their Company, but would not hear them difcourfe upon her Subject. She left nothing untry'd to reconcile him, but he was obdurate, he even put her into the Road of Defpair; at leaft fhe had but one Refuge left, before the arriv'd at that difagreeable Lodging. You may believe, by the Methods fhe took, that she was perfectly acquainted with her Man. She calls for her Veil, and ftepping into a Coach of common Hire, bid it drive to the Prince's Stables, from whence there was a Back-door that his Highness often made ufe of on fuch Occafions. She fends for the Favourite Foot-man, and putting a Piftole into his Hand, defired him to get his Lord to come to her, as if the were fome new Adventurer that he was not yet acquainted with. The Prince's Breach with his Miftrefs eafily difpofed him to a fecond Affair; he prefently came to the Coachwindow, which being let down, the Lady rais'd her Veil flowly with one Hand, whilft The extended the other with four five-Piftolepieces of Gold, at the fame time bowing in a fuppliant Manner, beg'd of his Eminence that he would be pleased to hear what those Mediators could fay in her behalf, they were come to plead for her, and the hop'd with Succefs. How invincible is the Power of Gold? It raifes and deftroys Animofitics: The Prince found his fo far allay'd by thofe fhining Interceffors, that he graciously rereceived them, and told the Miftrefs, with a Smile,

a Smile, fhe had indeed pitch'd upon fuch as were irresistible!

That Baron who ftands next loves Mufick exceffively, is a great Performer and Compofer; the latter is a Talent that I know none of his Rank, befides himself, that are eminent in. His firft Lady left him a Fertune, by which he has been capacitated to marry a fecond, a Daughter of one of the late Favourites. But alas! what Man of Quality in Atalantis is faithful to his Wife? They do not fo much as think 'tis their Duty to be fo, at least while they have any Defires remaining. This Gentleman did all his Endeavours to be well with a certain Woman of fome Fashion, her Husband was a Tribune in the Army. After the ufual Formalities and Affiduities, the Baron fucceeded in his Pretenfions; the Lady was no longer cruel; they lov'd one another exclusive of all others, at least fuch was the Pretence. The Baron ufed to call her his lovely Gipfy, and his lovely Gipfy used to call him the fe ducing Baron. But alas! what Faith is there in Man? This mufical Lover, at a Midnight Debauch, from one Excess to another (Women being introduced) got a Prefent which he imparted to the Military's Wife ; a Prefent not fo very creditable for a marry'd Woman to bestow upon her Husband. Soon as the Baron found the ill Symptoms, he fent to acquaint his Gipfy, who by good Fortune had not been fo bounteous to divide the Spoils with her Soldier. She wept!

The

fhe complained but Tears cure nothing! The Baron would have her make a Pretence to abfcond, where the might go under the Operation unknown. The Advice was good, the Lady fubmitted to it. Not doubting a Lover's Generofity, the had not took all the neceffary Precautions against a Deficiency of Funds; and therefore quickly found her Expences were what they could not answer. She fent a Friend to the Baron, who heard her reasonable Request for Supplies very coldly; at length pulling out his Purse, he tofs'd over a good parcel of Piftoles; and taking two, gave them the Ambaffadrefs to give her Lady; at the fame time defiring The would never do him the Honour to fend again upon fuch an Occafion; for when once an Affair came to that, the Pleasure of it was over with him.

See there, who enters! a certain Chevalier almost as much renowned for his Nicety, as his two Wives were for Gallantry, bating that his Fame is not quite fo extenfive. He is Mafter of a glaring Library, defign'd for Show; for I hear of no other Ufe he puts it to. The Glafs Doors are mounted upon Joints as neat as the beft wrought Snuff Box. Is it not an awkward out-of-theway Expence? If one were not bid to confider it (as he never omits to do that) who would remark the extraordinary, unneceffary Workmanfhip of thofe New-fashion'd Hinges ? He is more delicate than that Fop, who N made

made his Butcher cut up all his Meat with a Fork; for this, if it were poffible, wou'd cut up his himself; as he cleans his TeaEquipage with his own Hands. Whatever Bufinefs his Company may have, whatever Hafte they are in, they muft ftay till Monfieur le Chevalier has perform'd this Ceremony, the Things replaced, and as they were, with all imaginable Parade and De cency The Linnen that he makes use of to dry his Cups, are like large Handkerchiefs of Cambrick mounted with Flemish Lace, and always fent as they are used to the Clearftarchers. He has been long an Admirer of one of the Maids belonging to the Emprefs. But Monfieur le Chevalier, the is not for you, a lucky Warrior has her Heart; for him the refufes all thofe advantagious Offers that have been made her, fingular and renowned for Conftancy, in an Age where Intereft too often triumphs over Love. Your Divinities fhall fee this languishing Beauty waiting at her Miftrefs's Chair. You will alfo in feeing pity her, for having been To long delay'd the Poffeffion of the only Perfon fhe can love, and whom all muft conclude worthy of being beloved.

There's a handfome Atalantick Lord, with a Bundle of Papers in his Hand, as if the Affairs of the Nation refted only upon his Lordfhip, who as much affects being now too bufy, as he formerly did, being too remifs. There was no Flight that Youth, Wit,

Wine, Women, Fire and Love of Debauch, cou'd inspire, but what were confpicuous in his early Years. He has indeed reform'd, .but the Occafion is more wonderful than his Irregularity was. There's a certain Court Lady and her two Daughters, one of them very handfome; they pafs'd us fo fuddenly in the Prado laft Night, and ftaid fo fmall a time, that I know not how to direct your Excellencies to their Observation; You might have alfo feen this Baron, for that his Coach always follows theirs as if by Inftinct, ogling into it with all the Application of large handfome Eyes: One would think it were a very unneceffary Question to ask who it was he ogled, the frightful Mother, or her beautiful Daughters? And yet it is at the former. If there is fuch a Thing as Incantation, as Magick to bewitch the Affections, Ephelia has certainly made ufe of it in regard to the Baron, to cause him to doat, with fuch fupernatural Fervency, upon a Face hideous as hers. They tell you of her comick Wit, fatyrical facetious Vein, with a peculiar Knack of entertaining Company agreeably; that she fings well, is Coquet to the Height, and full of Amusement. But all thefe Attractives are foreign to a Woman of her Age! her fquab Shape! the Aspect from her Face! would rather create Mortification. I ridicule no Body for being ugly! I beg your Divinities to believe it, nor for any Defects. that

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