wonderfully turned for ambition, being never apparently transported either with affection or malice.  Thus, while Florimel is talking in public, and spreading her graces in assemblies, to gain a popular dominion over our diversions, Prudentia visits very cunningly all the lame, the splenetic, and the superannuated, who have their distinct classes of followers and friends.  Among these, she has found that some body has sent down printed certificates of Florimel’s age, which she has read and distributed to this unjoyful set of people, who are always enemies to those in possession of the good opinion of the company.  This unprovoked injury done by Prudentia, was the first occasion of our fatal divisions here, and a declaration of war between these rivals.  Florimel has abundance of wit, which she has lavished in decrying Prudentia, and giving defiance to her little arts.  For an instance of her superior power, she bespoke the play of ’Alexander the Great,’[210] to be acted by the company of strollers, and desired us all to be there on Thursday last.  When she spoke to me to come, ‘As you are,’ said she, ’a lover, you will not fail the death of Alexander:  the passion of love is wonderfully hit—­Statira!  Oh that happy woman—­to have a conqueror at her feet—­but you will be sure to be there.’  I, and several others, resolved to be of her party.  But see the irresistible strength of that unsuspected creature, a silent woman.  Prudentia had counterplotted us, and had bespoke on the same evening the puppet-show of ’The Creation of the World.’[211] She had engaged everybody to be there, and, to turn our leader into ridicule, had secretly let them know, that the puppet Eve was made the most like Florimel that ever was seen.  On Thursday morning the puppet-drummer, Adam and Eve, and several others who lived before the Flood, passed through the streets on horseback, to invite us all to the pastime, and the representation of such things as we all knew to be true; and Mr. Mayor was so wise as to prefer these innocent people the puppets, who, he said, were to represent Christians, before the wicked players, who were to show Alexander, a heathen philosopher.  To be short, this Prudentia had so laid it, that at ten of the clock footmen were sent to take places at the puppet-show, and all we of Florimel’s party were to be out of fashion, or desert her.  We chose the latter.  All the world crowded to Prudentia’s house, because it was given out, nobody could get in.  When we came to Noah’s flood in the show, Punch and his wife were introduced dancing in the Ark.  An honest plain friend of Florimel’s, but a critic withal, rose up in the midst of the representation, and made many very good exceptions to the drama itself, and told us, that it was against all morality, as well as rules of the stage, that Punch should be in jest in the Deluge, or indeed that he should appear at all.  This was certainly a just remark, and I thought to second him; but he was hissed by Prudentia’s party;