The Old Bachelor: A Comedy

[_To them_] SETTER.

Trusty Setter, what tidings? How goes the project?

Setter. As all lewd projects do, sir, where the devil prevents our endeavours with success.

Bell. A good hearing, Setter.

Vain. Well, I’ll leave you with your engineer.

Bell. And hast thou provided necessaries?

Setter. All, all, sir; the large sanctified hat, and the little precise band, with a swinging long spiritual cloak, to cover carnal knavery—not forgetting the black patch, which Tribulation Spintext wears, as I’m informed, upon one eye, as a penal mourning for the ogling offences of his youth; and some say, with that eye he first discovered the frailty of his wife.

Bell. Well, in this fanatic father’s habit will I confess Lætitia.

Setter. Rather prepare her for confession, sir, by helping her to sin.

Bell. Be at your master’s lodging in the evening; I shall use the robes.