LXXXIII.

His jokes were sermons, and his sermons jokes; But both were thrown away amongst the fens; For Wit hath no great friend in aguish folks.[od] No longer ready ears and short-hand pens Imbibed the gay _bon-mot_, or happy hoax:[oe] The poor priest was reduced to common sense, Or to coarse efforts very loud and long, To hammer a hoarse laugh from the thick throng.[of]