Enter Lady Toss-up, and Mrs. Flimsy.
La. Toss. Lord, Flimsy! was there ever an Assurance like my Lady Rodomont's, to engross all the Fellows to her self.
Flim. For that matter, Madam, I cou'd dispence with 'em all, and as many more; but a Lady that declares against Marriage, to suffer such a Train of Beaus, shews her self superlatively Vain-glorious.
La. Toss. A vertuous Woman, that declares against Marriage, may as well declare against Eating and Drinking; all Women have Inclinations to Love; besides, Flimsy, Marriage is an Ordinance, and to declare against it, I take to be a very wicked thing; but if she has made a Vow of Chastity, she might release her Admirers to those Ladies that are willing the World shou'd continue peopl'd. My Lady Love-gang swears she'll go live in Scotland about it; my Lady Dandler lays it so to Heart, I'm afraid she'll be silly; for my part, I bear it—not so patiently as Folks think.
Flim. They say, Madam, she has depriv'd you of some particular Lovers; I'd arrest her for 'em.
La. Toss. Sir Harry Sprightly I have danc'd with; Brigadier Blenheim too has handed me out of the Box, but when Lady Rodomont arriv'd, they both flew from me like a parcel of Fortune-hunters from a reputed City-Heiress, when her Father breaks, and can give her nothing.
Flim. Here she comes, surrounded with Beaus, and I warrant, thinks her self as good as the Queen; if I were the Queen, I'd have her taken up for thinking so. Pray Madam affront her.
Enter Lady Rodomont, and Mrs. Lovejoy, follow'd by Sir Harry, Collonel Blenheim, Mr. Nicknack, Major Bramble, several Fops and Footmen.
La. Rod. Dear Messieurs! give me Breath: Not but a Croud of Beaus are very acceptable; but to press upon one too hard, is like a new Monarch just seated on the Throne, that's stifl'd with Court Cringes—Don't you think, Sir Harry, the Italians that approach us at more distance, show greater Veneration and Respect.
Sir Har. Ladies in their High-Noon of labour'd Garniture,
Are pleas'd, when we admire 'em like the Sun,
Whom none directly looks at,
But in the Ev'ning, as the Sun goes down,
They're better pleas'd we shou'd approach 'em nearer.