Page:The Hind and Panther transvers'd to the story of the country mouse and the city mouse (1709).djvu/29



But besides, 'tis above thirty Pages off that I told you she fear'd no Danger; and I'gad if you will have no Variation of the Character, you must have the same thing over and over again; 'tis the Beauty of Writing to strike you still with something new. Well, but to proceed.

Here now to show you I am Master of all Stiles, I let my self down from the Majesty of Virgil, to the Sweetness of Ovid.

Good Lord, how she admir'd her Heavenly Hiew! What more easie and familiar! I writ this Line for the Ladies: The little Rogues will be so fond of me to find I can yet be so tender. I hate such a rough unhewen Fellow as Milton, that a Man must sweat to read Him; I'gad you may run over this and be almost asleep.

There's a pretty Name now for the Spotted Mouse, the Viceroy!

Smith.But pray why d'e call her so?

Bayes.Why! Because it sounds prettily: I'll call her the Crown-General presently if I've a mind to it. Well.

Well, Gentlemen, here's my first part finish'd, and I think I have kept my Word with you, and given it the Majestick turn of Heroick Poesy. The rest being matter of Dispute, I had not such frequent occasion for the Magnificence of Verse, tho' I'gad they