"All I said was, I had never had too much; perhaps, not enough. We belong to an insatiable Race. By-the-by, I proved myself a Goose To-Night in choosing to play Fox, for you are by far the more popular." "And only by saying Quack." "Quackery goes a great Way in this World,--I might have known 'twould be so." "Monstrous fine Masquerade this!" said the Goose. "Oh, delightful! Have you made out many People?" "Why, to tell you the Truth, I've been so observed myself, I've had no Time to observe others." "Quack!" "Sir! name your Hour, Place, and Weapon." "How quiet and retired is everything in this little Spot! You have Time to observe now." "Why did you deny yourself to me Yesterday? I know you were at Home." "The Truth is, I was desperately hypped." "What made you so?" "Study." "What were you studying? The natural History of the Fox?" "No, I was learning some Verses by Heart; and I'll spout them to you." "Now then; don't be tedious." "'_Three Things an Author's modest Wishes bound; My Friendship, and a Prologue, and ten Pound._'" "Oh, come! that's _Pope_!" "Well, and it's my Case too--pretty near. A callow Poetling writes a Piece, dedicates it to me, and expects me to patronize and print it." "You? Why, I never saw your Name head a Dedication!" "Well, Sir, you may shortly--if I find no Way of adroitly declining the Honour, as I have done similar Favours before." "Why decline?" "Oh, the Thing's burthensome." "The ten Pounds may be; but most People consider themselves honoured, and are willing to pay for an expensive Luxury." "Well, it's no Luxury to me." "Don't have it, then." "How avoid it?" "By simple Neglect. He can't _ask_ for the ten Pounds, if you forget to send them." "No, but he may abuse me." "If his Abuse is not clever, Nobody will read it. Come, you are making a Mountain of a Molehill. If he has sent his Poem to you, send it back 'with Thanks,' or forget to return it altogether, or let a Spark fall upon it." "Then a Spark would fall upon _me_." "Nay, if none of those Expedients can fit you, you must help yourself to one. I begin to think you ought to have played Goose, in good Earnest."