CANTO III
| SILENCE for some short time ensu'd, Ere conversation was renew'd. | |
| —Sir Jeff'ry first strok'd down his chin, With something 'twixt a yawn and grin, And then thought proper to begin. | } |
"By a great writer it is said,
And one who seldom was betray'd,
When he employ'd his tongue or pen
On the known characters of men:
(And if, perchance, I'm not mistaken,
I think his famous name was Bacon,)
That in the changeful scenes of life,