Text 22
- GASS:
-
Come out, come out! We are putrefied! We are corrupted! Our lungs are destroyed with the Flogiston. This will spread a plague all through the island. [exits with GIMBLET in pursuit]
[mass confusion as every one waves hankies at the stench]
- QUID:
[pulling nose] I'm hanged if I don't get up tomorrow morning at 4 o'clock and work Sir Joshua. Before ten years are up, I will teach his poor milk sop devils, an ignorant pack of wretches, to illuminate the Manuscript.
- SIPSOP:
Which would be an excellent thesis indeed.
- SUCTION:
You could have all the writing engraved instead of printed, and at every other leaf a high finished print all in three Volumes folio, and sell them at a hundred dollars a piece. They would print off 2000!
- SIPSOP:
Then whoever will not buy one will be an ignorant fool and will not deserve to live.
- QUID:
[turns to Gittipin] Don't you think I have something of the Goat's face?
- GITTIPIN:
Very like a Goat's face.
- QUID:
-
I think your face is like that noble beast the Tyger.
O why was I born with a different face
Why was I not born like the rest of my race
When I look each one starts! When I speak I offend
Then I'm silent & passive & lose every FriendThen my verse I dishonour. My pictures despise
My person degrade & my temper chastise
And my pen is my terror. The pencil my shame
All my Talents I bury, and dead is my FameI am either too low or too highly priz'd
When Elate I am Envy'd, When Meek I'm despis'd.