Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 7.djvu/40

28 "With these is parson Swift, Not knowing how to spend his time, Does make a wretched shift, To deafen them with puns and rhyme."

I.

NCE on a time, as old stories rehearse, A friar would need show his talent in Latin; But was sorely put to 't in the midst of a verse, Because he could find no word to come pat in: Then all in the place He left a void space, And so went to bed in a desperate case: When behold the next morning a wonderful riddle! He found it was strangely filled up in the middle.

Strophic form. Let censuring criticks then think what they list on 't; Who would not write verses with such an assistant?

II.

This put me the friar into an amazement: For he wisely consider'd it must be a sprite; That