"
But here the curtain shall drop upon all the fairy sirens who lead
the young heart captive in their silken chains; and the _daughters of
pleasure_ and the _sons of profligacy_ may practise the mysteries of
Cytherea in private, undisturbed by the pen of the satirist or the
pencil of the humorist.
"The scandalizing group in close conference in the left-hand corner,
behind Lord William Lenox and another dashing ensign in the guards,
is composed," said Crony, "of Mrs. Nixon, the _ci-devant_ Mrs. Baring,
Nugent's old.flame, Mrs. Christopher Harrison, the two sisters,
Mesdames Gardner and Peters, and the well-known Kitty Stock, all
minor constellations, mostly on the decline, and hence full of envious
jealousy at the attention paid by the beaux to the more attractive
charms of the newly discovered planets, the younger sisterhood of
the convent." "If we could but get near enough to overhear their
conversation," said Transit, "we should, no doubt, obtain possession
of a few rich anecdotes of the Paphians and their paramours." "I have
already enough of the latter," said I, "to fill a dozen albums, without
descending to the meanness of becoming a listener. Amorous follies
are the least censurable of the sins of men, when they are confined to
professed courtezans. The heartless conduct of the systematic seducer
demands indignation; but the trifling peccadillos of the sons of fortune
and the stars of fashion may be passed by, without any serious personal
exposure, since _time, ~46~~cash, and constitution are the three
practising physicians_ who generally effect a radical cure, without
the aid of the satirist.
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