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[Untying the roll, which Trick has handed him.
The jargons of the Puritans. Is he
More fool than we, this chaplain splénetic?
With ribbons pink he ties his thunderbolts!

[He glances at the parchment and roars with laughter; Giraff takes it and laughs even more loudly; Elespuru, to whom he passes it, follows their example; and Trick watches them laugh, laughing more uproariously than they.

Elespuru [laughing.]This sermon by a merry imp was preached!
Trick [laughing.]What say you to't?
Elespuru [reading.] … to't? "Quatrain to my divinity:
"O fair Egeria, you set my heart aflame—"
Giraff [snatching the parchment, and reading.
"Your eyes wherein Dan Cupid lights a conquering fire"
Gramadoch [taking possession of it in his turn.
"Are glowing mirrors which do concentrate the flame
"Whose rays consume my very soul."
[They all laugh more heartily than ever.
Elespuru.You say these lines from Puritan pocket fell?
Giraff.The rake!
Gramadoch [as if suddenly struck with an idea.
The rake! I have it! Yes, 'tis past a doubt!—
Brothers, you all do know Dame Guggligoy,
The Lady Frances's duenna?
Trick. The Lady Frances's duenna? Ay;
What then?
Gramadoch.I saw the chaplain speak to her
In secret, and a purse bestow on her.
Trick.And what said the old dame?
Gramadoch. And what said the old dame? She said: "To-night,
My pretty stripling, you shall be with her,