Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar01000
Lord Mel . No , indeed ! A bow from Lord Gauze , a smile from Lord Flimsy , or a complimentfrom Sir Gossamer Bagatelle ^ effaces the names of Rembrandt , Corregio , and Vandyke ! Lady B . However , we play with the catalogue , and we stare at the pictures . And I have heard it observed , that in the two late celebrated sales , the love of vertu made the ladies gaze at some pictures from
which their grand-mamas would have turned away . Sir P . Plin . Indeed ! Lady B . But then , I will say for the ladies , that they stole a glance at these pictures through the medium of their long veils , which you know transmits a kind of drapery to the paintings ! But to proceed , I am under the obligation , sometimes , of getting up in the middle
of the night , to be in readiness to go to a new play , and , with all my precaution , I never can get there before the middle of the second act . Sir P . Plin . That is very unlucky . Lady B . Not in the least ; for I never listen to the play . Sir P . Plin . But does not your talking loud in the first row disturb the audience t ' Lady B . I never occupy the first row ; I place the old ladies in
the lirst and second row , they having nothing to do ( poor things } but to listen to the play ; and then I sic snug on the last form , which we call among ourselves , Tattle-row , and then , perhaps , I am seated between Sir Voluble Prattle , and Colonel Easjr , and we three converse and titter c la sourdine , the whole evening : but I ' m afraid I grow dull . Sir P . Plin . Quite the reverseI assure I lad
, you ; presume your yship pays more attention to the opera ; the softness ofthe Italian language has something enchanting to a delicate ear . Lady B . 1 know nothing of the Italian language , there is no attaining the knowledge of it without passing through the perplexing , jumbling , cross-roads of a grammar ; that would shake my intellects to pieces .
Sir P . Plin . Still the music may flatter the . ear , though you do not comprehend the words . LadyB . I comprehend the music as little as I do the words . Sir P . Plin . It is , then , the dancing { conclude deli ghts you Lady B . No ; the dancing does not particularl y interest me ; in- ' deed 1 cannot see the dancing in my box , for I generally sit with my back to the stage . Sir P . Plin . As neither the music , nor the dancing , has any allurement , I suppose your ladyship seldom or never goes to the
opera . Lady B . I ask your pardon , Sir Pepper , I never omit an opera . Sir P . Plin . What then can be the attraction ? I reall y see nothing to entice you . Lady B . Is it nothing , Sir Pepper , to lean half out of one ' s box ; with the head inclined to give the easy feather a more graceful play ? which looks meteor in the airand '
a waving ; which , as the poet says , " Allures attention from the tuneful scene ; " Gives fops the flutter , and old maids the spleen . " VOL . V . X
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Ar01000
Lord Mel . No , indeed ! A bow from Lord Gauze , a smile from Lord Flimsy , or a complimentfrom Sir Gossamer Bagatelle ^ effaces the names of Rembrandt , Corregio , and Vandyke ! Lady B . However , we play with the catalogue , and we stare at the pictures . And I have heard it observed , that in the two late celebrated sales , the love of vertu made the ladies gaze at some pictures from
which their grand-mamas would have turned away . Sir P . Plin . Indeed ! Lady B . But then , I will say for the ladies , that they stole a glance at these pictures through the medium of their long veils , which you know transmits a kind of drapery to the paintings ! But to proceed , I am under the obligation , sometimes , of getting up in the middle
of the night , to be in readiness to go to a new play , and , with all my precaution , I never can get there before the middle of the second act . Sir P . Plin . That is very unlucky . Lady B . Not in the least ; for I never listen to the play . Sir P . Plin . But does not your talking loud in the first row disturb the audience t ' Lady B . I never occupy the first row ; I place the old ladies in
the lirst and second row , they having nothing to do ( poor things } but to listen to the play ; and then I sic snug on the last form , which we call among ourselves , Tattle-row , and then , perhaps , I am seated between Sir Voluble Prattle , and Colonel Easjr , and we three converse and titter c la sourdine , the whole evening : but I ' m afraid I grow dull . Sir P . Plin . Quite the reverseI assure I lad
, you ; presume your yship pays more attention to the opera ; the softness ofthe Italian language has something enchanting to a delicate ear . Lady B . 1 know nothing of the Italian language , there is no attaining the knowledge of it without passing through the perplexing , jumbling , cross-roads of a grammar ; that would shake my intellects to pieces .
Sir P . Plin . Still the music may flatter the . ear , though you do not comprehend the words . LadyB . I comprehend the music as little as I do the words . Sir P . Plin . It is , then , the dancing { conclude deli ghts you Lady B . No ; the dancing does not particularl y interest me ; in- ' deed 1 cannot see the dancing in my box , for I generally sit with my back to the stage . Sir P . Plin . As neither the music , nor the dancing , has any allurement , I suppose your ladyship seldom or never goes to the
opera . Lady B . I ask your pardon , Sir Pepper , I never omit an opera . Sir P . Plin . What then can be the attraction ? I reall y see nothing to entice you . Lady B . Is it nothing , Sir Pepper , to lean half out of one ' s box ; with the head inclined to give the easy feather a more graceful play ? which looks meteor in the airand '
a waving ; which , as the poet says , " Allures attention from the tuneful scene ; " Gives fops the flutter , and old maids the spleen . " VOL . V . X