Page:The Hind and Panther transvers'd to the story of the country mouse and the city mouse (1709).djvu/27



There's De and Re as good I'gad as ever was.

There's a Jolly Mouse for you, let me see any Body else that can shew you such another. Here now have I one damnable severe reflecting Line, but I want a Rhime to it, can you help me Mr. Johnson.

Johns.Which is too narrow Infamy for some.

Bayes.Sir, I thank you, now I can go on with it.

Johns.But does not this reflect upon some of your Friends, Mr. Bayes?

Bayes.'Tis no matter for that, let me alone to bring my self off. I'll tell you, lately I writ a damn'd Libel on a whole Party, sheer Point and Satyr all through, I'gad. Call'd 'em Rogues, Dogs, and all the Names I could think of, but with an exceeding deal of Wit; that I must needs say. Now it happen'd before I could finish this Piece, the Scheme of Affairs was altered, and those People were no longer Beasts: Here was a Plunge now: Should I lose my Labour, or Libel my Friend? 'Tis not every Body's Talent to find a Salvo for this: But what do I but write a smooth delicate Preface, wherein I tell them that the Satyr was not intended to them, and this did the Business.

Smith.But if it was not intended to them against whom it was writ, certainly it had no meaning at all.