MAD. I fancy it must be a delightful thing to see one's self in print.
MASC. Undoubtedly; but, by the by, I must repeat to you some extempore verses I made yesterday at the house of a certain duchess, an acquaintance of mine. I am deuced clever at extempore verses.
CAT. Extempore verses are certainly the very touch-stone of genius.
MASC. Listen then.
MAD. We are all ears.
MASC.
Oh! oh! quite without heed was I,
As harmless you I chanced to spy,
Slily your eyes
My heart surprise,
Stop thief! stop thief! stop thief I cry!
CAT. Good Heavens! this is carried to the utmost pitch of gallantry.
MASC. Everything I do shows it is done by a gentleman; there is nothing of the pedant about my effusions.
MAD. They are more than two thousand miles removed from that.
MASC. Did you observe the beginning, oh! oh? there is something original in that oh! oh! like a man who all of a sudden thinks about something, oh! oh! Taken by surprise as it were, oh! oh!