 | The Mulberry-Garden |  |
5
SCENE II.
Modish his Chamber.Enter Henry Modish and Ned Estridge.
Mod.
Good morrow, Ned, I thought I had left you
Too deep engag'd last night to have been
Here thus early.
Estr.
Why you sneak'd away just as the Sport
Began, like a half-bred Cock that strikes
A Stroke or two briskly, and then runs.
Mod.
Faith, I had so many Irons in the fire for
To day, I durst not run the hazard of
A disorder last night: but you know
My Heart was with you.
Estr.
You wou'd not have repented it, if your
Whole Body and Soul had been with us; Jack
Wildish sent for a dozen more of Champaigne
And a Brace of such Girls, as we shou'd have
Made Honourable Love to, in any other
Place; and Sir John Everyoung was in the
Pleasantest Humour, I'de give a piece I
Cou'd repeat the Satyr he made of the Country.
Mod.
It wou'd be good News to his Daughters,
For they say, now and then in a morning
He is of another mind.
Estr.
That's only while his head akes, they need
Not fear him; he swears hee'l n'er stir
Beyond Hide-Park or Colebys at farthest,
As long as he has an Acre left, they shall
All come to him: 'tis a pleasant old Fellow,
He has given me a hundred pounds for my
Gray beard, and is to ride himself this day
Month twice round the Park, against a bay
Stone-horse of Wildishes, for two hundred more.
Mod.
Methought Wildish and you were very
6
Acquainted?
Estr.
Faith, about a week or so, times a thing only necessary
For the Friendship of vulgar Spirits: O here comes
The Gentleman we were speaking of; now Jack,
Enter Wildish.
What small Petticoat do you come from?
Wild.
E'ne such another as you are going to now
With all this Bravery: those Cravats that design
The Right Honourable, I'le lay a piece will be
Rumpl'd by a worse Woman than they were
Washt, yet afore night.
Mod.
Wou'd all the world were of his mind, we
Young men shou'd pass our time well.
Wild.
O never the better for that; such Mounsieurs
As you by your Feathers are known to be Birds
Of prey, and though you catch nothing, you
Scare all; Besides, every good man is not acquainted
With this Principle among you, that you can be
In Love with nothing but your selves, and may
Be jealous of his Wife, when indeed you come
Innocently to take a view of your persons from
Head to feet in the great Glass; comb out your
Periwig, shake your Garnitures, and be gone.
Estr.
What, dost think we have no other way
Of Entertainment? No Discourse, Jack?
Wild.
Yes, a little now and then about their dress,
Whether their Patches be too many or too few,
Too great or too small, whether her Hankerchief
Be Point de Venie or Rome; and having left behind
You some proof of your ability in the Mode,
Return to shew your selves at the last Act
Of a Play.
Mod.
I dare swear, Jack, thy Acquaintance puts
Thee to none of these Criticisms, a plain Gorget
And a black Scarf are all their varieties; and
Are you well Mistress? and what Company
Have you kept lately? thy most familiar
Questions. But Raillery apart. Say it were
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Thou believest so impregnable Forts, and to be
Receiv'd where never any but your self came
So near as to be deny'd; were not that a
Conquest?
Wild.
As great as that of a place not tenible
Can be; the present Plunder indeed is somewhat,
But upon the first Siege you must look to be
Driven out: a Ladies heart is a kind of Fortification
That is easier surpris'd by being well man'd,
And makes ever the strongest resistance of it self.
Estr.
'Tis true, Modish, for I have still observ'd,
That when one of these persons of Honour
Does a little forget her self, though at first
Through a secret Sympathy, and invincible
Inclination (as they call it) for one particular
Man, she ever after loves the whole Sex the
Better for it.
Wild.
Right; for these good Creatures, Women,
Are like Cats, if once made tame, any one
May play with 'um; if not, there's no
Coming near 'um.
Mod.
Thou think'st thou hast maul'd 'um now;
Why I tell thee, Jack, a Hector is not readier
To pick a Quarrel with a sawcy Creditor,
And swear he will never pay the Rascal,
Then a man is to have one with his Mistress
Towards the latter end of an Amour; especially.
If it amount to a handsom occasion of
Leaving her, 'tis the kindest thing she can do
Then: what think you, Estridge?
Estr.
Faith, I'm of your mind, yet I have known
Some unconscionable Ladies make their
Servants wait as long for a just Exception,
And almost as impatiently, as they did for the
First Favour.
Wild.
Favour and Exception, Gentlemen, are words
I don't meet with in seven years, where
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When I come in, and my Excuse when I
Go away; and 'tis ever well taken too:
I have all the day to bestow upon my business,
The night upon my Friends, whilst you are
Kissing the Cards at Ombre, or presenting
Oranges at a Play-house.
Estr.
Thou never knew'st it seems what 'twas
To be in Love then.
Wild.
No faith, I never let the Disease run on so far,
I always took it in time, and then a Bottle
Of Wine or two, and a she Friend is an approv'd
Remedy; there are men in the world though,
Who in that Distemper prescribe some
Serious Employment, continual Exercise,
Spare Diet, and the like; but they are Philosophers,
And in my opinion make the Remedy worse then
The Disease.
Estr.
I do confess your's is the pleasantest Cure,
If it be one; but I doubt it only gives a little
Ease for the present, and like small Beer in the
Morning after a merry bout over night,
Doth but make us the worse afterwards.
Mod.
I now, you talk to him of what he understands,
What you do tell him of Love for? who by
His own confession never knew what it was.
Wild.
No, but I guess this same Love you speak
Of, Gentlemen, to be much like Longing in
Women, a phantastical appetite to some one
Thing above all others, which if they cannot
Get, the Lover miscarries of his passion,
And the Lady of her little one; or if they do, are
Both quickly satisfi'd, and it becomes for
Ever after very indifferent, if not loathsom.
Estr.
Well, Modish, I perceive we shall do no
Good on him, let's take him to the Mulberry-
Garden, and see what the Ladies can do.
Wild.
You shall excuse me, I have a small
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This Afternoon: and so your Servant.
[Exit.
Mod.
'Tis time we were going,
I warrant they have walk'd every foot of
The Garden, twice over by this time:
They are mad to know, whether their
Friends in Town have dealt faithfully
With 'um of late, concerning the Mode.
Est.
These Country Ladys for the first month
Take up their places in the Mulberry Garden,
As early as a Citizens Wife at a new Play.
Mod.
And for the most part are as easily discover'd;
They have always somewhat on, that is
Just left off by the Better Sort.
Est.
They are the Antipodes of the Court; for
When a Fashion sets there, it rises
Among them.
[Exeunt.
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