Page:The Hind and Panther transvers'd to the story of the country mouse and the city mouse (1709).djvu/37

 abuse one particular Person; for I'gad I'll tell you what a Trick he serv'd me. I was once translating a very good French Author, but being something long about it, as you know a Man is not always in the Humour; What does this Jack do, but puts out an Answer to my Friend before I had half finished the Translation: so there was three whole Months lost upon his Account. But, I think, I have my Revenge on him sufficiently, for I let all the World know, that he is a tall, broad back'd, lusty Fellow, of a Brown Complexion, fair Behaviour, a Fluent Tongue, and taking amongst the Women; and to top it all that he's much a Scholar, more a Wit, and owns but two Sacraments. Don't you think this Fellow will hang himself? But besides, I have so nickt his Character in a Name as will make you split. I call him—I'gad I won't tell you unless you remember what I said of him.

Smith.Why, that he was much a Scholar, and more a Wit

Bayes.Right; and his name is Buzzard, ha! ha! ha.

Johns.Very proper indeed, Sir.

Bayes.Nay, I have a farther fetch in it yet than perhaps you imagine; for his true Name begins with a B, which makes me slily contrive him this, to begin with the same Letter: There's a pretty Device, Mr. Johnson; I learn'd it, I must needs confess, from that ingenious Sport, I love my Love with an A, because she's Amiable; and if you could but get a Knot of merry Fellows together, you should see how little Bayes would top 'em all at it, I'gad.

Smith.Well, but good Faith, Mr. Bayes, I must leave you, I am half an hour past my time.

Bayes.Well, I've done, I've done. Here are eight hundred Verses upon a rainy Night, and a Birds-Nest; and here's three hundred more,