English poem
EPIGRAM, On having received a compliment, on account of the publication of a new Burletta
by George Saville Carey (1743–1807)
Yes, Patrick is an Irishman, indeed, There's few, like him, in compliment succeed, He prais'd my piece, and said, 'twas full of spirit, Had my Musician shewn a spark of merit, It must have run full twenty nights or more, Had not the music been so flat and poor: I scarce had left the puppy half an hour, Before my good Musician (rather sour) For I before had told him what was said, Which had some small resentment in him bred, But Patrick 'gan to praise, in diff'rent stile, He now began the poet to revile, Said, had the verse been equal to his sounds, He must have clear'd a good five hundred pounds; He thank'd the blockhead for his taste and feeling, But curst him in his heart, for double-dealing.