Mean while, without you half our Season’s wasted. 
Before ’tis_ Lent sufficiently we’ve fasted. 
No matter how our Op’ra Folks did fare,
Too full a Stomach do’s the Voice impair.
Nay, you your selves lost by’t; for saunt’ring hither
You’re safe from all but Love, four Hours together. 
Some idle Sparks with dear damnd Stuff, call’d Wine,
Got drunk by Eight, and perhaps sows’d by Nine,
O’er Politicks and Smoke some rail’d some writ,
The Wiser yawn’d, or nodded o’er their Wit. 
O’er Scandal, Tea, Cards, or dull am’rous Papers,
The Ladies had the Spleen, the Beaux the Vapors. 
Some went among the Saints without Devotion;
Nay more, ‘tis fear’d went thro’ a wicked Motion. 
But the kind Female Traders well may boast,
When we’re shut up, their Doors are open’d most.

I dare engage, they, by the Vint’ners back’d,
Wou’d raise a Fund, so they alone might act. 
With them ‘tis ne’er Vacation, tho’ we lose,
The Courts shut up, they Chamber Practice use.

Since therefore without Plays, tho’ call’d a Curse,
The Good grow bad, the Bad grow worse and worse,
Show misled Zeal what Ills infest the Age,
And truly to reform, support the_ British Stage.

    Dramatis Personae.

MEN.

Sir Harry Sprightly.  Mr._Mills_.

Brigadier Blenheim, just return’d from the Army.  Mr._Wilks_

Mr. Nicknack, a Beau-Merchant.  Mr._Cibber_.

Major Bramble, a factious old Fellow.  Mr._Johnson._

Master Totty, a great Boy.  Mr._Bullock_.

Knapsack, an Attendant on the Collonel.  Mr._Pinkethman_.

Shrimp, Sir Harry’s Valet.  Mr._Norris_.

WOMEN.

Lady Rodomont.  Mrs._Oldfield_.

Lady Toss-up.  Mrs._Porter_.

Mrs. Lovejoy, Cousin to Lady Rodomont.  Mrs._Bradshaw_.

Mrs. Flimsy, Lady Toss-up’s Woman.  Mrs._Saunders_.

Orange-Woman. Mr. Pack.

Mercer, Manto-Maker, Sempstress, Toyman, India-Woman, and other Attendants.

SCENE LONDON.

In the Month of December.

THE
Fine Lady’s Airs: 
OR, AN
EQUIPAGE of LOVERS.

ACT I. SCENE I.

    Sir Harry discover’d dressing; and Shrimp attending.

Sir Har.  Where had you been last Night, you drunken Dog, that you cou’dn’t take care of me when I was drunk.

Shr.  I happen’d, Sir, to meet with some very honest Gentlemen, that have the Honour to wait upon other Gentlemen, where Wit and Humour brighten’d to that degree, we pass’d about the Glass, ’till we lost our Senses.