Dutch Furniture under French and Oriental Influence

And since that mighty giant's reign
Whose chiefest aim was private gain,
This trade was drove on by such measures
As soon exhausted much our treasures ;
For then our chiefest artists went
With patterns, and with money sent,
To make and purchase Indian ware,
For which this nation pays full dear.
Then by great gifts of finest touches
To lords and ladies, dukes and duchess,
So far prevailed as set the fashion
Which, plague-like, soon spread o'er the nation.
Our ladies all were set a gadding,
After these toys they ran a madding ;
And nothing then would please their fancies,
Nor Dolls, nor Joans, nor wanton Nancies
Unless it was of Indians' making ;
And if 'twas so, 'twas wondrous taking.
This antick humour so prevailed,
Tho' many 'gainst it greatly railed,
'Mongst all degrees of female kind
That nothing else could please their mind.
Tell 'em the following of such fashion
Wou'd beggar and undo the nation
And ruin all our labouring poor
That must or starve, or beg at door,
They'd not at all regard your story,
But in their painted garments glory ;
And such as were not Indian proof
They scorn'd, despised, as paltry stuff;
And like gay peacocks proudly strut it,
When in our streets along they foot it.

8 * *
And happy thrice would England be,
If, while they're living, we could see
Our noble ladies but beginning
To wear our wool of finest spinning,
Or in such silks our workmen make,
For which our merchants cloth to take ;
Which soon would bring them in such fashion
As they'd be worn throughout this nation,
By all degrees, and sex, and ages,
From highest peers to lowest pages ;
Nor would the meanest trull, or besses,
Delight to wear these Indian dresses,
Which certainly would profit bring
To them, their tenants, and their king.

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