a many Circles and
semi-Circles drawn upon it with Chalk, this he lays down upon the Table,
with a grim Countenance, and without speaking. You would say he was some
_Charon_. They that understand the Meaning of this lay down their Money
one after another till the Trencher is fill'd. Having taken Notice of
those who lay down, he reckons it up himself, and if all is paid, he
gives you a Nod.
_Will._ But what if there should be any Thing over and above?
_Bert._ Perhaps he'll give it you again, and they oftentimes do so.
_Will._ Does no Body find fault with the Reckoning?
_Bert._ No Body that is wise. For they will say, what Sort of a Fellow
are you? You pay no more than the rest.
_Will._ This is a frank Sort of Men, you are speaking of.
_Bert._ If any one is weary with his Journey, and desires to go to Bed
as soon as he has supp'd, he is bid to stay till the rest go too.
_Will._ This seems to me to be _Plato_'s City.
_Bert._ Then every one is shew'd to his Chamber, and truly 'tis nothing
else but a Chamber, there is only a Bed there, and nothing else that you
can either make Use of or steal.
_Will._ Are Things very clean there?
_Bert._ As clean as they were at the Table. Sheets wash'd perhaps six
Months ago.
_Will._ What becomes of your Horses all this While?
_Bert._ They are treated after the Manner that the Men are.
_Will._ But is there the same Treatment every where.
_Bert._ It is a little more civil in some Places, and worse in others,
than I have told you; but in general it is thus.
_Will._ What if I should now tell you how they treat their Guests in
that Part of _Italy_ call'd _Lombardy_, and in _Spain_, and in
_England_, and in _Wales_, for the _English_ have the Manners both of
the _French_ and the _Germans_, being a Mixture of those two Nations.
The _Welsh_ boast themselves to be the original _English_.
_Bert._ Pray relate it. I never had the Opportunity of travelling in
them.
_Will._ I have not Leisure now, and the Master of the Ship bid me be on
board by three a Clock, unless I would lose my Passage. Another Time we
shall have an Opportunity of prating our Bellies full.
_The YOUNG MAN and HARLOT._
The ARGUMENT.
_This is certainly a divine Colloquy, that makes even a
Bawdy-House a chaste Place! God can't be deceiv'd, his
Eyes penetrate into the most secret Places. That young
Persons ought in an especial Manner to take Care of their
Cha
|