I pray you, madam, as a friend,
Cease that superfluous clatter.
You know not how’t goes through my head!”
“Humph! Very likely!” madam said,
Then, proudly putting forth a leg:
“Uneducated barnyard fowl,
You know no more than any owl
The noble privilege and praise
Of authorship in modern days!
I’ll tell you why I do it: