And tell the name of Anodyne.
He touch'd the well-known tinkling-bell
That did some sickly presence tell,
When the door op'd with rapid force,
And patients glided in of course.
There was ne'er heard a knocker's sound,
To rouse the idle neighbours round,
Or to the windows call the eye
Of peeping curiosity.
The signal was not given twice;
Quæ Genus enter'd in a trice
And sought the solemn Doctor's nook,
Where he sat with a folio book,
Some ancient Galen's learned creed,
Which 'tis not certain he could read:
Alone, o'er this he gravely doz'd,
But when the sick arriv'd, he clos'd
The cumbrous volume, and gave ear
The tale of some distress to hear.
To Johnny this was no new scene,
For here he had full often been,
But as he fee-less ne'er before
Had hasten'd through the well-known door,
He felt some doubts within his mind
What sort of welcome he should find.
Sir Midriff's conduct it appears,
Had chang'd his promis'd hopes to fears;
And when he felt such rude disdain
From one who rul'd in Warwick-Lane,
Who boasted of superior knowledge
To all the learned of the College;
Who from his frequent promise swerv'd,
To one who his kind smiles deserv'd;
Yet ev'ry day, and ev'ry hour,
Possess'd the patronising power,
With mere commending words to gain
The boon Quæ Genus ask'd in vain;—
What good then could his hopes supply
From the low pride of quackery,
From one who rested his pretence
On nostrums and on impudence.
But he had felt that in Life's dance,
We often owe to strokes of chance,
That unexpected good prevail'd
Where Reason's better hopes have fail'd.
Such thoughts the purpose did incline
To make his bows to Anodyne. |
The Doctor with a friendly air,
'Rose from his dictatorial chair,
And pleasure told to see him there: | } |
When thus Quæ Genus in reply,
Began the following Colloquy. |