Page:Manners and customs of ye Englyshe.djvu/33



O, where my Wife and I were invited to Tea and a little Muſique, but we had much Muſique and little Tea, though the Muſique was like the Tea in Quality, and I do prefer a ſtronger Kind of Muſique as well as Liquor. Yet it was pleating enough to the Far to hear the Faſhionable Ballads, and the Airs from all the New Italian Operas ſung by the young Ladies; which, though they expreſſed Nothing but common-place Love and Sentiment, yet were a pretty Sing-Song. But to ſee the young Fellows whilſt a Beauty was ſinging crowd round her, and bend over her Shoulders, and almoſt scramble to turn over the Leaves of her Muſique Book! Beſides the Singing, there was Playing of the Piano Forte, with the Accompaniment of a Fiddle and Baſs Violl, the Piano being played by a ſtout fat Lady with a Dumpling Face; but for all her being ſo fat it did amaze me to ſee how nimbly she did fillip the Keys. They did call this Piece a Concerto, and I was told it was mighty brilliant; but when I aſked what Fancy, Paſſion, or Deſcription there was in it, no one could tell; and I verily thought the Brilliancy like that of a Parte Buckle. It had not even an Air to carry away and whittle, and would have pleaſed me juſt as well if I had ſtopped my Ears, for I could discern Nothing in it but Muſical Sleight of Hand. But good Lack! to think how, in theſe Days,