Page:The Deipnosophists (Volume 3).djvu/340

 All joy and transport I: I crow and clap My wings for very ecstasy of heart! Does it come sidelong, making wayward angles, Embodied into no consistency? I know the mournful signal well, and straight Prepare me for a bloodless feast of herbs.—

(Book vi. § 30, p. 373.)

Mark now, and learn of me the thriving arts By which we parasites contrive to live: Fine rogues we are, my friend, (of that be sure,) And daintily we gull mankind.—Observe! First I provide myself a nimble thing To be my page, a varlet of all crafts; Next two new suits for feasts and gala-days, Which I promote by turns, when I walk forth To sun myself upon the public square: There, if perchance I spy some rich dull knave, Straight I accost him, do him reverence, And, saunt'ring up and down, with idle chat Hold him awhile in play; at every word Which his wise worship utters, I stop short And bless myself for wonder; if he ventures On some vile joke, I blow it to the skies, And hold my sides for laughter.—Then to supper, With others of our brotherhood to mess In some night-cellar on our barley-cakes, And club invention for the next day's shift.—

The same.

Of how we live, a sketch I'll give, If you'll attentive be; Of parasites, (we're thieves by rights,) The flower and chief are we.

Now first we've all a page at call, Of whom we're not the owners, But who's a slave to some young brave, Whom we flatter to be donors.