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Philot. Your mentioning Holland puts me in mind that there are no Beggars there; Is not this a very commendable Regulation?

Philal. Without all doubt: "Tis pi- . ty the Precedent is not follow'd.

Philot. What would you have done? Philal. I don't pretend to prescribe: But with fubmiffion, it might not be amifs, if Parishes in great Towns were carefully infpected, Vice and Neceffity better discover'd, and the Impotent diftinguish'd from the Lazy.

Philot. That the first might not have the Need, nor the other the Liberty of Begging.

Philal. Right: But as the Matter ftands, 'tis hard to discern Want from counterfeiting. The Cafe being thus perplex'd, and Cheats breaking fometimes out, the Marks of Poverty are fufpected, Compaffion grows cool, Charity is put to a stand, and many an honest poor Body is disappointed.

Philot. Yes: And fometimes we mistake our Man; Good Nature is abus'd, and the Money is spent upon Intemperance and Lewdnefs. But are we never to give any thing in the Streets, till we can clear the Merit, and demonstrate the Neceffity? Philal.

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Philal. I don't say fo: The charitable fide is always the best: Tenderness and Humanity are Virtues; and if a Beggar deceives me, 'tis at his own peril; I fhall be confider'd for my good Intention. Befides, crying out upon Imposture, and general Declamations against the Poor, are commonly the Language of the Lean Temper'd, and the Excufes of Covetousness.

Philot. Since you are fomewhat civil to the Beggars, how should an indigent Gentleman be treated?

Philal. I can't answer you without distinguishing upon the occafion of his Decay: If he has been reduced by his Vices, and funk under his Extravagance, I think he ought to be coldly receiv'd, and very little confider'd for his Condition; fince Poverty is his Fault, it fhould be his Punishment too. To carefs a difabled Libertine, is to encourage Disorder: And tho' Mifery is never to be infulted, yet fuch People deferve to fuffer, and be left to neglect in terrorem. To go to the bottom of Matters, Debauchery of it self is a degrading Misbe haviour: 'Tis living below the Pretences of Reason, and the Dignity of Humane Nature: And most of all, unbecoming a Man that has Privilege above

the

the Croud, and is particularly valued by the Government. For this Reason the Roman Cenfors us'd to difclaim the Debauch'd, and strike them out of the List of Quality.

Philot. I thought a Gentleman might have indulg'd a little more, and given his Fancy a Loose farther than other People.

Philal. You are strangely out: Heraldry is no Protection to Immorality. Perfons of Condition have no unlimited Range, no exemption from Duty, no peculiar License for Folly and Distraction: So far from this, that Diffolution of Manners is more criminal in fuch Perfons than in Peasants.

Philot. Why fo?

Philal. Because they are more indebted to God and the Government for their Distinction; because they miscarry under a better Education, and are more infectious in the Example.

Philot. What if a Gentleman is decay'd by Casualty or Confcience?

Philal. Then his Character should be confider'd, and treated with a distinguishing Regard. Then the Manner of doing him any Service, should be particularly fmooth and engaging.

Philot.

Philot. I'm of your mind; but fome People are strangely rough and unpolifh'd in their Kindness: There's fo much Haughtinefs and Ill-nature in the Manner, that they seem glad of an Opportunity to teaze you, and to throw the Civility at your Head; and if you happen to have too much Stomach to digeft the Affront, they are apt to grow warm and angry. In fhort, They hold a Cane in one Hand, and a Favour in t'other; so that you may be either cudgell'd, or oblig'd, as you think conve

nient.

Philal. I'm forry to hear any Body fhould fail fo far, as to offer unbeco ming Forms to People of Fashion, and use them unsuitably to their Condition. But I must bid you Adieu. Philot. Your Servant.

OFA

O F

WHOREDOM.

In a DIALOGUE

Between Erotion and Sophronistes.

Sophron.

U

Nder Favour, Erotion, you must not pass: What, go by your old Friend's Door, and neither call nor fpeak to him!

Erot. I ask your Excufe: I don't use to be fo negligent, but my Head is fomewhat full at present.

Sophron. What! Are you upon fome difficult Problem in Mathematicks? Are you trying to square the Circle?

Erot. No: I don't love to abftract my Fancy fo much: I trouble my felf with no Lines, excepting thofe in a good Face. To spare your farther Enquiry, I have an Intrigue upon the Anvil, and that you know requires Thought and Addrefs. Gallantry, to manage it nicely, is no fuch eafie Undertaking.

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