 | King Arthur : or, The British Worthy |  |
52
The EPILOGUE.
Spoken by Mrs. Bracegirdle.
I've
had to Day a Dozen Billet-Doux
From Fops, and Wits, and Cits, and Bowstreet-Beaux;
Some from Whitehal, but from the Temple more;
A Covent-Garden Porter brought me four.
I have not yet read all: But, without feigning,
We Maids can make shrewd Ghesses at your Meaning.
What if, to shew your Styles, I read 'em here?
Me thinks I hear one cry, Oh Lord, forbear:
No, Madam, no; by Heav'n, that's too severe.
Well then, be safe—
But swear henceforwards to renounce all Writing,
And take this Solemn Oath of my Inditing,
As you love Ease, and hate Campagnes and Fighting.
Yet, 'Faith, 'tis just to make some few Examples:
What if I shew'd you one or two for Samples?
Pulls one out.
From Fops, and Wits, and Cits, and Bowstreet-Beaux;
Some from Whitehal, but from the Temple more;
A Covent-Garden Porter brought me four.
I have not yet read all: But, without feigning,
We Maids can make shrewd Ghesses at your Meaning.
What if, to shew your Styles, I read 'em here?
Me thinks I hear one cry, Oh Lord, forbear:
No, Madam, no; by Heav'n, that's too severe.
Well then, be safe—
But swear henceforwards to renounce all Writing,
And take this Solemn Oath of my Inditing,
As you love Ease, and hate Campagnes and Fighting.
Yet, 'Faith, 'tis just to make some few Examples:
What if I shew'd you one or two for Samples?
Here's one desires my Ladiship to meet
At the kind Couch above in Bridges-Street.
Oh Sharping Knave! That wou'd have you know what,
For a Poor Sneaking Treat of Chocolat.
Pulls out another.
At the kind Couch above in Bridges-Street.
Oh Sharping Knave! That wou'd have you know what,
For a Poor Sneaking Treat of Chocolat.
Now, in the Name of Luck, I'll break this open,
Because I Dreamt last Night I had a Token;
The Superscription is exceeding pretty,
To the Desire of all the Town and City.
Now, Gallants, you must know, this pretious Fop,
Is Foreman of a Haberdashers-Shop:
One who devoutly Cheats; demure in Carriage;
And Courts me to the Holy Bands of Marriage.
But with a Civil Inuendo too,
My Overplus of Love shall be for you.
Reads.—Because I Dreamt last Night I had a Token;
The Superscription is exceeding pretty,
To the Desire of all the Town and City.
Now, Gallants, you must know, this pretious Fop,
Is Foreman of a Haberdashers-Shop:
One who devoutly Cheats; demure in Carriage;
And Courts me to the Holy Bands of Marriage.
But with a Civil Inuendo too,
My Overplus of Love shall be for you.
Madam, I swear your Looks are so Divine,
When I set up, your Face shall be my Sign:
Tho Times are hard; to shew how I Adore you,
Here's my whole Heart, and half a Guinea for you.
But have a care of Beaux; They're false, my Honey;
And which is worse, have not one Rag of Money.
When I set up, your Face shall be my Sign:
Tho Times are hard; to shew how I Adore you,
Here's my whole Heart, and half a Guinea for you.
But have a care of Beaux; They're false, my Honey;
And which is worse, have not one Rag of Money.
See how Maliciously the Rogue would wrong ye;
But I know better Things of some among ye.
My wisest way will be to keep the Stage,
And trust to the Good Nature of the Age;
And he that likes the Musick and the Play,
Shall be my Favourite Gallant to Day.
But I know better Things of some among ye.
My wisest way will be to keep the Stage,
And trust to the Good Nature of the Age;
And he that likes the Musick and the Play,
Shall be my Favourite Gallant to Day.
FINIS.
| King Arthur : or, The British Worthy | |