( 22 )
Sir J. Aery. Do not you know, Geddemme, that let a Person be never so much an Angel before Enjoyment, she is the Devil afterwards?
Ang. Perhaps, by the continual presence of the Person, by considering her deliberately, and examining her in all Lights, we find many things wanting to our first Expectation. Perhaps a quiet and peaceable Enjoyment of any thing makes it the less valued: Or it may, be, by a frequent and customary Commerce, the Pleasures of the Sence lose their quickness and vivacity.
Vaun. Women are Riddles, Geddemme, past all expounding.
Ang. To day they are one thing.
Sir J. Aery. To morrow another.
Vaun. Constant to nothing.
Ang. A Compound of Whimsies, toss'd to and fro by as many Humours, as the Ocean by Winds.
Sir J. Aery. Geddemme, there is no Woman's mind, but is past a Man's understanding.
Vaun. There is no being certain of what is always uncertain, beged.
Ang. And in a Country full of Precipices, who but Mad-men will leap blindfold? In a word, I can imagine no such lively Emblem of Marriage, as the Punishment for Parricides among the Ancients; where the offender was low'd into a Bag with a Monkey, a Dog, and a Serpent; these three Companions truly represent the Character of a Wife; who is an eternal Chatterer, and full of tricks like a Monkey; or howling and snarling like a Dog; or with a forked Tongue and invenom'd Teeth, Ringing and biting like a Serpent.
Sir J. Aery. But perhaps the poor Dog has a mind to a Son and Heir, and to see himself growing up in a little Monkey-fac'd Representative; but, hark ye, my dear Friend Bell. take this saying of the Poet's along with you, and treasure it up;
To get a wise Successor, strives;
But one, and he a Fool, survives. Geddemme.
Bell.
