I like it, so I'll follow you!" Down dropped my ears on hearing this, Just like a vicious jackass's, That's loaded heavier than he likes; But off anew my torment strikes. "If well I know myself, you'll end With making of me more a friend Than Viscus, ay, or Varius; for Of verses who can run off more, Or run them off at such a pace? Who dance with such distinguished grace? And as for singing, zounds!" said he, "Hermogenes might envy me!" Here was an opening to break in. "Have you a mother, father, kin, To whom your life is precious?" "None;-- I've closed the eyes of every one." Oh, happy they, I inly groan. Now I am left, and I alone. Quick, quick, despatch me where I stand; Now is the direful doom at hand, Which erst the Sabine beldam old, Shaking her magic urn, foretold In days when I was yet a boy: "Him shall no poisons fell destroy, Nor hostile sword in shock of war, Nor gout, nor colic, nor catarrh. In fulness of the time his thread Shall by a prate-apace be shred; So let him, when he's twenty-one, If he be wise, all babblers shun." Now we were close to Vesta's fane, 'Twas hard on ten, and he, my bane, Was bound to answer to his bail, Or lose his cause if he should fail. "Do, if you love me, step aside One moment with me here!" he cried. "Upon my life, indeed, I can't, Of law I'm wholly ignorant; And you know where I'm hurrying to." "I'm fairly puzzled what to do. Give you up, or my cause?" "Oh, me, Me, by all means!" "I won't!" quoth he; And stalks on, holding by me tight. As with your conqueror to fight Is hard, I follow. "How,"--anon He rambles off,--"how get you on, You and Maecenas? To so few He keeps himself. So clever, too! No man more dexterous to seize And use his opportunities. Just introduce me, and you'll see, We'd pull together famously; And, hang me then, if, with my backing, You don't send all your rivals packing!" "Things in that quarter, sir, proceed In very different style, indeed. No house more free from all that's base; In none cabals more out of place. It hurts me not if others be More rich, or better read than me. Each has his place!" "Amazing tact! Scarce credible!" "But 'tis the fact." "You quicken my desire to get An introduction to his set." "With merit such as yours, you need But wish it, and you must succeed. He's to be won, and that is why Of strangers he's so very shy." "I'll spare no pains, no arts, no shifts! His servants I'll corrupt with gifts. To-day though driven from his gate, What matter? I will lie in wait, To catch some lucky chance; I'll meet Or overtake him in the street; I'll haunt him like his shadow. Nought In life without much toil is bought." Just at this moment who but my Dear friend Aristius should come by? My rattlebrain right well he knew. We stop. "Whence, friends, and whither to?" He asks and answers. Whilst we ran