XCVII.

But what we can we glean in this vile age[MS]

Of chaff, although our gleanings be not grist.

I must not quite omit the talking sage,

Kit-Cat, the famous Conversationist,[697]

Who, in his common-place book, had a page

Prepared each morn for evenings. "List, oh list!"

"Alas, poor ghost!"[698]—What unexpected woes

Await those who have studied their bons-mots!

XCVIII.