Читать книгу Love at a Venture - Susanna Centlivre - Страница 3

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THE PROLOGUE.

Lest any here shou'd blame our Author's Toil, For strolling with her Brat a Hundred Mile, By me to such, She does this Reason give, Seeing how many Men by Ventures live. She straight embark'd, and hoisted Sail to try, What pure good Nature in these Bottoms lye. Beside, she hop'd, she might divert you too, By adding to your Pleasures something new. The Virtue of these Baths had ne're been known, If o're these Hills, no Man had ventur'd down.
Here Doctors Venturing, come in Hopes of Fees,	}
And Patients Venture, on their Skill for Ease,	}
For Wealth, the Merchant Ventures on the Seas.	}
The Lawyer Ventures upon any Cause, The Venturing Client's beggar'd by the Laws.
The Lover Ventures, to Address the Fair,	}
With broken Speeches, and dejected Air,	}
She runs a Venture, who relieves his Care.	}
The Gamester Ventures, to improve his Store, And having lost, he Ventures on for more. The London Punk, in Garret shut all Day, At Night, with last Half-crown she Ventures to the Play. The Amorous Cully meeting with the Miss, Ventures at Water-Gruel for a Kiss. Since every Man, Adventures in his Way, Hither our Author Ventur'd with her Play. And hopes her Profits will her Charge defray, If that bright Circle Ventures to adorn her Day.

THE EPILOGUE

Table of Contents

Spoken by Miss Jacobella Power.

In Spight of dull insipid Rules, I'm come To learn what Fate attends my Virgin Bloom. Strange Things I've heard this Night, that makes me fear, Least I shou'd find such Entertainment here. You Men are grown so witty in Deceit, That We, poor Girls, are often ruin'd by't. 'Tis Pity——but I hope to cross this Play, And be reveng'd on you some other Way. Well——but consider, We are tender Things, That Innocence, and sprightly Beauty brings. Soft Accents, broken Words, and yielding Air, Are all the Weapons, that attend the Fair. And can you long resist, the sweet Temptation, Give us at least a Bill of Reformation. That the succeeding Age may say of you, You dare be Civil, tho' you can't be true. But if at last no Charms have Power to win ye, You're past Repentance——or the Devil's in ye.

[Runs off.

Dramatis Personæ.

Table of Contents

MEN.

Belair, a Gentleman just come from Travel, an Airy Spark. Sir William Freelove, Friend to Belair, in Love with Beliza. Sir Thomas Belair, Father to Belair. Sir Paul Cautious, a Whimsical, Desponding, Old Fellow. Ned Freelove, younger Brother to Sir William. Wou'dbe, a Silly, Projecting Coxcomb. Positive, Father to Camilla. Robin, Servant to Belair.

WOMEN.

Lady Cautious, Wife to Sir Paul, and Sister to Sir William. Beliza. Camilla, Cousin to Beliza, a great Fortune. Patch, Maid to Beliza. Flora, Maid to Camilla.

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