I'm asham'd to repeat what he said in the Sequel,
Aspersions so cruel as nothing can equal!
I declare I am shock'd such a Fellow should vex,
And spread all these Lyes of the innocent Sex,
For whom, while I live, I will make Protestation
I've the highest Esteem and profound Veneration;
I never so strange an Opinion will harbour,
That they buy all the Hair they have got of a Barber:
Nor ever believe that such beautiful Creatures
Can have any Delight in abusing their Features.
One Thing tho' I wonder at much, I confess, is
Th'Appearance they make in their different Dresses,
For indeed they look very much like Apparitions
When they come in the Morning to hear the Musicians,
And some I am apt to mistake, at first Sight,
For the Mothers of those I have seen over Night;
It shocks me to see them look paler than Ashes,
And as dead in the Eye as the Busto of NASH is,
Who the Ev'ning before were so blooming and plump:
— I'm griev'd to the Heart when I go to the Pump;
For I take ev'ry Morning a Sup at the Water,
Just to hear what is passing, and see what they're a'ter:
For I'm told, the Discourses of Persons refin'd
Are better than Books for improving the Mind:
But a great deal of Judgment's requir'd in the skimming
The polite Conversation of sensible Women,
For they come to the Pump, as before I was saying,
And talk all at once, while the Music is playing:
"Your Servant, Miss FITCHET," "good Morning, Miss STOTE,
" My dear Lady RIGGLEDUM, how is your Throat?
"Your Ladyship knows that I sent you a Scrawl,
" Last Night to attend at your Ladyship's Call,
"But I hear that your Ladyship went to the Ball."
"— Oh FITCHET — don't ask me — good Heavens preserve,
" I wish there was no such a Thing as a Nerve;
"Half dead all the Night I protest and declare —
" My dear little FITCHET, who dresses your Hair? —
"You'll come to the Rooms, all the World will be there.
" Sir TOBY MAC'NEGUS is going to settle
"His Tea-drinking Night with Sir PHILIP O'KETTLE."
"I hear that they both have appointed the same;
" The Majority think that Sir PHILIP's to blame;
"I hope they won't quarrel, they're both in a Flame:
" Sir TOBY MAC'NEGUS much Spirit has got,
"And Sir PHILIP O'KETTLE is apt to be hot. —"
"Have you read the  that ridiculous Poem?
" What a scurrilous Author! does nobody know him? "
" Young BILLY PENWAGGLE, and SIMIUS CHATTER,
"Declare 'tis an ill-natur'd half-witted Satire."
"You know I'm engag'd, my dear Creature, with you,
" And Mrs. PAMTICKLE, this Morning at Loo;
"Poor Thing! though she hobbled last Night to the Ball,
" To-Day she's so lame that she hardly can crawl;
"Major LIGNUM has trod on the first Joint of her Toe —
" — That Thing they play'd last was a charming Concerto;
"I don't recollect I have heard it before;
" The Minuet's good, but the Jig I adore;
"Pray speak to Sir TOBY to cry out, "