beg your pardon Pray Sir proceed I must then remind you pursued she how difficult it has been hitherto for any man to make the least impression on her Inclinations which she is so sensible of that she almost despairs of finding a man she could heartily love I have often heard her though describe such a Figure of a Lover and of such Qualifications to her self which made me once offer my Service to her in the search of such a one she had described insinuating that I was the more likely to Succeed of the two and the sooner because my Breeches would admit me into that Company which her Petticoats would exclude her She readily accepted my offer and was pleased to say she was certain she should approve of my Choice And now this very minute am I playing the Knight Errant to serve this Lady which I would do with the hazard of my life for assure your self I love her as my own heart You were saying Sir interrupted Polydor she gave you a Figure of the man she could love pray what was that Sir If it be not rude in me to desire it nor inconvenient in you to shew it I beg you would proceed to his Picture You shall have it Sir said she assoon as I can get yours drawn As for your humour you are sufficiently acquainted with that already for your Quality I know it by your Name So that to save the expence of so much pretious time I am sure you need only consult your Glass and you will see the very Man therein all Circumstances O Dear Sir said Polydor do not Impose on me but I perceive this is but real Raillery you have a mind to be merry But Come Sir my Service to you this Glass will inspire us with another and perhaps as pleasant discourse She saw him drink off his Glass fairly And then answered By all the truth Mankind is capable of you do me wrong Sir to imagin that I have hitherto impos'd on you or that I shall ever hereafter endeavour it besides I am very sensible 't is no easie attempt in any body especially in me Yet give me leave once more to attack your unjust and if I may say so your unkind mistrust of me of what I have told you By all the hopes I have of future Prosperity pursu'd she you are the Man How can you be assur'd of that Sir said Polydor. I am absolutely Confirm'd assur'd and dare swear it replyed she For she see 's with my Eyes hears with my Ears Understands with my Intellectuals and thinks as I do On my word Sir said Polydor you are a very dangerous Rival then Alas Sir replyed Ariadne were I your Rival you have a great deal the advantage in your Weapon And the Combat would be more Pleasant than Fatal But be confident continu'd she you need fear no Rival to my certain knowledge she is passionately in Love with you And to confess the truth I was sent to observe your motions and if possible to fix you so long as to make this discourse to you with some overtures which yet I have omitted Polydor all this time regarded her so earnestly and so strictly surveyed her all over that he hardly was sensible when she came to this last Period But at length Recollecting himself Sir said he allowing all this to be real yet you are to learn the Circumstances which at present I am under But forgive me after all the serious Faces you have us'd and after all your earnest discourse I am still suspicious of my own Merits tho perhaps not of your sincerity and the assurance you have from her And come continu'd he drinking to Miranda my Service to you Sir Help me I beseech you to Divert this Gentleman's Melancholly Melancholly said Ariadne very eagerly assoon as ever he had set down the Glass 'T is you that Impose now for I see you are about to perswade me that I am a little civilly Distracted or so But pursu'd she vehemently pray Sir let us learn those Circumstances of yours which we are yet ignorant of Polydor seeing her somewhat concern'd did not know what Judgment to make of what he had heard whether it were Real or Fictitious But weighing deliberately the Meen the Habit Beauty and Discourse of the Person began tacitely to accuse himself of Incivility to a Person who at the first sight had offer'd him so considerable a Service as Thirty or Forty Guinneys might ha' done him had he accepted 'em wherefore he concluded himself mistaken and rather the madder of the two which oblig'd him very easily and modestly to reply Sir I most Religiously beg your Pardon for my own Madness in mistaking you so long and that you may the more easily be Invited to so generous an Act I will tell you my Circumstances and you will find what necessity I had to despair of my own deserts in so great an advantage as this might ha' been to me You may happily have heard of my name pursu'd he if you do not know any of the Family which I dare say is honest and not altogether Ignoble my Father let me speak it with Modesty enjoys a plentiful Estate Heaven be praised However I am the youngest Son And my Fortune is small enough I have no dependance but on Providence and my own endeavours if I shou'd extravagantly continue to impair that little Estate my Grandfather left me and already the better moiety is engag'd part of which you saw me just now make my last stake in this House yet give me leave to add I am an Honest Follow true to my King and my Mistress when ever I had one no more a Gamester than my Ancestors which may be was too much I mean tho not fond of it but in hopes to improve the little pittance was left to support this Tenement too little for the unruly Guest that fills it for certainly I had never been so unadvis'd as to hazard my Estate had it been any thing proportionable to my Humour but at present I only possess 80 Pounds a year the Remainder of 150 l. a year left me by the old Gentlemean I spoke of before And now Sir if after all I have discover'd to you 't is possible this Lady should love me she is a Prodigy of Goodness But I hope you are convinc'd she cannnot So far I am from being convinc'd that she shou'd not love you for your slender fortunes answered Ariadne that it the more Confirms me you only must be the Man For these are the very Circumstances she could have wish'd to have met with in him she Lov'd And when her Brother has told her she would sometime or other throw her self away as he call'd it on some younger Brother or Extravagant Elder Brother I have often heard her protest she had rather bestow her self according to the deserts of the Person not his Land since she bad enough to maintain both him her self and her Children splendidly without being
take 'em for better or worse as I take her By this time he found himself at the farther end of the Wall I mean that end toward the Mulberry Garden that was There I say he found himself for he was absolutely lost before in the Contemplation of his Mistresses Perfections Onward he goes to Rosamond's Pond where he no sooner Arriv'd but he was Surpriz'd at the sight of two Ladies in their Dress Masqu'd One of which who by the Richness of her Cloaths seem'd to be of the better Quality of the two presented him a most Beautiful Soft White Hand without saying one Word to him He took it and seeting one Knee to the Ground kiss'd it most religiously I believe you may see the print of his Lips there yet if she has not us'd some art to get it out Well he look'd on it and kiss'd it and kiss'd it and look'd on it again Then gaz'd on her two Delicate Charming Black Eyes through the peep holes of her Mask And fancy'd to himself a Face if not so Beautiful altogether as Ariadnes indeed was yet such as the most excellent Painter cou'd not have flatter'd if he shou'd endeavour it The other Lady was somewhat the Kinder of the two for seeing him stare thus Silently and Curiously she pull'd of her Mask and ask'd him if he had never a Tongue to praise what he beheld No Madam said he not you your self neither so much as it deserves though you come so near the excellencies of an Angel For to give her her due she was as Beautiful as any of the Sex except Ariadne for I must maintain the Character of my Heroin for a Reason that I know But still I say give the Devil his due Well She was very handsom and there 's an end on 't Nay Polydor said Ariadne keeping her Mask on we know you are a Courtier But 't is a little odd methinks that you shou'd so highly commend what you have not as yet seen How do you know now continued she but this Mask covers the most ugly Face you ever saw O 't is impossible Madam said Polydor in a Rapture 't is impossible I swear with those eyes But how can you tell said Ariadne interrupting him but the Skin on 't may be as black as the Velvet of my Mask I believe it is as soft said he very Amorously feeling on the Mask But Pardon me Madam your Eyelids have confirm'd the contrary I have seen Madam continu'd he enough to compleat your Victory Dispose Madam pursu'd he all over in a transport of Love Dispose how you please of your Slave I was an Infidel last Night 't is true but now I will believe nay I do believe you are the greatest Blessing Heav'n cou'd bestow on me in this World Hey day What a hopeful and suddain change is here cry'd Ariadne sure this is not the same Polydor my Cousin saw last Night No no Madam said he not a Word of that over Cautious Scrupulous and Ill natur'd Fellow I have not one doubt about me You appear to me all Glorious and Good But we trifle Madam Let us walk to the other end of the Park and take Coach for Mary Bone Hold Sir said she there 's a Coach waits us at this Gate which I presume is as convenient O most advantageous said Polydor leading her towards the Gate where they quickly Arriv'd and got into the Coach which made all the reasonable hast to the Bowling Green that cou'd be expected Cry your Mercy I mean to the Church But I had been oftner at the first which made it come sooner into my Thoughts Besides I had forgot Polydor had any Business at the last mention'd place whatever he has had at the Green By the way said Ariadne to him have you bethought your self of a Ring A Ring Child said he no faith But by good Fortune here is one on my Finger which a French Mistress of mine gave me at Paris and we may make shift for once with it Nay nay said she shift now and shift always But come it must and shall do But hark you continu'd she don 't you fancy we go as merrily to Execution as any two Condemn'd People ever did You may call it what you will said he but methinks 't was a little improperly spoken Was it ever said a Man was Condemn'd to be happy For such I apprehend my Circumstance at the present I don't know what you judge of your own O said she doubt not I have as good an Opinion of you as you can have of me for the Heart of you I see then interrupted Miranda you are both in a fair way to be perfectly happy You know I must make her speak something and not let her sit like a Mute all the while much contrary to the humour of her Sex Well But now or about this time they got within sight of the Steeple Look there Polydor said Ariadne what do you think of turning back Why said he I think of it as of the only thing I must deny you at the present No no continu'd he I am resolv'd to enter the Enchanted Castle with thee and try the force of it's Charms Ten to one interrupted Ariadne you may find 'em too strong for you at a long Run But for my part she pursu'd I am as Resolute as my Friend John Florio And so said she Coach-Man open the Door They all three immediately lighted and went directly toward the Church just before they came to the Porch a little dapper old Fellow comes to 'em and asks 'em if they had any business with him this Morning Why faith Friend said Polydor if you can mumble over the Matrimony or so We have How interrupted Ariadne mumble it over No don 't you mistake I mean to have it as Audibly Distinctly Laudably and Plainly read as ever I have heard part spoken on the Stage But you are in the right on 't Polydor continu'd she for this Right Reverend looks as if he cou'd only mumble it Well Madam said the little Old Gentleman I can make a shift to say Amen plain enough I warrant you But Mr. the Minister is within And I believe at leisure by this time to do you that Office which he has dont this Morning to four Couple more But believe me Gentlefolks you are the finest we have seen today O! We thank you Sir said Polydor But pray how long do you Ply here a Days Ply here Sir said he we expect Company here generally from Six till Twelve But see Sir continu'd he the last Couple are just coming out I have a little business with 'em e'r they go If you please to walk up to the Altar I 'l wait on you before you have done your Complements to the Minister O! your Servant good Sir we don't doubt it said Polydor leading Ariadne to the Fatal place There Polydor immediately opens their Case discovers their Grievances and asks a Remedy Promising him to reward him like a
he had all along mistaken for Sir Francis's Sister Ariadne She was attended by two Footmen one of which was Polydor's fellow-Travellor to St. Alban's He was mightily surpriz'd at the sight of her and could not but conclude now that she was in earnest and had a real Passion for him He led her up to his da ksom Appartment where he began to express the sense he had of the House and Obligation she then did him in that Visit She told him he mistook for the kindness was to her self only and that she was come with a full firm Resolution to know what he refused to tell her some Days past But Madam interrupted he First I beseech you let me know how you found me out here Marwoud with much entreaty inform'd me said she But had he known that I intended you a Visit and upon what account I dare believe a hundred Guinneys wou'd not have tempted him to the Discovery For in short I 'l be free with you tho you are so unjustly strange to me he loves me at least I am confident he has a great Passion for my Money and Estate The Devil 's in him for Ariadnes interrupted Polydor. She seem'd to take no notice of what he said but went on Yet let his Pretences continu'd she be never so generous or so self-Interess'd I cou'd never love him much less since I have had the misfortune to see you who so obstinately deny me the least place in your kind thoughts Madam replyed Polydor I beg of you for Mercy 's sake do not do me so great an Injustice as to believe what you have said Heaven knows if it were possible I wou'd Sacrifice my Heart and all to the Service of Sir Francis Heartwel 's Sister This is meer Evasion cry'd Dorothea I cannot apprehend what shou'd hinder but your own Inclination and unless you will let me know the Obstacle I shall die in that Opinion Since then Madam said Polydor. you press me so closely to it I dare not deny you that satisfaction but I must conjure you by whatsoever has the dearest Influence on you that you will be secret I promise it cry'd she as I hope for any Happiness in your Love He kiss'd her Hand upon it And told her of his Marriage with Ariadne the Circumstances and all the Misfortunes that were Consequences of it She all the time seem'd the most troubled Creature that ever was Sometimes she Sigh'd then held her Handkerchief to her Eyes till she had made 'em look as if they had been so red with Weeping then she would turn them Amorously on his and there hold 'em for a considerable time then at last with another pittous Sigh fetch'd from the very bottom of her Lungs shee 'd fix 'em Languishingly on the Ground And twenty other little Arts she practic'd which you know pretty Ladies are very expert in to make him believe how much concern'd she was at the loss of him I will not say positively that she did really Weep but I am apt to think she might For Women they say have an excellent Talent that way Now for my part I wonder at it Since I swear to you I can't shed a Tear an I were to Hang for want of a Tear unless I cut Onions which is a thing I seldom do or take fine Spanish Snush and that brings the Rheum partly thro my Eyes which truly I like as well as Sneezing every whit It clears my Head and do's me as much kindness as I expect from it but these means you 'l say are too visible to be mistaken for the effects of any Passion But after all if I were to cry for my Life I would go to hear a Comedy or two that I know The Doleful Tale being over at last after some little silence on both sides Dorothea began to lament afresh the loss of the only Man whom as she pretended she could Love and the more to aggravate his Misery She told him her design in coming then to him was absolutely to know his last Determination whether he could Love her as a Wife or no And to have paid his Debt within a Weeks time if he had Marry'd her nay farther her extravagant Passion carry'd her She offer'd yet to make him her Husband and to retire with him to any other part of the Christian World He could not forbear kissing her Hand again and again for so prodigious a kind Proposition But he declin'd it as modestly as 't was possible any Man should He let her see how destructive it would be to her Reputation how fatal to her Quiet after a few Months when the Excess of her Passion was allay'd Nay and added very honestly that it was not improbable that he should grow sick of a Wife that had so far lost all that was valuable in this World and then they would both prove most miserable But Madam continued he I am very Confident that this is but a tryal of my Humour and if I had accepted your offer you would only have mock'd my easiness in believing your Virtue so weak and unguarded You may think said she as advantageously of me and my Virtue as you please but assure your self I doubt my Love would Sacrifice all to you But In the name of good Fortune pursu'd she what happiness can you propose to your self with your Ariadne The greatest I could wish replyed he were she yet but Virtuous But perhaps said Dorothea in that you suppose Impossibilities However Madam answered Polydor I 'l hope the best Well! said Dorothea I see you are deaf to the news of a better Life and so I leave you But with all the discontent imaginable on my part Saying so she arose from her Seat Polydor who had forgotten it all this while now at last bethought him that happily she might have talked her self thirsty beg'd of her to accept of one Glass of Wine and left her in hast without expecting her answer to send for it Mean while she took a Paper out of her Pocket which she convey'd under his Gloves When he returned she told him she neither could nor would stay to drink with him for whom she had lost her self and in a seeming kind of a Pet flung out of the Room He followed her and taking her hand led her to the Gate all the way begging her to consider it as it was his Misfortune not his Fault She said no more than 't was in his Power yet to make his Fortune good or bad and therefore she concluded it was his fault He took his leave very submissively of her at the inmost Gate looking on her with a very Penitential Face which may be he put on meerly to please her When she was gone he went to his Melancholy Retreat Where he reflected on the strange Perversness of his Fortune to cheat him thus with a false Counterfeit Ariadne of a true one for it was past all doubt with him that the Lady who just left him was Sir
leave us and the Country nor could I tell where to have enquired of you Madam reply'd Polydor I confess it had not been very easy to have met with me by that name And I beseech you pardon me continued he and I will undeceive you He paus'd but seeing she expected he should proceed My name pursu'd he is Polydor I am not altogether unknown to your Brother Sir Francis Why then interrupted Dorothea did you borrow an other name Because Madam reply'd he I would have been wholly disguis'd to you for some Reasons that are not fit to be discours'd And I beg you Madam added he not to press me to the discovery of them Alas I do not mean it Sir reply'd the fair Impostor I have other Business with you and of greater Moment to my self I have Proposals to make to you which happily may not prove absolutely Disadvantageous to you if embrac'd I love you Polydor continued she without suffering him to speak And I love you so passionately that I can be capable of no rest nor sensible of any Joy unless you justly answer me Nay Madam Interrupted Polydor As for that matter I can Love as fast and as well as any man And I am ready to do your Ladyship any Civil Kindness Ah cry'd she I fear you mistake me Polydor my desires and designs are honest and Honourable We must Marry continued Dorothea if you mean to make me Happy If you will not kill a poor Lady that languishes for you How Marry Interrupted he you don't know what you ask Madam I wish I could with all my heart But I have seen enough of that already I hope in Heaven cry'd Dorothea all in a surprize you are not Married Are you If I be not answered Polydor I have seen the fatal Consequences of it in others No no Madam continued he no more of that such another word and I shall Swown though I nere use to do so Why reply'd Dorothea am I so contemptible then if you are any way acquainted with my Brother you may perhaps have heard my Fortunes are not And pursu'd she could it enter into your thoughts that the Sister of Sir Francis Heartwell could ask any thing but Marriage of you after the Declaration of her Love Ah Madam said Polydor Kneeling for Heavens sake forgive me I am certain you would added he if you knew my wretched Cursed Circumstances Heaven knows pursu'd he looking very Amourously on her I would soon embrace so advantageous an offer if it were convenient for either of us Seek not I beseech you continued he with a sigh seek not to know the miserable Obstacle Be satisfied I am lost Madam Condemned to perpetual Infamy while here I Live My Reputation is Damn'd my Fortune and my Rest for ever broken And my Liberty is no more Ah pitty Madam pursu'd he with a hearty sigh pitty a miserable Creature that is not capable of receiving the Happiness your Goodness would throw away upon him And now continu'd he rising Permit me I beg of you to retire and Curse my Evil Stars which have heap'd so great Misfortunes on me only for my Credulity suffer me I Conjure you by your Excellent good Humour to retire that I may Rave freely alone that I may either shake off the thoughts of my Misery or sink under ' em O Heavens cry'd Dorothea weeping which by no means she could refrain such was the sweetness of her Temper I pitty you from my Soul Alas I cannot but be too sensible that you are much Afflicted And I wish heartily it were in my Power or Art to relieve you You may go continued he since you must and will go But I beseech you as ever you hope to regain your Quiet Let me at all times know where to find you Be confident Madam you shall said Polydor kissing her Hand and making his Obeysance very humbly to the very Door he left her gazing after him When he was quite out of sight she went to her cruel Cousin whom she railly'd severely for making her Instrument in Torturing the Poor mistaken Polydor. But to her greater dissatisfaction she understood that she had a Scene or two more to play of her part yet Which Ariadne began to instruct her in While Polydor retreated to his little Thatch'd house where he weigh'd every Circumstance of this Last Adventure Heavens cry'd he was there ever so unfortunate a Fellow as I am to be abus'd by a Counterfeit Ariadne when I might really have had the true one But perhaps I had never seen the last had it not been in quest of the first 'T is stranged Methinks there is still something that hangs about my Heart and will not let me hate that naughty Woman nor I fear I shou'd receive her again were I assur'd of her Virtue Were I confident she were not in Debt or had I but an Estate to pay her Debts whatever they were upon the assurahce of her truth to me I shou'd take her into my Bosom O easy Fool that I am I am certain I shou'd Shee 's witchingly fair I cannot for my Soul forget her Beauty Her Humour too so justly answers mine that 't were too great a Blessing for me to enjoy her had she but Honour too But O! continu'd he I have lost a Diamond for a Pebble Is that so strange Alas I have lost my self But well pursued he I le to Town and strive to divert the Thoughts of my ill Fortune and Disgrace with Company and Play I may meet there with somebody as wretched as my self And then wee 'l sit and Rail and Curse Fortune Women and our own Follies Hold Polydor Hold pursu'd he after a little Pause Do's this become the greatness of thy Spirit No I will suffer quietly and silently I 'le be as great a Stoick as the best of ' em Nay more I 'le bear my Afflictions like a Christian Woman I forgive thee Thou hast not Damned me yet Thou hast only made me forfeit all my Happiness on Earth unless I find it here here in my Breast I first must drive thee out and then I may Alas Thou coudst not help this Treachery It is Entail'd upon thy Sex Heaven has ordain'd that you shou'd all be false Made Soft and Fair the easier to Deceive 'T was not the Fruit nor Serpent ruin'd Man O no! The Woman look'd the Sin into him Shee Smil'd and raised strong Appetites within him The Mighty Charm prevail'd The glorious Bait. He speedily devour'd and in one moment Thus Poyson'd all his Pure Immaculate Soul And left his Sons weak Preys to 's subtle Daughters So continu'd he Recollecting himself I can Preach I see upon occasion However this is no place to Preach in the Night comes on apace I will to Town in spite of Darkness With that he call'd for his Horse and a Pen Ink and Paper which with much ado he got But I believe his Hostess was forc'd to tear a blank Leaf out of the Practice
reply'd Harry I know a rich old Widow about three-score I 'l send her to him if he 'l Marry her so as Marrying brought him in let it e'en fetch him out Very seasonable and wholsom Advice i' gad cry'd Tom And then 't is but leaving her assoon as he gets out as Ariadne has left him and he may thus be quitts with Fortune Y' are very pretty Fellows truly said Polydor But It may fall to my share to laugh at you yet e'r I die Ay if your Spouse shou'd prove a right Diamond and no Counterfeit replyed Harry you might laugh at us for laughing at you In the mean time case your Spâ—â—en the other way if you can 't will become you better Come dear heart said Will to Polydor Take no notice of these two Rascals I 'l do what lies in my Power to serve thee upon my Soul Polydor thanâ—'d him very obligingly Hark O! what Gravity cry'd Harry As if it were not possible that we might be as ready to serve him with our Lives and Fortunes as your Worship because you talk and look so superciliously and we so freely Well said Harry cry'd Tom What Do's the Rogue affront us Away ye Brace of Coxcombs replyed Will. I don't accuse ye of any Aversness to his Service But methinks you shou'd have pleas'd your selves sufficiently with your raillery on him by this time Prithee let 's now be serious Nay for my part answer'd Harry I can be as serious as a Pick-Pocket at his business in a Church And I said Tom can be as serious as the Person Well! And what 's to be done now I think it the best way replâ—â—d Will to remove him to the Flâ—â— No interrupted Polydor I 'le rather remove to the Kings-â—ench I have some acquaintance there already besides I have drank some Bottles with the Marshal who I am confident will give 〈◊〉 all the Liberty 〈◊〉 may with safety I 'l be sure to Visit you every day in Term time at least And wee 'l make thee as welcom as we can cry'd Harry that is thou shalt never go over the Water sober Hang your Dutch Entertainments said Polydor I 'm out of conceit of ' em A Blessed Reformation if it hold said Tom. It shall Sir replyed Polydor They had some farther discourse concerning the means of getting him over which lasted about a quarter of an hour more then they sent for half a dozen Bottles of Clarret to the old House and a dish of cold Chickens By that time Polydor's Stomach was come to him For if ever you were a Prisoner you may be sensible the sight of a Friend or two there revives a Man strangely He eat as heartily as he did on his Wedding day And drank off his three Bumpers as he used to do to the King the Queen and the Duke They stay'd with him till the Fatal Bell was rung which commands every Prisoner close to his Chamber and all others abroad to their business Here you might see one lugging two Guns as they call 'em which in plain English are two Pottle-Pots of Ale and Beer another following him with some Tobacco a Candle and Pipes There a poor Soul with two or three Bottles of the Sheriffs Wine Anglicè Fair Water begging of another to fill his dirty Pipe with stinking Mundungus I suppose the miserable Wretch was one of the Common-side You may believe me for I have lay'n in the House some Nights my self to my Sorrow Nor is it any great matter of wonder for a Man of my Circumstances to have been a Prisoner You know we are generally special Poor Well! There were a great many other Objects of Pitty besides this Man that a Curious Person wou'd have taken notice on But Polydor's Friends were none of that sort for they went out assoon as they cou'd persuade the Turnkey to open the Door Polydor return'd to his Chamber and very contentedly went to Bed where he slept soundly for he had drank his share with his Friends Next Morning he found himself in very good temper and withal something inclinable to Rhiming Whereupon he set Pen to Paper and made An Attempt in Pindarique On the Blessings of Adversity I. THE Just and Brave unmov'd appear In Storms where meaner Souls do shrink And â—v'n beneath themselves do sink Vnable Miseries least weight to bear Or if with Wealth and Honour Crown'd No room within their narrow Heart is found To entertain the Blust'ring Guest But swelling with the Bubble straight they burst They in Adverse or Prosp'rous Fate alike are Curs'd When the great Soul does scarce admit The Fawning Parasite Or if he does 't is lock'd within his Breast Nor suffers him to play his part Within the Cabinet of his Heart But slighted in the Ante-Chamber let 's him sit An equal mind in different Fates he bears The one he neither Courts nor t'other fears Nor is with this puff'd up nor that depress'd But in himself alone is ever Bless'd II. Ambition Anger Avarice and Lust With other Passions of the Mind The Gen'rous Soul in Reasons Chain does bind And as his Captives at his Feet does thrust Tho Fierce and Great to Slavery do's bring Here Nero's Tyrant li's and Alexander's King When the base Wretch is his Slaves Slave Which like a Conqu'ring Prince do's brave The reason Heaven to defend him gave It 's Throne Vsurps and do's affect to Raign Lord of the strongest Castles both the Heart and Brain And now grows Insolent and Lewd Revels and mingles with the purest of his Bloud Do's his best Faculties controul And wou'd debauch his chaster Soul At least misleads it for a Space Then leaves it naked to disgrace The Man who thus is by his Passions sway'd O'r Beasts shou'd wish to Rule never to be obey'd III. Bless'd is the Man whom Heaven do's not try With guilded Apples of Prosperity Sweet to the Tast and Beauteous to the Eye But Rotten at the Coar and Poyson to the Heart But thrice bless'd he who can reject The proffer'd Pleasure of the Bait Who sees the future dire effect If overcome by the Deceit Losing the Pleasure he avoids the deadly Smart But thrice and four times Bless'd is he Whom Heaven try's with Misery And hardly Cloaths with Rags of Poverty Who silently do's bear his Fate And is contented in his lowest State Inur'd to Grief and sad Mischance Surely tho slow tow'rd Heav'n he do's advance Treading on Thorns the way to Bliss Adversity the greatest Blessing is And nothing than Prosperity is worse Prosperity ill-us'd the greatest Curse IV. Job's Tempter sure mistook the way Job's Virtue to betray Or rather the All-Merciful deny'd That his Beloved Servant should be try'd By heaping Riches so to teach him Pride Hard'ned in Grief and Plagues his Virtue grew Steel'd it became Temptation-Proof it was The deadlyest Darts which on him Satan threw His Body pierced but could no farther pass His Patience to his Tempter gave more Pain Than all Job did sustein
And he was Plagu'd and he was shot in vain When Lo Th' Almighty from Above With Eyes with Pitty flowing and with Love Beheld the Afflicted Man as weak he lay Buryed in Ashes on the Ground Vouch'dsafe to Parley with this thing of Clay Taught him to know himself and made him sound And for the Miseries which he had shar'd Gave him a Seven-fold Reward Teach me then Heaven to withstand The heaviest stroke of Sorrows hand That to my self brought home I may The Obedience which I owe thee ever pay He had scarce made an end before an under-Officer of the House came to tell him there was a Gentleman and a Lady below that would speak with him He was not a little Surprized at it not imagining what Lady should come to give him a Visit in such a place unless it were his own Sister However he bid the Fellow lead them up He did so And Polydor then was much more amazed than before when he saw his own false Ariadne as he thought her led in by Marwoud the Treacherous They stood staring on one another a pretty while e'r either of 'em could speak But Polydor was in a strange Perplexity You would have thought he had been in a Feaver by his Face he would fain have been angry and have rail'd at her but when he beheld her Beauty he was no more able to do 't than I am to fight a Whale in the water And that is not very probable for I can Swim no more than a Mill-stone Heavens cry'd Polydor pulling his Hat over his Eyes and walking from her in a great deal of hast Art thou come now thy self to torment me Barbarous Woman Go Take that Treacherous Man into thy deceitful Bosom make as much of him as your false Heart will give you leave And thou Marwou'd Faithless Man Embrace Embrace the Syren Go together And betray one another into a groundless and vain Opinion of each others mutual Affection Shameless Man continued he looking fiercely on Marwoud what unheard of Impudence has brought thee into my sight after thou hast thus betrayed me But what ill things dare not he do that durst betray his Friend Why this is very strange Interrupted Marwoud what do you mean Polydor I mean to Cudgel thee replyed Polydor all in a Rage for thou art not worthy of my Sword O! fy interrupted Ariadne Is it thus you Treat your Friends Peace Syren Hypocrite Fair Devil Peace cryed Polydor Thy Breath and Looks are Infectious Good Heaven said Ariadne weeping How have I deserved this Ah Crocodile cryed Polydor with an angry Smile I confess thou hast not deserved that I should speak to thee But admire now the sweetness of my Temper That I can vouchsafe to tell thee I am angry with thee And that I have much reason to hate thee O! Would I could On what Errant has Hell sent thee to me now Or rather what greater Affliction is Heaven yet pleased to try me with Come I 'le be tame And gently will confess thy Power to thee Wert thou but half so Virtuous as Fair and I a thousand times more Rich and Happy than now I am miserable I 'd kneel to get one Smile of thee But thou art Hold interrupted Ariadne And hear my Business first e're you proceed to Judgment of me I come to offer you all that I have and were it Twenty Thousand times more I would lay it all at your Feet I have brought this Gentleman my Friend who it seems has been long your Friend however you are willing to mistake him now him I have engag'd to Compound the Debt with Sir Tenacious and if he will not accept of our Propositions he has procur'd another Gentleman his Friend to Bail you with him She tells you truth Polydor said Marwoud tho your Passion blinds and will not let you see our kind Intentions to serve you And is it really true cry'd Polydor ' Most certain replyed Ariadne Then Dam yee Dam yee both cryed Polydor furiously What! Purchase my Liberty with the Prostitution of your Body I tell yee tho you both consulted to get me into this place yet I 'l make a shift to get out on 't without your Aid Advice or Money And for thy part Marwoud continued he expect I will thank thee most justly for thy Industry in delivering me into the hands of these People who yet have used me more civilly than thou desired'st I should have been He then told him what he had heard from the Officers while the other laboured with all the Cunning he had to perswade him that he was abused by them in that Discourse But all to no purpose Nay said Polydor 't is in vain to hope I should believe thee true to me now when thy very acquaintance with this Woman Lowdly Proclaims thy Guilt While they were arguing thus very hotly Ariadne took up the Verses and slipt 'em into her Pocket At last they grew lowd and then Polydor taking Ariadne by the hand led her civilly out of the Room but Marwoud he almost threw down Stairs and immediately shut the Door to him Ariadne beg'd of him with all the earnestness that might be to open the Door to her urging that she had something to discover to him that concerned the whole Quiet of his Life but all in vain He bid her be gone and come no more near him She still prest to come in and I believe would have made up all Differences had she prevail'd for she was really very sensible that she had been to blame in treating him thus so long But being still denyed entrance she went away with a Resolution to play him yet one other Trick e're she undeceived him Marwoud was much out of humour and in a great heat with Polydor for folling him so basely before his Mistress but he considered there was no Sword to be drawn there and besides his happy Rival was then Naked whiâ—h stop'd the effects of his Indignation for a time Yet he could not forbear threatning him with Revenge and that in the hearing of Ariadne Who told him he need study no greater Revenge than what he had already or at least than what he was like to have by her means This pretty well appeased the affronted Squire and he waited on her home without so much as ever threatning Polydor again Polydor was a little disturbed at this unseasonable Visit because perhaps since the Fit had just seiz'd him he designed to have gone on Rhiming which their unexpected and unwished for Company prevented Being therefore somewhat discomposed he went to his Friend in the Lodge and desired to drink a Glass of Wine with him which was presently permitted him and they Dined together very plentifully and chearfully About 5. a Clock as he was Drinking a Grace Cup he was told that there was a Lady in a Coach at the Gate who asked for him and the officious Messenger had hardly said the word e're he saw Dorothea come in whom
return'd for all that and told him thâ—â—â—dy was to Impoâ—â— that to bâ—â—ny'd that she must speak with him Tell her she may said Polydor If she will take the pains to meet me three or four hours hence at the Golden Lyon in Southwark He did so and return'd once more to let Polydor know that Sir Francis Heartwell would see him if he pleased Sir Francis Heartwell cry'd Polydor in a great surprise Thou mistakest sure No Sir reply'd the Servant so he call'd himself I am certain Dâ—â— him let him come in said Harry If he do's affront thee I shall find a time to cut his throat I cannot blame thy zeal for thy friend replyed Polydor tho it be mistaken He is a man of too much honour to offer any Rudeness Saying so he went as far as he might to wait on Sir Francis who was just coming into the House with his Sister Marwoud leading Miranda and Dorothea After having saluted each other Sir Francis desir'd Polydor to leave his friends to entertain one other for a quarter of an hour that he might discourse him a little privately Polydor spoke to 'em of it and went into another Room with the two Gentlemen and the Ladys Sir said the Knight lifting up his Sister's hood which till then cover'd her face Do you not know this Lady Too well Sir Reply'd Polydor you had not found me here Sir otherwise Have you any pretentions to her said Sir Francis Pretentions Sir answer'd Polydor no no and I wou'd she never had had any for me What 's the meaning of this said the Knight To my knowledge she loves you Do you know who she is Yes and what she is too reply'd Polydor she call's her self Ariadne but the pretty Imposture will not pass for such in this Lady's Company At these words he took Dorothea's hand 'T is well continued he they are both come together I hope my Ariadne will not any longer pretend to the blood of the Heartwells before you Sir Your Ariadne said Sir Francis why are you Marry'd to either of 'em Yes yes Sir Francis cry'd he in a great Passion To my eternal shame I am marri'd to this false Beautifull creature yes I am sped with her Well Sir answer'd Ariadnes Brother And Heaven give you joy with my Sister Ah Sir says Polydor Do not triumph in the misfortunes of an unhappy Gentleman I know you do but Impose now for that Lady 's your Sister said he bowing to Dorothea If you please Sir answer'd Marwoud That Lady shall be my Wife before Noon yet as late as ' t is It shall onely trouble me replyed Polidor for the Lady's sake Come come Polydor said his kind bâ—other in Law pen your Eyes view her well Is not your Ariadne more like me than my Cousin Dorothea for so is that Lady call'd who has hitherto only personated my Sister the more to perplex you Ah Polydor cry'd Ariadne I bring thee now thy True and Faithfull Ariadne Let me embrace you together said Sir Francis And now Polydor cryd Marwoud taking him by the hand Let here all Picques and Feuds cease I wish thee and will not envy thee all those joys thou art like to possess in that Lady To whose Embraces and caresses I will at present leave you to withdraw the Action that is against you which I protest I do with much more content than I lay'd it on Ha! cryed Polydor This is too much happiness for me in one day To find my dear Ariadne true to be reconcil'd to my friend whom I thought past it and to be so nearly ally'd to one whom I have always been ambitious of serving Marwoud went out and discharg'd him of the Action and fees of the House while the other two Ladys complemented him and began to confess how they had all contributed to his seeming misfortunes Heaven cry'd Polydor that I should not know that face again and that shape out of Breeches But I am now awake Yet continued he I must beg you would permit me to distrust your kindness to me before my friends in t' other Room Be it as your humour Commands answer'd Ariadne But don't let the counterfit last long Marwou'd now return'd and brought news of Polydors Libertie who strait led 'um to his other Friend After Complements had pass'd he call'd his three Friends aside and told 'um how things had succeeded but withall added that he durst not yet trust their Kindness where fore he intreated they wou'd acâ—ompany him to Sir Francis's where he was going and that he wou'd plant 'em so near that upon the least call they might come to his assistance if occasion were They all promised to hazard their Lives and Fortunes in his Service Polydor then taking some Money out of his Pocket to bestow on the poor wretches that wanted it at the same time pull'd out the mock to his Pindarique and shew'd it to Dorothea asking if she knew the hand She answer'd yes 't was her Consin Ariadnes who smiling confess'd that she had stolen his melancholy stuff with design to abuse it He was not a little pleas'd with this Confession As soon as every one had Distributed their Charities they left the dismal place and Polydor took Coach with Sir Francis Ariadne Miranda Marwou'd and Dorothea But Harry Will and Tom were forc'd to walk into Cheapside where they likewise took a Hackny Coach following Sir Francis's Coach as close as they could They came in time to their Journey 's end Where Polidor dispos'd of his three merry Boys in a very convenient Room leaving 'em Wine enough to supply 'em till he had dispatch'd his affairs in the next Room Where as soon as he came he was amaz'd to see the Tables already spread and all things in as much order as if it had been design'd a week before But this was not all the occasion of his surprize for when his Brother in Law and his dear Ariadne led him into an Inner Room he was there presented with all the Writings of her Estate and a glorious sight of Rich Jewells and of Gold and Silver some in Bags and some loosly scatter'd about the Chest This sight was not altogether ungrateful to Polydor tho he did not absolutely do at on Riches Immediately after the shew was over Sir Francis was for calling for the Person whom he had provided to speak some fatal words as strong as any Witches Charm I 'm sure to him and Marwou'd and the other two Ladys But Polydor beg'd his three Friends might first be admitted to which they agreed and he gave the sign immediately for them to come in Who no sooner heard it but with all the Violence and Resolution imaginable they rush'd in with their Swords drawn Ha! cry'd Polydor whence is this Rudeness what do you mean Gentlemen How now Polydor said Harry Have you forgot we came to your Rescue Rather to Divorce me from the greatest happiness imaginable reply'd he drawing his Sword which Sir Francis and Marwou'd did likewise This is strange said Will. It is indeed answer'd Polydor very strange that a man should betray himself into twelve hundred a year besides thousands in Money and Jewels and throw himself away on so Beautifull a Creature as Ariadne You Harry I confess might have expected it but for such a person as mine Death we are fool'd then cry d Tom well we shall find a time continu'd he offering to go Hold Gentlemen pray be'nt angry said Polydor you must not go yet till you have din'd with us and been Witnesses to a little Business that these two Gentlemen and Ladies have to dispatch Come Put up Put up We are all friends Ay Gentlemen said Sir Francis we must intreat your Company to day Nay added Marwou'd ye must be our Guess Upon this they all put up and were as good as so many Certificates to Miranda and Dorothea that Ceremony ended they eat and drank plentifully had the Fiddles Danc'd and were wondrous Pleasant so wee 'l leave 'em till night when I suppose the three Hero's went to Bed with their Ladys where wee 'l leave 'em to be more Happy than I dare tell you they were FINIS