The Answer, By Dr. Sheridan

Sir,     I thank you for your comedies.     I'll stay and read 'em now at home a-days,     Because Parcus wrote but sorrily     Thy notes, I'll read Lambinus thoroughly;     And then I shall be stoutly set a-gog     To challenge every Irish Pedagogue.     I like your nice epistle critical,     Which does in threefold rhymes so witty fall;     Upon the comic dram' and tragedy     Your notions right, but verses maggotty;     'Tis but an hour since I heard a man swear it,     The Devil himself could hardly answer it.     As for your friend the sage Euripides,     I[1] believe you give him now the slip o' days;     But mum for that - pray come a Saturday     And dine with me, you can't a better day:     I'll give you nothing but a mutton chop,     Some nappy mellow'd ale with rotten hop,     A pint of wine as good as Falern',     Which we poor masters, God knows, all earn;     We'll have a friend or two, sir, at table,     Right honest men, for few're comeatable;     Then when our liquor makes us talkative,     We'll to the fields, and take a walk at eve.         Because I'm troubled much with laziness,         These rhymes I've chosen for their easiness.