Gl. The changing of Place has indeed something of Pleasure in it; but then, as for long Travels, tho’ perhaps they may add to a Man’s Experience, yet they are liable to a great many Dangers.  I seem to myself to travel over the whole World in a Map, and can see more in Histories than if I had rambled through Sea and Land for twenty Years together, as Ulysses did.  I have a little Country-House about two Miles out of Town, and there sometimes, of a Citizen I become a Country-Man, and having recreated my self there, I return again to the City a new Comer, and salute and am welcom’d as if I had return’d from the new-found Islands.

Eu. Don’t you assist Nature with a little Physick?

Gl. I never was let Blood, or took Pills nor Potions in my Life yet.  If I feel any Disorder coming upon me, I drive it away with spare Diet or the Country Air.

Eu. Don’t you study sometimes?

Gl. I do.  In that is the greatest Pleasure of my Life:  But I make a Diversion of it, but not a Toil.  I study either for Pleasure or Profit of my Life, but not for Ostentation.  After Meat I have a Collation of learned Stories, or else somebody to read to me, and I never sit to my Books above an Hour at a Time:  Then I get up and take my Violin, and walk about in my Chamber, and sing to it, or else ruminate upon what I have read; or if I have a good Companion with me, I relate it, and after a While I return to my Book again.

Eu. But tell me now, upon the Word of an honest Man; Do you feel none of the Infirmities of old Age, which are said to be a great many?

Gl. My Sleep is not so sound, nor my Memory so good, unless I fix any thing deeply in it.  Well, I have now acquitted myself of my Promise.  I have laid open to you those magical Arts by which I have kept myself young, and now let Polygamus tell us fairly, how he brought old Age upon him to that Degree.

Po. Indeed, I will hide nothing from such trusty Companions.

Eu. You will tell it to those that will not make a Discourse of it.

Po. You very well know I indulg’d my Appetite when I was at Paris.

Eu. We remember it very well.  But we thought that you had left your rakish Manners and your youthful Way of Living at Paris.

Po. Of the many Mistresses I had there I took one Home, who was big with Child.

Eu. What, into your Father’s House?

Po. Directly thither; but I pretended she was a Friend’s Wife, who was to come to her in a little Time.

Gl. Did your Father believe it?

Po. He smelt the Matter out in three or four Days time, and then there was a cruel Scolding.  However, in this Interim I did not leave off Feasting, Gaming, and other extravagant Diversions.  And in short, my Father continuing to rate me, saying he would have no such cackling Gossips under his Roof, and ever and anon threatning to discard me, I march’d off, remov’d to another Place with my Pullet, and she brought me some young Chickens.