But the tailor standing solus gave me like a bitter bolus

That one word, as if his vacant soul in that he did outpour;

Me with no fine words he buttered, this from time to time he stuttered,

Till I very softly muttered, “other duns have been before;

They will give me further credit as my tradesmen have before;”

Then the dun said, “Tick-no-more!”

XI.

Startled that he spoke so flatly and replied so very patly,

“Limited,” I said, “it seems is his linguistic stock and store;

If of no more words he’s master, if he duns not harder, faster,