Page:A Treatise concerning the Use and Abuse of the Marriage Bed.djvu/257

 ject with him very freely, and it occasioned the following short Discourse, according to the old English Custom, which Foreigners laugh at us for, and which we have little to say; for their Salutes were Jack and Tom, though Men in Years, and Men of Figure, one almost an Alderman.

Tom, his grave Friend, to Jack, Pr'ythee, Jack, what's all this I hear of you? Why, you make all your Friends blush for you.

Jack. Blush for me! What do you mean? I don't blush for my self, what need they blush for me?

Tom. Why, you run to every Hole and Corner, to every Church and Meeting-house, Ball, and Assembly, a Wife-hunting, and, as they say, a Fortune-hunting too; that's worse.

Jack. Nay, that's false too; I have indeed talk'd of marrying, but not like that neither.

Tom. But, what need you talk so much of it? There are Women enough; 'tis but Ask and Have, Pick and Choose; the Market's on our Side; you know the Ladies have the worst of it. You may have a Wife any where.

Jack. I don't find it so, I assure you.

Tom. Why so it should seem; but how can that be, Jack? A Man in your Circumstances can't want a Wife.

Jack. Not such good Circumstances neither. Han't I got a House full of Children?

Tom. Well, and what then? And an't you reckoned a Ten thousand Pound Man, an Alderman's Fellow?