“And in his time was reckon’d good.”
“A saddler, eh! and taught you Greek,
Instead of teaching you to sew!
Pray why did not your father make
A saddler, sir, of you?”
Each parasite, then, as in duty bound,
The joke applauded, and the laugh went round.
At length Modestus, bowing low,
Said (craving pardon, if too free he made),
“Sir, by your leave, I fain would know