Nick. Only the Hopes of bubling you Beau-Baronets, that come thither to show your Equipage, and laugh at Men of Business, where we invite you to Dinner at Pontack's, drink heartily about, and then draw you in for a thousand Guineas on some publick Wager,—Tho' really the greatest Misfortune that attends a Merchant is an indispensable Necessity of being ev'ry Day at Change; for shou'd the least Ill-news happen, and a Merchant absent, whip, they protest his Bills, report he's in Holland, when, poor Soul, he's gone no farther than to the Saturday's Club at Black-heath Bowling-Green.
L. Rod. I think you have Travell'd tho', Mr. Nicknack.
Nick. To Leghorne and Smirna, Madam, instead of France and Italy, where I had like to have had a Scimiter in my Guts, by an impotent old Turk, that spy'd me glancing at his Wife, when he had a hundred and fifty besides, and was past the use of one of 'em.
Col. Were you never at Virginia and Barbadoes?
Nick. Virginia and Barbadoes, Collonel, I never did any thing to deserve Transportation; perhaps, when the War's over, some of your Livery that have been us'd to Plundering abroad, and can't leave it off here, may after a Ride or two to Finchly Common have occasion to visit the Plantations. I own I have Correspondents at Barbadoes, now and then, to import a little Citron Water for Ladies that have a Coldness at their Stomach, and a Parcel of Oroonoko Tobacco, to oblige some West Country Countesses.
L. Rod. Is not that my Lady Toss-up? I shou'd hardly have known her, but by her down-right English Air—why no body minds her—Sir Harry, give the Lady a Pinch of sweet Snuff.—[Aside.] She's horridly concern'd at my Attractions, yet too proud to shew it, and looks as disconsolately gay, as a Maid of Thirty at the Wedding of her youngest Sister; how I love to mortify these Creatures.
L. Toss. [Advancing to Lady Rodomont] I find, Madam, by your
Ladyship's
Appearance and Conversation you have been a very great Traveller.
L. Rod. By your Ladyship's Appearance, I find you're a very great
Stranger both to Conversation, and your own Country.
L. Toss. Is Travel, Madam, essential to a Lady's Education, or does it only serve to heigthen her Assurance?
L. Rot. Some Ladies, Madam, are so plentifully stock'd by Nature, they want neither Art nor Travel to improve it.