To change the Property of Selves
As Sucking Children are by Elves?
And if they use their Perfons fo,
What will they to their Fortunes do?
Their Fortunes! the perpetual Aims
Of all their Ecftafies and Flames.
For when the Money's on the Book,
And, All my Worldly Goods- but fpoke;
(The Formal Livery and Seifin
That puts a Lover in Poffeffion)
To that alone the Bridegroom's wedded,
The Bride a Flam that's fuperfeded.
To that their Faith is ftill made good,
And all the Oaths to us they vow❜d.
For when we once refign our Pow'rs,
W' have nothing left we can call ours,
Our Money's now become the Mifs,
Of all your Lives and Services;
And we forfaken, and Poft-pon'd,
But Bawds to what before we own'd,
Which as it made y' at first Gallant us,
So now hires others to fupplant us,
Until 'tis all turn'd out of Doors,
(As we had been) for new Amours.
For what did ever Heirefs yet
By being born to Lordships get ?
When the more Lady fh' is of Mannors,
She's but expos'd to more Trepanners,
Pays for their Projects and Designs,
And, for her own Deftruction, fines,
And does but tempt them with her Riches,
To use her as the Devildoes Witches;
Who takes it for a special Grace,
To be their Cully for a space,
That, when the time's expir'd, the Drazels
For ever may become his Vaffals.
So fhe, bewitch'd by Rooks and Spirits,
Betrays her felf, and all fh' inherits;
Is bought and fold, like ftollen Goods,
By Pimps, and Match-makers, and Bauds.
Until they force her to convey,
And steal the Thief himselfaway.
These are the everlasting Fruits
Of all your paffionate Love-fuits,
Th' Effects of all your amorous Fancies
To Portions and Inheritances,
Your Love fick Raptures for Fruition
Of Dowry, Jointure and Tuition;
To which you make Address and Courtship,
And with your Bodies strive to worship,
That th' Infants Fortunes may partake
Of Love too, for the Mother's fake.
For thefe, you play at Purposes,
And love your Loves with A's and B's i
For thefe, at Befte and L'ombre wooe,
And play for Love and Money too;
Strive who fhall be the ablest Man
At right Gallanting of a Fan;
And who the most genteelly bred
At fucking of a Vizard Bead;
How, beft t' accoft us in all Quarters,
T' our Question-and-Command New Garters And folidly difcourfe upon
All forts of Dreffes Pro and Con.
For there's no Mystery nor Trade,
But in the Art of Love is made.
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And when you have more Debts to pay
Than Michaelmas and Lady-day,
And no way poffible to do't,
But Love and Oaths and restlefs Suit,
To us y' apply, to pay the Scores
Of all your cully'd, past Amours;
Act o'er your Flames and Darts again,
And charge us with your Wounds and Pain,
Which others Influences long fince
Have charm'd your Noses with, and Shins?
For which the Surgeon is unpaid.
And like to be, without our Aid.
Lord! what an Am'rous thing is Want!
How Debts and Mortgages inchant
What Graces must that Lady have, t
That can from Execution fave!
What Charms, that can reverse Extent,
And null Decree end Exigent !
What Magical Attracts and Graces,
That can redeem from Scire Facias!
From Bonds and Statutes can discharge,
And from Contempts of Courts enlarge !
These are the highest Excellences
Of all our true or falfe Pretences,
And you would damn your felves, and swear
As much t'an Hoftefs Dowager,
Grown fat and purfy by Retail
Of Pots of Beer, and Bottled Ale;
And find her fitter for your turn,
For Fat is wond'rous apt to burn;
Who at your Flames would foon take Fire,
Relent, and melt to your Defire,
And, like a Candle in the Socket,
Diffolve her Graces int' your Pocket.
By this time t'was grown dark and late,
When th' heard a knocking at the Gate,
Laid on in haste with fuch a powder,
The Blows grew louder still and louder.
Which Hadibras, as if th' had been
Beftow'd as freely on his Skin,
Expounding by his Inward Light,
Or rather more Prophetick Fright,
To be the Wizard, come to fearch,
And to take him napping in the lurch
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