L. Rod. The English Ladies! Shall a Corner of Europe teach me Decorums, that have travers'd the whole. The French Ladies admire my Gayety; the Italians are ravish'd with my Grandeur, and if the English Ladies do blame my Conduct, who values the Censure of a little Island.— Oh! what Transports do I feel, to provoke the Eyes and Whispers of the Multitude,—Whose Equipage is that—My Lady Rodomont's?—Whose Visiting-day is it—My Lady Rodomont's?—Who bespoke the Play to Night— My Lady Rodomont?—But when she's once marry'd—What "Gentlewoman's that with the great Belly—Sir Marmaduke Mortgage's Wife, that's come to Town to buy Clouts, her Husband lost his Estate at Roly-poly.—She's mighty Big indeed, I'm afraid she'll ha' two. Unless one cou'd find out some Plant of a Husband, with Life and no Soul; a governable, drudging Creature, that wou'd love, honour and obey his Wife; and know so little of his own Prerogative, as to change his Name for her.
Mrs. Lov. Really, Madam, I'm o' your Opinion, I'd have Petticoat- Government pass thro' the Nation; the Ladies shou'd possess the Estates, and make their Husbands a Jointure.
L. Rod. While a Woman o' Fortune remains unmarry'd, she's a Petty-Queen; Lovers innumerable trace her Steps; each Coxcomb thinks to be the happy Man, and ev'ry were her Presence makes a Court—but when her Reason's once subdu'd by Love, and the fond, foolish Nymph resigns her Pow'r, she's but a meer Appendix to a Fellow.
No more her darling Liberty can boast, Lovers no more her quondam Beauties toast, But all her Pleasure, Pride and Charms are lost.
End of the First ACT.
ACT II.
SCENE, The Park.
Sir Harry_, and the_ Collonel.
Col. Never a loose Lady tripping through the Park to whet one's Appetite this Morning?
Sir Har. Fie, Collonel, refine your Tast;——A common Woman! I'd as soon dine at a common Ordinary: Give me a Woman of Condition, there's Pride as well as Pleasure in such an Amour.