Page:History of the Haverel wives, or, The folly of witless women displayed (2).pdf/21



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taverns roar like Etna's mouth; children follow their gaming, and old sinners their strolling about, nothing stopt but coal-carts and common carriers, the Sabbath lasts no longer than the sermon, and the sermon is measured by a little sand in a glass; many, too many frequent the church, seemingly only to show their antic dress, with heads of a monstruous form, more surprizing than those described by Aristotle, as for length exceeding that of an asses head, ears and all; and ah! How humbling would it be, to see their heads struck into such a hideous form, &c. They disdain now to ride on pads as of old, or to be hobled on a horse's hurdies, but must be hurled behind the tail, safely stated in a leathern conveniency, and there they fly swiftly as in the chariot of Aminadab. They will not speak the mother language of their native country, but must have southern oaths, refined like raw sugar thro' the mills of cursing, finely polished, and fairly struch in the profane mint of London, into a perfect form of flunkey language; even the very wild Arabs from the mountain-tops, who have not yet got English to profane his Maker's name, will cry, Cot, cot; hateful it is to hear them swear, who cannot speak. O! strange alteration since the days of old! the downfal of Popery, and the Prelates' decay, when reformation was alive, and religion in taste and fashion; the people during the Sabbath, were all packed up in closets, and their