Volume Ii Part 82 (1/2)

_Fil_. He follows her close, whoe'er they be: I see this trade of Love goes forward still.

_Gal_. And will whilst there's difference in s.e.xes. But, _Harry_, the Women, the delicate Women I was speaking of?

_Fil_. Prithee tell me no more of thy fine Women, _Frank_; thou hast not been in _Rome_ above a Month, and thou'ast been a dozen times in love, as thou call's! it; to me there is no pleasure like Constancy.

_Gal_. Constancy! and wou'dst thou have me one of those dull Lovers, who believe it their Duty to love a Woman 'till her Hair and Eyes change Colour, for fear of the scandalous Name of an Inconstant? No, my Pa.s.sion, like great Victors, hates the lazy stay; but having vanquisht, prepares for new Conquests.

_Fil_. Which you gain as they do Towns by Fire, lose 'em even in the taking; thou wo't grow penitent, and weary of these dangerous Follys.

_Gal_. But I am yet too young for both: Let old Age and Infirmity bring Repentance,--there's her feeble Province, and even then too we find no plague like being deprived of dear Woman-kind.

_Fil_. I hate playing about a Flame that will consume me.

_Gal_. Away with your antiquated Notions, and let's once hear sense from thee: Examine but the whole World, _Harry_, and thou wilt find a beautiful Woman the Desire of the n.o.blest, and the Reward of the bravest.

_Fil_. And the common Prize of c.o.xcombs: Times are alter'd now, _Frank_; why else shou'd the Virtuous be cornuted, the Coward be caress'd, the Villain roll with six, and the Fool lie with her Ladys.h.i.+p?

_Gal_. Mere accident, Sir; and the kindness of Fortune: but a pretty witty young Creature, such as this _Silvianetta_ and _Euphemia_, is certainly the greatest Blessing this wicked World can afford us.

_Fil_. I believe the lawful enjoyment of such a Woman, and honest too, wou'd be a Blessing.

_Gal_. Lawful Enjoyment! Prithee what's lawful Enjoyment, but to enjoy 'em according to the generous indulgent Law of Nature; enjoy 'em as we do Meat, Drink, Air, and Light, and all the rest of her common Blessings?-- Therefore prithee, dear Knight, let me govern thee but for a Day, and I will shew thee such a _Signiora_, such a Beauty, another manner of piece than your so admired _Viterboan, Donna Marcella_, of whom you boast so much.

_Fil_. And yet this rare piece is but a Curtezan, in coa.r.s.e plain _English_ a very Wh.o.r.e,--who filthily exposes all her Beauties to him can give her most, not love her best.

_Gal_. Why, faith, to thy comfort be it spoken, she does distribute her Charms at that easy rate.

_Fil_. Oh, the vast distance between an innocent Pa.s.sion, and a poor faithless l.u.s.t!

_Gal_. Innocent Pa.s.sion at _Rome_! Oh, 'tis not to be nam'd but in some Northern Climate: to be an Anch.o.r.et here, is to be an Epicure in _Greenland_; impossibilities, _Harry_. Sure thou hast been advising with Sir _Signal Buffoon's_ Governour, that formal piece of Nonsense and Hypocrisy.

_Fil_. No, faith, I brought the humour along with me to _Rome_; and for your Governour I have not seen him yet, though he lodge in this same House with us, and you promis'd to bring me acquainted with him long since.

_Gal_. I'll do't this very minute.

_Fil_. No, I'm oblig'd not to engage my self this Evening, because I expect the arrival of Count _Julio_, whose last Letters a.s.sured me it would be to night.

_Gal_. _Julio_! What, the young _Italian_ Count you made me acquainted with last Summer in _England_?

_Fil_. The same, the Amba.s.sador's Nephew, a good Youth, and one I esteem.

_Enter_ Julio.

_Jul_. I hope my Page will bring intelligence who this Beauty is.

_Fil_. Hah, _Julio_! Welcome, dear Friend.

[_Embraces him_.

_Jul_. Sir _Harry Fillamour_! how glad am I to meet you in a Country, where I have power to repay you all those Friends.h.i.+ps I receiv'd when I was a stranger in yours. Monsieur _Galllard_ too! nay, then I'm sure to want no diversion whilst I stay in _Rome_.