THE COCK AND THE BULL

You see this pebble-stone? It’s a thing I bought

Of a bit of a chit of a boy i’ the mid o’ the day.

I like to dock the smaller parts o’ speech,

As we curtail the already cur-tail’d cur—

(You catch the paronomasia, play ’po’ words?)

Did, rather, i’ the pre-Landseerian days.

Well, to my muttons. I purchased the concern,

And clapt it i’ my poke, having given for same

By way o’ chop, swop, barter or exchange—