour, _Sir_ Timothy, Sham _and_ Sharp.
_Bel_. Damn it, give us more Wine. [_Drinks_.
Where stands the Box and Dice?--Why, _Sham_.
_Sham_. Faith, Sir, Your Luck’s so bad, I han’t the Conscience to play
longer--Sir _Timothy_ and you play off a hundred Guineas, and see if
Luck will turn.
_Bel_. Do you take me for a Country Squire, whose Reputation will be
crackt at the loss of a petty Thousand? You have my Note for it to my
Goldsmith.
_Sham_. ‘Tis sufficient if it were for ten thousand.
_Bel_. Why, Sir _Timothy_--Pox on’t, thou’rt dull, we are not half
debauch’d and leud enough, give us more Wine.
Sir _Tim_. Faith, _Frank_, I’m a little maukish with sitting up all
Night, and want a small refreshment this Morning--Did we not send
for Whores?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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