Except you judged them by the knock Such an experimental stroke convinces. Then might you be, by dint of reason, is granted : Therefore to thy superior wit, we wanted. In one assertion you're to blame, refined, sir: You'll see most grossly you mistook, S, H, E, she-and R, I, ri, you'll find, sir, Both put together make Sherry; syllables; Dan is but one, and Sherry two, Then, sir, your choice will never do; Therefore I've turn'd, my friend, on you the tables. DR. DELANY'S REPLY. ASSIST me, my Muse, while I labour to limn him; You look and you write with so different a grace, enough, 'Cause one is as smooth as the other is rough. But much I'm amazed you should think my design [grin, Was to rhyme down your nose, or your harlequin Which you yourself wonder the de'el should malign. And if 'tis so strange, that your monstership's crany Should be envied by him, much less by Delany; Though I own to you, when I consider it stricter, I envy the painter, although not the picture. And justly she's envied, since a fiend of Hell Was never drawn right but by her and Raphael. Next, as to the charge, which you tell us is true, That we were inspired by the subject we drew. Inspired we were, and well, sir, you knew it; Yet not by your nose, but the fair one that drew it; Had your nose been the Muse, we had ne'er been inspired, [were fired. Though perhaps it might justly 've been said we As to the division of words in your staves, Like my countryman's horn-comb, into three halves, I meddle not with 't, but presume to make merry, SHERIDAN'S REPLY. THREE merry lads you own we are; 'Tis very true, and free from care: But envious we cannot bear, believe, sir: For, were all forms of beauty thine, or grieve, sir. Then know from us, most beauteous Dan, and taper; And all your trifling beaux and fops, Who comb their brows, and sleek their chops, Are but the offspring of toy-shops, mere vapour. We know your morning hours you pass Is this the way you take your glass? Forbear it: Those loads of paint upon your toilet Drink claret. Your cheeks, by sleeking, are so lean, See what by drinking you have done : t' your gullet. A REJOINDER. BY THE DEAN IN JACKSON'S NAME. WEARIED with saying grace and prayer, reply to't: But your fair lines so grossly flatter, Ah! slyboot! It must be so! what else, alas! and box-comb? But be't as 'twill, this you must grant, er coxcomb? I value not your jokes of noose, nor fear it. Yet one thing vexes me, I own, Thou sorry scarecrow of skin and bone; "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: |