Thus Bawds with Wives of Citizens gets in, And then keeps up a Publick House of Sin: And whilst men do maintain their Wives so high Their lusts are more than they can satisfie.

* * * * *

CHAP.  IX.

    How a Gentleman that fell in Love with another Mans Wife, through the
    Advice of a Bawd enjoy’d her, and upon what Terms, and what happen’d
    thereupon.

An Amorous Spark having observed a very fine Woman sitting in a Goldsmiths Shop behind the Counter, was so much taken with her, that nothing wou’d serve him but enjoying her; which yet he was altogether at a Loss how to accomplish, having no manner of Acquaintance either with her or her Husband.  In this hopeless condition he goes to a Bawd, who had several times assisted him in his Love Intreagues, and tells her at what a non-plus he was how to accomplish his Design:  The Bawd at first persuades him off of her, and promises to help him to one that shall not only equal but surpass her:  But all that was in vain, for nothing wou’d Satify but, only this very Person.  Well, says this Mistress in the Mystery of Iniquity, I’ll tell you how you shall obtain your Purpose, if you are resolv’d to pursue it:  Do but that, says he, and you’ll oblige me for ever,—­Well then, says she, you must take an opportunity to go into the Shop when she’s there, and buy some little Trifle or other of her, or her Husband, and repeat this so often, buying sometimes one thing, and sometimes another, till by degrees you have brought your self acquainted with her and her Husband, and in so doing, you cann’t miss of an opportunity to sound her Inclinations:  If Pleasure has the Ascendant over her, you’ll gain your Point the sooner; but if money be the Idol she adores, you must attack her with Gifts, and making Presents to her, and you cannot fail of Prevailing:  The Gentleman lik’d her counsel very well, and was resolv’d to take it:  And accordingly took an opportunity to buy a Silver Snush-Box; and having before bought some fine French Walnuts, he presented his Mistress with some, and by cracking of them, had an opportunity to tarry longer in the Shop, and gaze more on that Beauty which had already overcome him.  In two or three days after, he comes again and buys half a dozen Silver Spoons and Forks, and then brought some peaches to his Mistress and presents her with them; and a Week after buys some other odd things; and still brought something or other which he presented to his Mistress; who always look’d upon it as the Effect of his good-nature, and Affable Temper, and had no apprehension of his being her humble Servant.  After he had drove this Trade of being a constant Customer to the Shop for several Weeks together, and had made no farther progress of his Amours save to be look’d on as a Friend and Acquaintance, and once or twice invited to Dinner; at one of which times her Husband was call’d down into the Shop, to a Customer; in which Interim, he took an opportunity to acquaint her somewhat darkly with his Passion, which she either did not, or wou’d not understand; So that he begun almost to Despair, and complain’d to the Bawd how much charge he had been at, and what little likelihood there was of attaining his end.