The ancients had some very perverse and out of the way phrases about women. They would sometimes talk of a Chalcidian wife, which is variously interpreted, as meaning a very prolific wife, or as applying to one who is the cause of much contention and animosity. They had also a saying of a Thessalian wife, which meant neither more nor less than a witch. They would also wickedly say, that a woman never did any thing in moderation, and that if she played at dice, she always threw worse or better than any body else. But of all their pithy sayings on this pithy subject, it is not easy to find one which will apply to the character here introduced. Terence may perhaps help us—“O pergin mulier esse.”
CHAP. LVIII. [P. 389.]
Devil.—Master bid me not come without the proof. There’s Mr. Guzzle, the translator, never keeps me a minute, unless the poor gentleman happens to be fuddled.
Author.—Why you little sooty, snivelling, diabolical puppy, is it not sufficient to be plagued with the stupidity of your absurd master, but I must be pestered with your impertinence.
Devil.—Impertinence! Marry come up, I keep as good company as your worship every day in the year. There’s Mr. Clench, in Little Britain, does not think it beneath him to take part of a pot of porter with me, though he has wrote two volumes of lives in quarto, and has a folio a-coming out in numbers.
CHAP. LIX. [P. 395.]
A female introduced who cares for no man, but boasts that her protectors are Title-page the publisher, Vamp the bookseller, and Index the printer. A most noble triumvirate!
CHAP. LX. [P. 400.]
Is aught so fair