Sir John. And what was it but their own servile Passiveness that had occasion’d the Storm which they now endeavour to quell by the Help of Mr. Broadbottom and his Brethren in the late Opposition? What could the late fallen Minister, of whom they affect to complain as the Author of all our Calamities; what could that Phaeton, I say, have done, had he not been supported by those who now affect to quit rather than draw with him? Had not they the Power of the Purse? had not they in that and every other Respect, the Means of tying up that Adventurer’s Hands from hurting his Country, if they would? Yes, Mr. Broadbottom, those Men you now venerate so much, had the Power, but they wanted the Will. And what was it but that fundamental, primary Ingredient in the Composition of some Men, Selfishness, which induced those Men to misuse the Power they then had?
Rose. By your Leave, Sir John, tho’ the late Minister, the Phaeton, as you call him, may have misused his Power; I don’t see why these Gentlemen who remain in the Administration should be involved in his Guilt.
Over. Smoke the Parson, Gentlemen; mind how cautiously he treads on Jack’s Heels.——May have misused his Power! How gently he touches the Sore! Then again, the charitable Man can’t see the least Speck of Gall in the Doves that have thrust Jack from the Barn Door.
Blunt. Ah! Mr. Overall, that Barn has made many an honest Man otherwise.
Sir John. I don’t think it so, Mr. Mayor; a Man truly Honest is no more to be corrupted than a Woman truly Chast. But as it is she only who is a Whore in her Heart that can be defiled, so is it he only who is a Rogue in his Heart, that can be warped from his Integrity.
Over. Gad, Sir John, I should be glad to know where your truly Honest Men and truly Chast Ladies grow. For in my poor Observation, I knew but one Man and one Woman that truly deserved the Epithet.
Smooth. Your Mother was the precious Exception of one Sex.——Ha, ha!
Rose. And his pious Dad the other.——Ha, ha!
Over. Neither; among the Men, Jack the late M—r was the Exception, because he was the only Minister that ever I heard or read of, who had the Honesty to pretend to none. And among the Fair, Madame V—te, who held out till her H—d commanded her and conducted her himself to the Arms of her Lover.
Omnes. Ha, ha!