University of Virginia Library

EPILOGUE. Spoken by Miss Raftor, who acted the Parts of Isabel in the Old Debauchees, and of Kissinda in this Tragedy.

In various Lights this Night you've seen me drest.
A virtuous Lady, and a Miss confest,
Pray tell me, Sirs, in which you like me best?
Neither averse to Love's soft Joys you find,
'Tis hard to say, which is the best inclin'd;
The Priest makes all the Diff'rence in the Case,
Kissinda's always ready to embrace,
And Isabel stays only to say Grace.
For several Prices ready both to treat,
This takes a Guinea, that your whole Estate.
Gallants, believe our Passions are the same,
And virtuous Women, tho' they dread the Shame,
Let 'em but play secure, all love the Game.
For tho' some Prude her Lover long may vex,
Her Coyness is put on, she loves your Sex;
At you, the pretty things, their Airs display;
For you we dance, we sing, we smile, we pray;
On you we dream all Night, we think all Day.
For you the Mall and Ring with Beauties swarm;
You teach soft Senesino's Airs to charm.
For thin wou'd be th'Assembly of the Fair
At Operas—were none but Eunuchs there.
In short, you are the Business of our Lives,
To be a Mistress kept, the Strumpet strives,
And all the modest Virgins to be Wives.
For Prudes may cant of Virtues and of Vices,
But faith! we only differ in our Prices.