Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 7.djvu/238

Yet one thing vexes me, I own,
Thou sorry scarecrow of skin and bone;
To be call'd lean by a skeleton,
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠who'd bear it?

'Tis true indeed, to curry friends,
You seem to praise, to make amends,
And yet, before your stanza ends,
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you flout me,

'Bout latent charms beneath my clothes;
For every one that knows me knows
That I have nothing like my nose
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠about me:

I pass now where you fleer and laugh,
'Cause I call Dan my better half!
O there you think you have me safe!
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠But hold, sir:

Is not a penny often found
To be much greater than a pound?
By your good leave, my most profound
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and bold sir,

Dan's noble mettle, Sherry base;
So Dan's the better, though the less,
An ounce of gold's worth ten of brass,
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠dull pedant!

As to your spelling, let me see,
If SHE makes sher, and RI makes ry,
Good spelling-master! your crany
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠has lead on't.

ANO-