The Fine Lady's Airs (1709) eBook

Thomas Baker (attorney)
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 101 pages of information about The Fine Lady's Airs (1709).

The Fine Lady's Airs (1709) eBook

Thomas Baker (attorney)
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 101 pages of information about The Fine Lady's Airs (1709).

Col.  Oh!  The glorious Din of War; the Energy of a good Cause, and the Emulation of a brave Confederacy.—­To sound the Charge; Make a vigorous Attack, the Enemy gives ground,—­To pour on fresh Vollies of a sure Destruction, and return deafn’d with shouts o’ Victory, and adorn’d with glitt’ring Standards of the vanquish’d Foe.

Knap.  To hang up in Westminster-Hall, and make the Lawyers stare off their Briefs;—­But the Harmony of sounding a Retreat,—­to hug my self with two Arms, and walk substantially upon both my Pedestals, or the health of Mind in lying sick at Amsterdam.

Col.  Ay, here’s a sorry Rascal, that lags always behind, and is afraid to look Death i’the Face.

Knap.  Why, really, Sir, ’tisn’t manners to march before the Colonel; and upon a warm Engagement, I have heard you talk musically of good Conduct.  Besides, that Mr._ Death_ is but a Hatchet-face Beau, so lean, and wither’d like an old Dutchess, or a Doctor o’ Physick, I had as live see the Devil.

Sir Har.  But when the Lines are forc’d, the Enemy slain, and the Placs loaded with rich Plunder.—­

Knap.  None so nimble, none so valiant, none so expert as your very humble Servant Nehemiah Knapsack.

Col.  But, who are the raigning Beauties o’the Age?  What Favours will they grant a Soldier after a hard Campaign, fatiguing Marches, desp’rate Attempts, and narrow Escapes, to preserve them from Rapine, Violence, and Slav’ry, that they may laugh away the Day in gay Diversions, and pass the silent Night in silver Slumbers on their Downy Beds?

Sir Har.  Just as many Favours as you have Money or Mechlin Lace to purchase:  Women apprehend not the Danger of War, and therefore have no Notion of Gratitude.

Coll.  Oh!  The thoughts of scatt’ring small Shot among the sparkling Tribe, to feast my Senses upon dear Variety, have ev’ry Day a new dazling Beauty, and ev’ry Hour to taste the Joys of Love.

Sir Har.  Don’t fancy, Collonel, because you have beat the French you must conquer all the Ladies; there are Women that dare resist you boldly, will exact your Courage beyond attacking a Fortress, and maintain a hotter Engagement.

Col. If you mean Women of the Town, some of ’em wou’d give a Man a warm Reception—­Yet I long to be traversing the Park, ogling at the Play, peeping up at Windows, and ferreting the Warren o’ Covent-Garden, till I seize on some skittish dapper Doxie, whose pretty black Eyes, dimpling Cheeks, heaving Breasts, and soft Caresses, wou’d melt a Man—­for half a Guinea.

Knap.  How I long too, to wheedle in with some Buxom Widow, that keeps a Victualling-House, to provide me with Meat, Drink, Washing and Lodging—­to find out some delicious Chamber-Maid, that will pawn her best Mohair-Gown, sell even her Silver-Thimble, and rob her Mistress to shew how truly she loves me; or intrigue with some Heroick Sempstress, that will call me her Artaxerxes, her Agamemnon, and give me six new Shirts.

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Project Gutenberg
The Fine Lady's Airs (1709) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.