Page:The Hind and Panther transvers'd to the story of the country mouse and the city mouse (1709).djvu/36

 Thus to the place where Johnson sat we climb, Leaning on the same Rail that guided him; And whilst we thus on equal Helps rely, Our Wit must be as true, our Thoughts as high. For as an Author happily compares Tradition to a well-fixt pair of Stairs, So this the Scala Sancta we believe, By which his Traditive Genius we receive. Thus every step I take my Spirits soar, And I grow more a Wit, and more, and more.

There's Humour! Is not that the liveliest Image in the World of a Mouse's going up a pair of Stairs. More a Wit, and more and more?

Smith.Mr. Bayes, I beg your Pardon heartily, I must be rude, I have a particular Engagement at this time, and I see you are not near an end yet.

Bayes.Godsokers! Sure you won't serve me so: All my finest Descriptions and best Discourse is yet to come.

Smith.Troth, Sir, if 'twere not an Extraordinary concern I could not leave you.

Bayes.Well; but you shall take a little more, and here I'll pass over two dainty Episodes of Swallows, Swifts, Chickens, and Buzzards.

Johns.I know not why they should come in, except to make yours the longest Fable that ever was told.

Bayes.Why, the Excellence of a Fable is in the Length of it. Æsop indeed, like a Slave as he was, made little, short, simple Stories, with a dry Moral at the end of 'em; and could not form any Noble Design. But here I give you Fable upon Fable; and after you are satisfied with Beasts in the first Course, serve you up a delicate Dish of Fowl for the second; now I was at all this pains to