Whereby the reader's saved no small confusion,
Seeing my "dram personæ" are in liquor.
Opens our scene what time thus spake the host
(A gentleman who has two friends to dine,
That two, as you perceive, are soused in wine,
Like Jacob's swine):
Rising to do the honours of the board
(His "case of drink" such as became a lord),
"I beg to pro—po—pop—prop—pose a toast;
Not to my honourable friend that's down,