a Passion for a notorious Rake that headed a Party of Cat-calls; and am credibly informed, that the Emperor of the Mohocks married a rich Widow within three Weeks after having rendered himself formidable in the Cities of London and Westminster.  Scowring and breaking Windows have done frequent Execution upon the Sex; but there is no Sett of these Male Charmers who make their way more successfully, than those who have gained themselves a Name for Intrigue, and have ruined the greatest Number of Reputations.  There is a strange Curiosity in the female World to be acquainted with the dear Man who has been loved by others, and to know what it is that makes him so agreeable.  His Reputation does more than half his Business.  Every one that is ambitious of being a Woman of Fashion, looks out for Opportunities of being in his Company; so that to use the old Proverb, When his Name is up he may lie a-Bed.

’I was very sensible of the great Advantage of being a Man of Importance upon these Occasions on the Day of the King’s Entry, when I was seated in a Balcony behind a Cluster of very pretty Country Ladies, who had one of these showy Gentlemen in the midst of them.  The first Trick I caught him at was bowing to several Persons of Quality whom he did not know; nay, he had the Impudence to hem at a Blue Garter who had a finer Equipage than ordinary, and seemed a little concerned at the Impertinent Huzzas of the Mob, that hindered his Friend from taking Notice of him.  There was indeed one who pull’d off his Hat to him, and upon the Ladies asking who it was, he told them, it was a Foreign Minister that he had been very merry with the Night before; whereas in Truth, it was the City Common Hunt.

‘He was never at a Loss when he was asked any Person’s Name, tho’ he seldom knew any one under a Peer.  He found Dukes and Earls among the Aldermen, very good-natured Fellows among the Privy-Counsellors, with two or three agreeable old Rakes among the Bishops and Judges.

’In short, I collected from his whole Discourse, that he was acquainted with every Body, and knew no Body.  At the same Time, I am mistaken if he did not that Day make more Advances in the Affections of his Mistress, who sat near him, than he could have done in half a Year’s Courtship.

  ’Ovid has finely touched this Method of making Love, which I shall
  here give my Reader in Mr. Dryden’s Translation.

  Page the Eleventh.

    ’Thus Love in Theatres did first improve,
    And Theatres are still the Scene of Love: 
    Nor shun the Chariots, and the Coursers Race;
    The Circus is no inconvenient Place. 
    Nor Need is there of talking on the Hand,
    Nor Nods, nor Sighs, which Lovers understand;
    But boldly next the Fair your Seat provide,
    Close as you can to hers, and Side by Side: 
    Pleas’d or unpleas’d, no Matter; crowding sit;