Page:The Dunciad - Alexander Pope (1743).djvu/146

Book II. "To cavil, censure, dictate, right or wrong, "Full and eternal privilege of tongue." Three College Sophs, and three pert Templars came, The same their talents, and their tastes the same; Each prompt to query, answer, and debate, And smit with love of Poesy and Prate. The pond'rous books two gentle readers bring; The heroes fit, the vulgar form a ring. The clam'rous crowd is hush'd with mugs of Mum, 'Till all tun'd equal, send a gen'ral hum. Then mount the Clerks, and in one lazy tone Thro' the long, heavy, painful page drawl on; Soft creeping, words on words, the sense compose, At ev'ry line they stretch, they yawn, they doze.