Suit, }
And in Frize Jerkin after Beagles toot, }
Or in Mountero Caps at Fel-fares shoot: }
Nay, some are so obdurate in their Sin,
That they swear never to come up again;
But all their charge of Clothes and Treat retrench.
To Gloves and Stockings for some Country-Wench.
Even they who in the Summer had Mishaps,
Send up to Town for Physick, for their Claps.
The Ladies too, are as resolv'd as they, }
And having Debts unknown to them, they stay, }
And with the gain of Cheese and Poultry pay. }
Even in their Visits, they from Banquets fall,
To entertain with Nuts and Bottle-Ale;
And in Discourse with secrecy report
Stale News that past a Twelve-month since at Court.
Those of them who are most refin'd and gay,
Now learn the Songs of the last Summer's Play:
While the young Daughter does in private mourn
Her Love's in Town, and hopes not to return.
These Country-Grievances too great appear;
But, cruel Ladies, we have greater here;
You come not sharp, as you were wont, to Plays;
But only on the first and second Days:
This made our Poet in his Visits look
What new strange Courses for your Time you took;
And to his great regret he found too soon,
_Basset_ and _Ombre_ spent the Afternoon:
So that we cannot hope to see you here
Before the little Net-work Purse be clear.
Suppose you should have luck:--
Yet sitting up so late as I am told,
You'll lose in Beauty what you win in Gold;
And what each Lady of another says,
Will make you new Lampoons, and us new Plays.

* * * * *
* * * *

NOTES: The Widow Ranter

[Transcriber's Note:

The Notes in the printed text give only page and line numbers.
Act-and-scene designations shown between +marks+ have been added by
the transcriber. Labels such as "Scene IIa" refer to points where the
scene description changes without a new scene number.]

NOTES ON THE TEXT.

+Dedication+

p. 221, l. 1 _To the much Honoured._ This Dedicatory Epistle is only
found in the 4to 1690.

+Prologue+

p. 223, l. 13 _Cruse._ Misprinted 'Cause' in 4to 1690 and in 1724.
_The True Widow_ (4to 1679), and the edition of 1720 (Shadwell's
collected works) give 'Cruse.' All editions of Dryden until Christie
misread 'Cause'.

p. 223, l. 16 _Poll._ 4to 1690 _Pole_. 1724 _Pool_. _The True Widow_
(4to 1679) and edition of 1720 both give 'Poll'.

+Drama