Page:The Hind and Panther transvers'd to the story of the country mouse and the city mouse (1709).djvu/18

 Bayes.Ay I'gad, and without Morals too; for I tread in no Man's Steps; and to show you how far I can out-do any thing that ever was writ in this kind, I have taken Horace's Design, but I'gad, have so out-done him, you shall be asham'd for your Old Friend. You remember in him the Story of the Country Mouse, and the City-Mouse; what a plain simple thing it is, it has no more Life and Spirit in it, I'gad, than a Hobby-horse; and his Mice talk so meanly, such common stuff, so like meer Mice, that I wonder it has pleas'd the World so long. But now will I undeceive Mankind, and teach 'em to heighten, and elevate a Fable. I'll bring you in the very same Mice disputing the Depth of Philosophy, searching into the Fundamentals of Religion, quoting Texts, Fathers, Councils, and all that, I'gad, as you shall see either of 'em could easily make an Ass of a Country Vicar. Now whereas Horace keeps to the dry naked History, I have more Copiousness than to do that, I'gad. Here, I draw you general Characters, and describe all the Beasts of the Creation; there, I launch out into long Digressions, and leave my Mice for twenty Pages together; then I fall into Raptures, and make the finest Soliloquies, as would ravish you. Won't this do, think you?

Johns.Faith, Sir, I don't well conceive you; all this about two Mice?

Bayes.Ay, why not? is it not great and Heroical? But come, you'll understand it better when you hear it; and pray be as severe as you can, I'gad I defie all Criticks. Thus it begins: