"Say no more on that head," exclaimed Gay hastily, "I would forget that affront."
"But not forgive. We're all of us free to carry the battle into the enemy's camp and with the more vigour since you are fighting with us, John Gay. The 'Beggar's Opera'—'tis mainly the Dean's idea—the title alone is vastly fine—will give you all the chance in the world. Pray do not forget the Dean's verses he sent you 't'other day. They must be set to good music, though for my own part I know not one tune from another."
Snatching a sheet of paper from the table Pope, in his thin, piping voice, read with much gusto:—
"Through all the employments of life
Each neighbour abuses his brother,
Trull and rogue they call husband and wife,
All professions be-rogue one another.
"The priest calls the lawyer a cheat,
The lawyer be-knaves the divine,
And the statesman because he's so great