the greatest Number of Reputations. There is
a strange Curiosity in the female World to be acquainted with the dear
Man who has been loved by others, and to know what it is that makes
him so agreeable. His Reputation does more than half his Business.
Every one that is ambitious of being a Woman of Fashion, looks out for
Opportunities of being in his Company; so that to use the old Proverb,
When his Name is up he may lie a-Bed.

'I was very sensible of the great Advantage of being a Man of
Importance upon these Occasions on the Day of the King's Entry, when I
was seated in a Balcony behind a Cluster of very pretty Country
Ladies, who had one of these showy Gentlemen in the midst of them. The
first Trick I caught him at was bowing to several Persons of Quality
whom he did not know; nay, he had the Impudence to hem at a Blue
Garter who had a finer Equipage than ordinary, and seemed a little
concerned at the Impertinent Huzzas of the Mob, that hindered his
Friend from taking Notice of him. There was indeed one who pull'd off
his Hat to him, and upon the Ladies asking who it was, he told them,
it was a Foreign Minister that he had been very merry with the Night
before; whereas in Truth, it was the City Common Hunt.

'He was never at a Loss when he was asked any Person's Name, tho' he
seldom knew any one under a Peer. He found Dukes and Earls among the
Aldermen, very good-natured Fellows among the Privy-Counsellors, with
two or three agreeable old Rakes among the Bishops and Judges.

'In short, I collected from his whole Discourse, that he was
acquainted with every Body, and knew no Body. At the same Time, I am
mistaken if he did not that Day make more Advances in the Affections
of his Mistress, who sat near him, than he could have done in half a
Year's Courtship.

'_Ovid_ has finely touched this Method of making Love, which I shall
here give my Reader in Mr. _Dryden's_ Translation.

Page the Eleventh.

'Thus Love in Theatres did first improve,
And Theatres are still the Scene of Love:
Nor shun the Chariots, and the Coursers Race;
The Circus is no inconvenient Place.
Nor Need is there of talking on the Hand,
Nor Nods, nor Sighs, which Lovers understand;
But boldly next the Fair your Seat provide,
Close as you can to hers, and Side by Side:
Pleas'd or unpleas'd, no Matter; crowding sit;
For so the Laws of publick Shows