"My lady knows t' a tittle what there's in ye; / No passing your gilt shilling for a guinea."
— Dryden, John (1631-1700)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Jacob Tonson
Date
1684
Metaphor
"My lady knows t' a tittle what there's in ye; / No passing your gilt shilling for a guinea."
Metaphor in Context
Next, in the playhouse, spare your precious lives;
Think, like good Christians, on your bearns and wives:
Think on your souls; but, by your lugging forth,
It seems you know how little they are worth.
If none of these will move the warlike mind,
Think on the helpless whore you leave behind.
We beg you, last, our scene-room to forbear,
And leave our goods and chattels to our care.
Alas! our women are but washy toys,
And wholly taken up in stage employs:
Poor willing tits they are; but yet, I doubt,
This double duty soon will wear them out.
Then you are watched besides with jealous care;
What if my lady's page should find you there?
My lady knows t' a tittle what there's in ye;
No passing your gilt shilling for a guinea.
Think, like good Christians, on your bearns and wives:
Think on your souls; but, by your lugging forth,
It seems you know how little they are worth.
If none of these will move the warlike mind,
Think on the helpless whore you leave behind.
We beg you, last, our scene-room to forbear,
And leave our goods and chattels to our care.
Alas! our women are but washy toys,
And wholly taken up in stage employs:
Poor willing tits they are; but yet, I doubt,
This double duty soon will wear them out.
Then you are watched besides with jealous care;
What if my lady's page should find you there?
My lady knows t' a tittle what there's in ye;
No passing your gilt shilling for a guinea.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "gilt shilling" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
Dryden, John. The Works of John Dryden.
2nd ed. Vol. 10 of 18. London: Printed for A. Constable, 1821. p. 399. <Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
02/22/2009
