I tell you I'd not give a fig for your wine; Will laugh in their sleeves: I can tell you they Written, signed, and sealed, five minutes and eleven seconds after the receipt of yours, allowing seven seconds for sealing and superscribing, from my bed-side, just eleven minutes after eleven, Sept. 15, 1718. JON. SWIFT.. Erratum in your last, 1. antepenult, pro "fear a Dun," lege "fear a Dan :" ita omnes MSS. quos ego legi, et ita magis congruum tam sensui quam veritati. SIR, TO DR. SHERIDAN,1 Dec. 14, 1719, Nine at night. It is impossible to know by your letter whether In this letter, though written in prose, the reader, upon examining, will find each second sentence rhymes to the former.---H. For my part, it was by mere chance I came to sit with the ladies1 this night. And if they had not told me there was a letter from you; and your man Alexander had not gone, and come back from the deanery; and the boy here had not been sent, to let Alexander know I was here, I should have missed the letter outright. Truly I don't know who's bound to be sending for corks to stop your bottles, with a vengeance. Make a page of your own age, and send your man Alexander to buy corks; for Saunders already has gone above ten jaunts. Mrs. Dingley and Mrs. Johnson say, truly they don't care for your wife's company, though they like your wine; but they had rather have it at their own house to drink in quiet. However, they own it is very civil in Mrs. Sheri dan to make the offer; and they cannot deny it. I wish Alexander safe at St. Catherine's to-night, with all my heart and soul, upon my word and honour : But I think it base in you to send a poor fellow out so late at this time of year, when one would not turn out a dog that one valued; I appeal to your friend Mr. Connor. I would present my humble service to my Lady Mountcashel; but truly I thought she would 1 Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Dingley.---F. have made advances to have been acquainted with me, as she pretended. But now I can write no more, for you see plainly my paper is ended. 1 P. S. I wish, when you prated, your letter you'd dated: I remember my late head; and wish you translated, 2 P. S. Mrs. Dingley desires me singly Her service to present you; hopes that will content you; But Johnson madam is grown a sad dame, For want of your converse, and cannot send one verse. 3 P.S. You keep such a twattling with tling; you and your bot But I see the sum total, we shall ne'er have a bottle; The long and the short, we shall not have a quart, I wish you would sign't, that we have a pint. For all your colloguing,' I'd be glad for a knog gin:2 But I doubt 'tis a sham; you won't give us a dram. "Tis of shine a mouth moon-ful, you won't part with a spoonful, And I must be nimble, if I can fill my thimble, You see I won't stop, till I come to a drop; STELLA. DR. SHERIDAN'S ANSWER. I'd have you to know, as sure as you're Dean, I hope, as I ride to the town, it won't rain; And then I should be as stupid as Kain, Who preach'd on three heads, though he mention'd but twain. A phrase used in Ireland for a specious appearance of kindness without sincerity.---F. 2 A name used in Ireland for the English quartern.---F. Now Wardel's in haste, and begins to complain; Your most humble servant, dear Sir, I remain, T. S--N. Get Helsham, Walmsley, Delany, DR. SWIFT'S REPLY. THE verses you sent on the bottling your wine I think you inspired by the Muses all nine. And the worst of them all like a barn-door did shine; With me you'll no more have a stomach to dine, 1 i. e. in Dublin, for they were country clergy.---F. |