The Poet’s Reply To The Threat Of A Censorious Critic
My imprudent lines were answered, very petulantly, by somebody, I believe, a Rev. Mr. Hamilton. In a MS., where I met the answer, I wrote below:—
With Esop’s lion, Burns says: Sore I feel Each other’s scorn, but damn that ass’ heel!
The Libeller’s Self-Reproof1
Rash mortal, and slanderous poet, thy name Shall no longer appear in the records of Fame; Dost not know that old Mansfield, who writes like the Bible, Says, the more ’tis a truth, sir, the more ’tis a libel!