“A poet, John!” said Villars—feebly said,

Confused with fear, and humbled and dismay’d—

“And where this carriage?—but, my heart! enough—

Why do I listen to the villain’s stuff?—

And where wert thou? and what the spur of thine 340

That led thee forth?—we surely may divine!”

“Hunger, your Honour! I and my poor wife

Have now no other in our wane of life.

Were Phœbe handsome, and were I a Squire,

I might suspect her, and young Lords admire.”—