Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 8.djvu/352

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
342
POLITE CONVERSATION.

Ld. Smart. And pray, sir John, what do you say to my wine?

Sir John. I'll take another glass first: second thoughts are best.

Ld. Sparkish. Pray, lady Smart, you sit near that ham; will you please to send me a bit?

Lady Smart. With all my heart. [She sends him a piece] Pray, my lord, how do you like it?

Ld. Sparkish. I think it is a limb of Lot's wife. [He eats it with mustard] Egad, my lord, your mustard is very uncivil.

Lady Smart. Why uncivil, my lord?

Ld. Sparkish. Because it takes me by the nose, egad.

Lady Smart. Mr. Neverout, I find you are a very good carver.

Col. O madam, that is no wonder; for you must know, Tom Neverout carves o' Sundays.


Neverout overturns the saltcellar.


Lady Smart. Mr. Neverout, you have overturn'd the salt, and that's a sign of anger: I'm afraid miss and you will fall out.

Lady Answ. No, no; throw a little of it into the fire, and all will be well.

Neverout. O, madam, the falling out of lovers, you know.

Miss. Lovers! very fine! fall out with him! I wonder when we were in.

Sir John. For my part, I believe the young gentlewoman is his sweetheart, there's so much fooling and fiddling betwixt them: I'm sure, they say in

our