When the Bawd had made an end of Repeating her Verses, the Goldsmith’s Lady told her they were very Ingenious and Diverting Lines, and that she had oblig’d her extreamly by repeating them.  And then pray’d her to go on with her Discourse which she lik’d very well.  Upon which the Bawd thus proceeded.

I think Madam, I have said enough to justify both Sexes, in the gratifying of their Amorous Desires, tho’ they be married; for ’tis not strange at all to hear that Men and Women have been married, and yet have been uncapable of answering the Ends of Marriage, or satisfying the Delights of Venus.  It is not long since I was told of a young pretty Virgin that happen’d to be married to a Man who was deficient in his Virility, which the poor thing (being asham’d to speak on’t and not knowing any other Remedy) laid so to heart, in a short time it kill’d her:  But had I been acquainted with her, I could have helpt her to a brisk young Man, one that had given proof of his Sufficiency, which shou’d have eas’d her pain, and sav’d her Life.  And therefore, Madam, since married Persons may stand so much in need of my assistance, and much more may they that are unmarried, who doubtless have the same desires that married People have:  Nay, their Desires are generally more impetuous; for finding of their Natural Concupiscence stirring ’em up to a desire of Copulation, they apprehend that there’s more in’t then what they find, when once they come to try.  And these things, Madam, in Italy (as I have heard by several) are so common, that ’tis scarce thought a Crime:  Or, if it be, ’tis but a venial one, as all the Devout Doctors of the Roman-Church, (nay, and the Pope himself) assures us:  And therefore Madam, to deal freely with you, I have long since declar’d my self a Roman Catholick, for that Religion allowes us the most Pleasure while we live, and promises us Heaven when we die.  And having thus given you an Account both of my Calling and Religion; I come now to Perform my promise, in giving you the History of my Life.

The Place of my Nativity was the Imperial Chamber of Great Brittain; my Father being an Haberdasher of small Wares; and had as much to do as most Men of that Calling; And whilst he liv’d, he gave me all that Education that the most Wealthy Citizens bestow upon their Daughters, he keeping me at Board at Hackney-School.  And when grown up to Marriageable years I wanted not for store of Sweethearts, and some of them of very good Estates:  and yet my Father thought none good enough.  But he being one that was a great and zealous Stickler for the Parliament in opposition to the King, and thinking that Charles Stuart (as then they call’d King Charles the Second), would never be Restor’d, laid out his Money in Purchasing of Crown-Lands, having (as he thought) got a mighty Peniworth:  But Oliver being dead, and Charles the Second coming in, all his Estate was lost; and he forc’d to abscond;