And Mincing, in "The Way of the World," says—
"The gentlemen stay but to comb, madam, and will wait on you."
These instances I am indebted for to Mr Steevens.—Reed.
To the above instances may be added the following, which will show that the fashion mentioned in the text kept its ground a considerable length of time.
"How we rejoic'd to see 'em in our pit!
What difference, methought, there was
Betwixt a country gallant and a wit.
When you did order perriwig with comb,
They only us'd four fingers and a thumb."
—Epilogue to "The Wrangling Lovers," 1677.
"He looked, indeed, and sighed and set his cravat-string, and sighed again, and combed his perriwig: sighed a third time, and then took snuff, I guess to shew the whiteness of his hand."—"The Fortune Hunters," act i. sc. 2, 1689.
"How have I shook and trembling stood with awe,
When here, behind the scenes, I've seen 'em draw
----A comb; that dead-doing weapon to the heart,
And turn each powder'd hair into a dart."
—Prologue to "The Relapse," 1697.
[205] Terms at the game of gleek, which she is supposed to love immoderately.—Pegge.