Page:The Hind and Panther transvers'd to the story of the country mouse and the city mouse (1709).djvu/24

 against my poor Mouse. Now what do you think I do with all these?

Smith.Faith I don't know, I suppose you make 'em fight.

Bayes.Fight! I'gad I'd as soon make 'em Dance. No, I do no earthly thing with 'em, nothing at all, I'gad: I think they have play'd their Parts sufficiently already; I have walk'd 'em out, show'd 'em to the Company, and rais'd your Expectation. And now whilst you hope to see 'em bated, and are dreaming of Blood and Battels, they sculk off, and you hear no more of 'em.

Smith.Why, Faith, Mr. Bayes, now you have been at such Expence in setting forth their Characters, it had been too much to have gone through with 'em.

Bayes.I'gad so it had: And then I'll tell you another thing, 'tis not every one that reads a Poem through. And therefore I fill the first part with Flowers, Figures, fine Language, and all that; and then I'gad sink by degrees, till at last I write but little better than other People. And whereas most Authors creep servilely after the Old Fellows, and strive to grow upon their Readers; I take another Course, I bring in all my Characters together, and let 'em see I could go on with 'em; but I'gad, I won't.

Johns.Could go on with 'em Mr. Bayes! there's no Body doubts that; You have a most particular Genius that way.

Bayes.Oh! Dear Sir, You are mighty obliging: But I must needs say at a Fable or an Emblem I think no Man comes near me, indeed I have studied it more than any Man. Did you ever take notice, Mr. Johnson, of a little thing that has taken mightily about Town, a Cat with a Top-knot?

Johns.Faith, Sir, 'tis mighty pretty, I saw it at the Coffee-House.