ingage the Ladies; if you succeed in your Addresses to Lady _Rodomont_,
from your good Fortune, all the Beaus will turn Traders, and instead of
Treats, Balls, and Serenades, we shall have Post Nights, Polices of
Insurance, Factors, Agents, and Correspondents to import Niceties for
their Mistresses.

_Col_. [_aside_] Ridiculous;----And d'you think a Lady of her Birth and
Estate wou'd Marry a City Merchant.

_Nick_. A City Merchant, _Collonel_,----We have Creatures, indeed, that
deal in Herrings from _Holland_, and Cod from _Newfoundland_; but there
are degrees in Merchandizing as well as other Professions. An Officer
o'the Guards is above a Captain o'the Train Bands; and, I hope, there's
difference between a Gentleman that Trades to the _Indies_, and Merchant
_Rag_ that sends old Cloaths to _Jamaica_; but why, _Collonel_, shou'd the
City be so much despis'd, that has so near an affinity to the Court; we
have sense to distinguish Men and Manners, Breeding to pay a Valiant
Prince homage, that ev'ry Year triumphs for his Country, and generosity to
entertain him, where many a hungry Courtier has been glad to sneak in for
a Dinner.

_Col._ [_aside_] The Fellow talks Reason, i'faith;--but prithee, Mr.
_Nicknack_, what Business can a Merchant have at this end o'the Town; for
a Man that's bred up in a Counting-House to pretend to Airs and Graces, is
as monstrously ridiculous, as a Play-House Orange-Wench with a Gold Watch
by her side.

_Nick._ Pardon me there _Collonel_; are Pleasure and Business
inconsistent, must ev'ry Citizen be a Drone, that crawls among Furr Gowns,
or a Cuckold that's preferr'd by the Common-Hall; pray tell me, what