Epilogue
Spoken by Flirt
The ladies first I am to compliment,
Whom (if he could) the poet would content,
But to their pleasure then they must consent;
Most spoil their sport still by their modesty,
And when they should be pleased, cry out, “O fy!”
And the least smutty jest will ne’er pass by.
But city damsel ne’er had confidence
At smutty play to take the least offence,
But mercy shows, to show her innocence,
Yet lest the merchants’ daughters should to-day
Be scandalised, not at our harmless play,
But our Hippolita, since she’s like one
Of us bold flirts of t’other end o’ th’ town;
Our poet sending to you (though unknown)
His best respects by me, does frankly own
The character to be unnatural;
Hippolita is not like you at all:
You, while your lovers court you, still look grum,
And far from wooing, when they woo, cry mum;
And if some of you e’er were stol’n away,
Your portion’s fault ’twas only, I dare say.
Thus much for him the poet bid me speak;
Now to the men I my own mind will break.
You good men o’ th’ Exchange, on whom alone
We must depend, when sparks to sea are gone;
Into the pit already you are come,
’Tis but a step more to our tiring-room;
Where none of us but will be wondrous sweet
Upon an able love of Lombard-street.
You we had rather see between our scenes,
Than spendthrift fops with better clothes and miens;
Instead of laced coats, belts, and pantaloons,
Your velvet jumps,68 gold chains, and grave fur gowns,
Instead of periwigs, and broad cocked hats,
Your satin caps, small cuffs, and vast cravats.
For you are fair and square in all your dealings,
You never cheat your doxies with gilt shillings;
You ne’er will break our windows; then you are
Fit to make love, while our huzzas make war;
And since all gentlemen must pack to sea,
Our gallants and our judges you must be!
We, therefore, and our poet, do submit,
To all the camlet cloaks now i’ the pit.