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Page 3
The Prodigal having made an end, they all agreed that it was best for them
to hang together, since their Interest was all the same: And therefore each
of them should keep their several Stations; and acknowledge the Bawd for
their Mistress, and the young Spend-Thrift for their Benefactor.
* * * * *
CHAP. III.
_How a Young Woman, by the help of an Old _Bawd_, Enjoy'd her Lover and
Deceiv'd her Husband._
Having already given you the Character of a _Bawd_, and shown you her Plea
for Preheminence in the Art of Wickedness, I now come to shew you by what
famous Atcheivements she comes to deserve it. And when you have seen her
cunning in Contriving, and her Patience in Suffering; you must readily
acknowledge she is one that spares no Pains to be Superlatively Wicked.
In the West of _England_ there lived not long since an Ancient Gentleman to
whom Providence had been very propitious, in blessing him with a fair
Estate, so that he wanted for no outward Accommodations that might make his
Life as happy as he cou'd desire: This Gentleman, being an Old Batchelor,
had more Wealth than Wisdom, and Desire to Act, than Ability to perform.
For nothing would serve his turn but a Wife; and she must be a Young one
too; for tho' he was an Old Man yet he had young Inclinations, and fancies
himself as brisk at Three-score and Ten, as when he was but Thirty: You may
easiely imagine a Man of his Estate cou'd not be long without several
Offers when his mind was known: For Wealth has so many Charms in it, that
it often blinds the Eyes of Parents, and makes them mistake their true
Interest, with respect to the Disposal of their Children; which consists
not so much in being married to Rich Husbands, as to those that are
suitable for them. The Beautiful young Daughter of a Decay'd Gentleman was
offer'd to this Old Letcher, who being sensible that he could not expect a
handsome young Wife with a great Fortune, readily acceps of this, who
wanted no Accomplishments to render her a Bride worthy of a better Husband,
or at least one more suitable: The young Gentlewoman, was not half so fond
of the match as her Parents, who perswaded her to it; and as an
Encouragement told her that her old Husband could not live long and when he
dy'd, she wou'd have the Advantage of a good Estate to get her a better
Husband; and tho she had but few Suitors now, for want of a Portion
answerable to her Birth and Beauty, yet when the Case was so alter'd, she
cou'd not be long without very advantagious offers: These Reasons prevail'd
with the young Gentlewoman to accept of the Old Cuff for a Husband; and
they were married accordingly.
But as I have already said, the Old Gentleman had more Desire than Ability;
and the young Lady was fain to accept of his good Wishes instead of that
due Benevolence which she had reason to expect from a Husband; the want of
which made her too soon repent of what she found was now too late to help.
There unhappily happen'd to be not far from their House an Old Bawd that
had been us'd to lend her Charitable Assistance to distressed Ladies in
such Cases; who having observ'd the late Languishing of the young Lady,
rightly judged it proceeded from the Disappointment she met with from her
Old Husband; this Embolden'd the old Bawd to take a convenient time to make
her a Visit; and by such subtile Discourses as she us'd she soon found out
the true Cause of the young Gentlewoman's Discontent; upon which the Bawd
discourses her in this manner:
Madam
_I hope you will excuse the Boldness I take to speak to you, which nothing
cou'd have extorted from me, but the Compassion I have for you, to see so
much Blooming Youth and Beauty cast away upon one that knows not how to
make use of it; I am sensible that one of your Years and Gaity, can't meet
with a greater Affliction than to be thus under a Notion of being Married,
depriv'd of the true ends of Marriage: 'Tis like being married without a
Husband, to be married to such a Husband as can do nothing. You know Madam,
we are commanded to increase and multiply: But let the Soyl be fruitful as
it will, there's no encrease can be expected where no Seed is sown. This,
Madam, makes me bold to tell you, that you are wanting to your self, and to
the end of your Creation, if you don't find out ways to supply that defect
and disability, which through Extremity of Age your Husband labours under.
I am acquainted, with a Gentleman, brisk, young and airy, One that's in the
Flower of his Youth; That I am surely would gladly sacrifice himself and
all he has to serve a Lady in your Circumstances; and I have that
compassion for your Suffering that I would gladly lend my helping hand to
bring so good a work as that about, that you might reap that Satisfaction
which your Youth and Beauty calls for, and which your Husband is too
impotent to give you._
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