Gl. I’ll tell you my Art, upon Condition you’ll tell us your Art of coming to be old so soon.

Po. I agree to the Condition.  I’ll do it.  Then tell us whither you went when you left Paris.

Gl. I went directly into my own Country, and by that Time I had been there almost a Year, I began to bethink myself what Course of Life to chuse; which I thought to be a Matter of great Importance, as to my future Happiness; so I cast my Thoughts about what had been successful to some, and what had been unsuccessful to others.

Po. I admire you had so much Prudence, when you were as great a Maggot as any in the World, when you were at Paris.

Gl. Then my Age did permit a little Wildness.  But, my good Friend, you must know, I did not do all this neither of my own mother-Wit.

Po. Indeed I stood in Admiration.

Gl. Before I engaged in any Thing, I applied to a certain Citizen, a Man of Gravity, of the greatest Prudence by long Experience, and of a general Reputation with his fellow Citizens, and in my Opinion, the most happy Man in the World.

Eu. You did wisely.

Gl. By this Man’s Advice I married a Wife.

Po. Had she a very good Portion?

Gl. An indifferent good one, and according to the Proverb, in a competent Proportion to my own:  For I had just enough to do my Business, and this Matter succeeded to my Mind.

Po. What was your Age then?

Gl. Almost two and twenty.

Po. O happy Man!

Gl. But don’t mistake the Matter; all this was not owing to Fortune neither.

Po. Why so?

Gl. I’ll tell you; some love before they chuse, I made my Choice with Judgment first, and then lov’d afterwards, and nevertheless I married this Woman more for the Sake of Posterity than for any carnal Satisfaction.  With her I liv’d a very pleasant Life, but not above eight Years.

Po. Did she leave you no children?

Gl. Nay, I have four alive, two Sons and two Daughters.

Po. Do you live as a private Person, or in some publick Office?

Gl. I have a publick Employ.  I might have happen’d to have got into a higher Post, but I chose this because it was creditable enough to secure me from Contempt, and is free from troublesome Attendance:  And it is such, that no Body need object against me that I live only for myself, I have also something to spare now and then to assist a Friend.  With this I live content, and it is the very Height of my Ambition.  And then I have taken Care so to execute my Office, to give more Reputation to my Office than I receiv’d from it; this I account to be more honourable, than to borrow my Dignity from the Splendor of my Office.

Eu. Without all Controversy.

Gl. By this Means I am advanced in Years, and the Affections of my fellow Citizens.