POETRY. 463 



Knocks of this kind 



Are given by gentlemen who teach to dance ; 



By fidlers, and by opera-singers : 

 One loud, and then a httle one behind ; 



As if the knocker fell, by chance, 



Out of their fingers. 



The servant lets him in, with dismal face. 

 Long as a courtier's out of place — 



Portending some disaster ; 

 John's countenance as rueful look'd, and grim, 

 As if th' apothecary had physic'd him. 



And not his master. 



" Well, how's the patient !" Bolus said. 



John shook his head. 

 " Indeed ! — hum !— ha ! that's very odd !" 

 " He took the draught?" — John gave a nod. 

 " Well, — how — what then ? — speak out, you dunce !" 

 " Why then" — says John — " we shook him once." 

 " Shook him ! —how ?" — Bolus stammer'd out : — 

 «' We jolted him about." 



" Zounds ! shake a patient, man ! — a shake wont do." 

 " No, sir, — and so we gave him two." 



" Two shakes! odds curse! 

 " 'Twould make the patient worse." 

 " It did so, sir ! — and so a third we tried." 

 " Weil, and what then?"^ — " then sir, my master died!" 



