_The Toyman's return._
The Toyman returned, and presented the ladies with two muzzles of the
best sort.----"Ah! mercy!" cried Zelida. "What enormous muzzles are
these! And who are the unhappy women, whom these will fit? This is an
ell long. Indeed, friend, you must certainly have taken measure by the
Sultan's mare."----"Yes," said Sophia indolently, after having measured
them with her fingers, "you are in the right; and there is but the
Sultan's mare and old Rimosa, for whom these can do."----"I protest,
ladies, that they are of the common size; and that Zelmaida, Zyrphila,
Amiana, and a hundred other ladies, have of the same sort." "That
is impossible," said Zelida.----"'Tis actually so however," replied
Frenicol: "but they all said the same thing as ye have: and as they
have, so may you undeceive yourselves by trying them on." "Mr. Frenicol
may say what he will; but he shall never perswade me that this will fit
me," said Zelida, "nor this me," said Sophia. "Let him shew us others,
if he has any."
Frenicol, who had often experienced that women are not to be converted
on that article, shew'd them muzzles for the age of thirteen. "Well,"
cried both at the same time, "these are such as we want." "I wish
they may prove so," whisper'd Frenicol aside. "How do you sell
them?" said Zelida. "But ten ducats a piece, madam."----"Ten ducats,
you forget yourself, Frenicol."----"Madam, that is the price in
conscience."----"You make us pay for the novelty."----"I protest,
ladies, 'tis but two sixpences for a shilling." "I must own they are
neatly made, but ten ducats are a great deal of money."----"I'll abate
nothing."----"We will go to Eolipila's."----"You may, ladies: but there
are workmen and workmen, muzzles and muzzles." Frenicol held firm, and
Zelida came to. She paid for the two muzzles, and the Toyman went back,
fully perswaded that they would be too little for them, and would soon
be returned on his hands for a fourth part of the price he received
for them. He was mistaken. Mangogul not happening to come within reach
of turning his ring on those two women, their Toys were not seized
with the humor of talking louder than ordinary; and happily for them:
for Zelida having tried her muzzle, found it too little by one half.
However, she did not part with it, fancying that it would be pretty
near as inconvenient to change it, as not to make use of it at all.
These circumstances came to light from one of her women, who told them
in confidence to her lover, who related them in confidence to others,
who spread them all over Banza under the seal of secresy. Nor was
Frenicol silent: the adventure of the devouts became public, and for
sometime afforded employment to the calumniators of Congo.
Zelida became inconsolable upon it. This woman, more to be pitied than
blamed, conceived an aversion for her Bramin, quitted her husband, and
shut herself up in a convent. As for Sophia, she threw off the mask,
despised censures, patch'd and painted, frequented public places, and
had adventures.