One night after this, an English ’squire, who profess’d to be better versed in poetry than George, laid a wager with another gentleman, five guineas against one, that George could not metre the first words he would say to him in the morning, when newly awaked out of his sleep: so the gentleman went the night before, and told George the story, and bade him be on his guard, for in the morning they would certainly come, and that right early. At midnight and you will, says George, I’ll order my servant to let you in. So the English ’squire sat up all night conferring with his friends, whether to put a high verse to him, or mean and simple words, thinking George would be sitting up all night meditating on an answer; so they all agreed, that mean and simple words he would not be thinking on, and have no answer provided for such. Then away they came in the morning very early, with several gentlemen in company to hear the diversion. George’s servant opened the door according to his master’s orders. The ’squire entered the room first, and wakened George out of his sleep, then said,
Rise up you madman, and put on your cloathes.
To which George answered,
O thou hast lost thy wad man, for I’m none of those.
The English ’squire confessed he was fairly beat, and would match him with no more. Then another gentleman would hold five guineas, that he would give him a word or line, that he could not metre at the first answer; and to answer it directly as soon as he had done speaking; but George ordered him first to table the money, and then to proceed, which he did in all haste; and said as follows:
My belly rumbl’d, and then I farted.
George gripping to the money, answered,
A fool and his money is soon parted.
Then they all cried out, he was fairly beat, and what George had said, was realy true; but he never would lay any more wagers concerning poetry.