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Steelyard the Lawgiver, sitting at his table, taking extracts from "Herveys Meditations among the Tombs" & "Young's Night Thoughts".
(said he)
My crop of corn is but a field of tares
His sprit sail, fore sail, main sail & his mizen A poor frail man god wot I know none frailer I know no greater sinner than John Taylor
as Younge says. Obtuse Angle enterd the Room. "What news Mr Steelyard?" "I am Reading Theron & Aspasio", said he. Obtuse Angle took up the books one by one. "I don't find it here" said he. "Oh no", said the other, "it was the Meditations." Obtuse Angle took up the book & read till the other was quite tir'd out. Then Scopprell & Miss Gittipin coming in, Scopprell took up a book & read the following passage:
"John Locke" said Obtuse Angle. "O ay Lock" said Scopprell. "Its a book about..." "Now here" said Miss Gittipin, "I never saw such company in my life. You are always talking of your books. I like to be where we talk.....You had better take a walk, that we may have some pleasure. I am sure I never see any pleasure. There's Double Elephants Girls they have their own way, & there's Miss Filligree-Work. She goes out in her coaches & her footman & her maids & Stormonts & Balloon hats & a pair of Gloves every day & the sorrows of Werter & Robinsons & the Queen of France's Puss colour & my Cousin Gibble Gabble says that I am like nobody else. I might as well be in a nunnery. There they go in Post chaises & Stages to Vauxhall & Ranelagh. And I hardly know what a coach is, except when I go to Mr Jacko's. He knows what riding is & his wife is the most agreeable woman you hardly know. She has a tongue in her head and he is the funniest fellow, & I do believe he'll go in partnership with his master & they have black servants lodging at their house. I never saw such a place in my life. He says he has six & twenty rooms in his house, and I believe it & he is not such a liar as Quid thinks he is, but he is always Envying." "Poo Poo. Hold your tongue, hold your tongue," said the Lawgiver. This quite provok'd Miss Gittipin, to interrupt her in her favourite topic & she proceeded to use every provoking speech that ever she could, & he bore it, more like a Saint than a Lawgiver, and with great Solemnity he address'd the company in these words: "They call women the weakest vessel but I think they are the strongest. A girl has always more tongue than a boy. I have seen a little brat no higher than a nettle & she had as much tongue as a city clerk but a boy would be such a fool, not have anything to say and, if any body asked him a question, he would put his head into a hole & hide it. I am sure I take but little pleasure: you have as much pleasure as I have. There I stand & bear every fool's insult. If I had only myself to care for, I'd wring off their noses." To this Scopprell answered "I think the ladies' discourses, Mr Steelyard, are some of them more improving than any book. That is the way I have got some of my knowledge." Then said Miss Gittipin, "Mr Scopprell do you know the song of Phebe and Jellicoe?" "No Miss" said Scopprell. Then she repeated these verses while Steelyard walk'd about the room: Phebe drest like beauties Queen Jellicoe in faint peagreen Sitting all beneath a grot Where the little lambkins trot Maidens dancing loves a sporting All the country folks a courting Susan Johnny Bet & Joe Lightly tripping on a row Happy people who can be In happiness compard with ye The Pilgrim with his crook & hat Sees your happiness compleat A charming song indeed miss" said Scopprell. That was all, for here they received a summons for a merrymaking at the Philosopher's house. |
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