| Citation |
BG.748.001
19 Jan 1748:11,12,21 (1445)
[Allegorical essay:] The prevalence of Luxury, with a
Burgo-master's excellent Admonitions against it. [2d full
para.:]
Honestum Utile and Jucundum undertook to keep house
together, Honestum was to govern all, Utile to provide all,
and Jucundum to dress and prepare for all. They had a very
great household, yet maintain'd their charge, relieved the
poor, and laid up some what for posterity. All things went
sweetly on while Chearfulness was the cook, Thrift the
caterer, and Honesty the steward. if any of the family was
disorder'd, Honesty reform'd them; if any malancholy,
Jucundum reviv'd and chear'd them. But,a after a while,
this Jucundum getting a little a-head, begins to carry mirth
into extravagance, and falls out with Utile, under pretence
of being reduced to short allowance: She had invited a
number of fidlers, merry fellows, dancers, &c. and demanded
that extraordinary chear should be provided for them. This
Utile utterly refused, as trespassing upon articles;
Jucundum was positive, and, the quarrel growing hot,
Honestum was call'd to moderate the matter; but, before she
could make her appearance, the rabble burst in, took
Jucundum's part, snatch'd the keys out of Utile's hand,
ransack'd the coffers, exhausted the treasury, turn'd
Honesty and Thift out of doors, sung, danced, drank, and
threw the house, at 'tis said, out o' windows. Thus the
family broke up; for just as Honestum and Utile went out,
Beggary came in; only the two first erected a new house, and
repaired their estates; to whom, not long after, Jucundum
came a begging,, but never could be admitted as one of the
family any more; she was, however, sent for on holidays to
make them merry, and in return, was maintain'd out of their
alms.
|