Frequent and full, the rural sages sate,
And speakers many urged the long debate, -
Some harden’d knaves, who roved the country round,
Had left a babe within the parish bound. -
First, of the fact they question’d - “Was it true?”
The child was brought - “What then remained to do?”
“Was’t dead or living?” This was fairly proved, -
’Twas pinched, it roar’d, and every doubt removed.
Then by what name th’ unwelcome guest to call
Was long a question, and it posed them all;