vie my Sex, and
Lord it o'er Mankind, constrain my rambling Pleasures, check my Liberty
for an insipid Cooing sort of Life, which marry'd Fools think Heav'n, and
cheat each other.
_Col_. Are Love and Pleasure, Madam, so incongruous?--Methinks the very
name of Love exhilerates; meaner delights were meant but to persuade us,
Toys to provoke and heighten our desires, which Love confirms and Crowns
with mightier extasie.
L. _Rod._ Rather all Joys expire, where Love commences; when that deluding
Passion once takes root, we grow insensible, ill-bred, intolerable,
neglecting Dress and Air, and Conversation; to fondle an odd Wretch, that
caus'd our ruin: No, give me the outward Gallantries of Love, the Poetry,
the Balls, the Serenades, where I may Laugh and Toy, and humour Apish
Cringers, with secret Pride to raise my Sexes Envy, and lead pretending
Fops a Faiery Dance.
_Col._ My own Humour to a Hair! How I admire such generous sprightly
Virtue, your Reasoning, Madam, darts amazing brightness, 'where groveling
Souls want courage to think freely, ay, Liberty's the Source of all
Enjoyments, a nourishing Delight, innate and durable. I love the Harmony
of Foreign Courts; your downright _English_ Women are meer Mopes, sit
dumb like Clocks that speak but once an Hour, supinely Grave and
insolently Sullen, nor Smile but on good terms to Laugh, at us for Life:
But other Climates animate more warmly; Sexes alike are free, reciprocally
gay, and Pleasures are persu'd without Reflection, if Principle or Fear
refuse us Love; for I'm the tenderest of a Lady's Honour, the Fair One
still has tantalizing Charms, her tuneful Voice, her graceful, easie
Movement, her lively Converse, happy turn of Thought, Language polite,
keen Wit, fineness of Argument, but Marriage turns the Edge of all
Society.
L. _Rod._ Pray, _Collonel_, how long have you taken up this Resolution?
_Col_. I doat upon the Sex, admire their heav'nly Form, like beauteous
Temples built by sacred Hands, where their bright Souls as Deities
inhabit; but shou'd Love's Queen, Celestial _Citharea_, descend in all her
elegance of Beauty, the study'd Care of the officious Graces, with Wreaths
of Jewels glittering round her Temples, her flowing Locks dispos'd in
artful Circles, losely attir'd, and on a Down of Roses, with laughing
Cupids hov'ring round the Bed.--
L. _Rod_. But _Collonel_.
_Col_ A wondrous lovely Mien, kind melting Airs, soft snowy Breasts that
pant with am'r
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