Th' extent of some-one's personal estate;

He in his turn the same again will prate;

A Mr. C. has struck his little wife

Is the last movement worthy to relate,

'Tis now affirmed he took away her life,

In the next terrace where th' appalling tale is rife.

XII.

'Tis sometimes so, for other people's business

Wise men and women oft forsake their own,

Which may perhaps account for their remissness,

A tittle-tattle's never seen alone;

And by the time the idle tale has flown

From mouth to mouth, the truth in some disguise,

A trifling circumstance we find has grown

A crime of most unpardonable size,

And thunder-struck believers stare in mute surprise.

XIII.

But, sad to say, our friends were looking pale,

Our female friends, at least, I mean to say,

We will not try to penetrate the veil

 Prev. P 9/167 next