Eight pairs of figures in quasi-elizabethan dress, arranged in two rows, their words etched above their heads (not transcribed in full). [1] two ladies in gothic chairs breakfast heartily on beef-steak and beer. [2] a stalwart man of fashion invites his still more burly companion to dine at twelve. The other answers: ". You get into fashionable hours consider i breakfasted at six. " [3] an aunt and niece, the latter wearing a large ruff, which she defends as being "all the fashion. My husband allows me a new suit a year. " [4] a stout couple walk arm in arm to church, accompanied by two tiny children. [5] two gossiping ladies walk together, one knitting, the other with a distaff; they condemn a woman on the scandalous ground that "she goes to bed with her door shut every night. " [6] two gentlemen play drafts, one limits his stake to a farthing a rubber, the other pleads for a halfpenny. [7] two others prepare to play quarter-staff for exercise: "the first broken head for a dobbin of ale. " [8] a couple sit over two tankards of ale, the man smoking, the lady mending her husband's breeches. He says: "i declare it is almost sun set it is time wife to think about going to bed. " she answers: "when you please my dear i have almost finish'd my work. " 16 february 1797
hand-coloured etching. Date: 1797. Dimensions: Height: 364 mm; Width: 489 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. Days of yore!! (BM 1867,0713.407)
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