At stage, as courts; all are players. Whoe'er looks (For themselves dare not go) o'er Cheapside books, Shall find their wardrobes' inventory. Now The ladies come. As pirates, which do know That there came weak ships fraught with cutchanel, The men board them; and praise, as they think, well, Their beauties; they the men's wits; both are bought. Why good wits ne'er wear scarlet gowns, I thought This cause; these men, men's wits for speeches buy, And women buy all red which scarlets dye. Great stains and holes in them, but venial Perfect as circles, with such nicety Our court may justly to our stage give rules, 220 225 Painted for sight, and essenced for the smell, Like frigates fraught with spice and cochineal, Sail in the ladies: how each pirate eyes So weak a vessel, and so rich a prize! Top-gallant he, and she in all her trim; He boarding her, she striking sail to him: 'Dear countess, you have charms all hearts to hit!' 230 And 'sweet sir Fopling, you have so much wit!' 245 220 To our stage give rules. By the act for licensing plays. Lord Chesterfield opposed this act, observing keenly, at the end of his speech, My lords, wit is the property of those who have it; and very often the only property they have. Luckily, my lords, we are otherwise provided for.'-Warton. As a young preacher at his first time goes To preach, he enters; and a lady, which owes And unto her protests, protests, protests, So much as at Rome would serve to have thrown And whispers by Jesu so oft, that a Who in the other extreme only doth Call a rough carelessness, good fashion: Whose cloak his spurs tear, or whom he spits on, 6 He meant to cry; and though his face be as ill As theirs which in old hangings whip Christ, still He strives to look worse; he keeps all in awe; Just like a licensed fool, commands like law. Tyred, now I leave this place, and but pleased Or should one pound of powder less bespread Those monkey-tails that wag behind their head! Thus finish'd, and corrected to a hair, They march to prate their hour before the fair. So first to preach a white-gloved chaplain goes, With band of lily and with cheek of rose, Sweeter than Sharon, in immaculate trim, Neatness itself impertinent in him. 251 Let but the ladies smile, and they are bless'd: Prodigious! how the things 'protest, protest.' Peace, fools! or Gonson will for papists seize you, If once he catch you at your 'Jesu! Jesu!' Nature made every fop to plague his brother, Just as one beauty mortifies another. 256 But here's the captain that will plague them both, Whose air cries Arm!' whose very look's an oath : 6 261 The captain's honest, sirs, and that's enough, 270 256 Or Gonson. A well-known police magistrate, the sir John Fielding of his day. Go through the great chamber (why is it hung * A giant famous in romances. |