His Conscience never checks him when he swears
The fat he sells is honest fat of bears;
And so it is, for he contrives to give
A drachm to each - ’tis thus that tradesmen live;
Now why should you and I be over-nice?
What man is held in more repute than Bice?”
Here ended the dispute; but yet ’twas plain
The parties both expected strife again:
Their friendship cool’d, he look’d about and saw
Numbers who seem’d unshackled by his awe;