Note 56b — II. THE BABY’S DEBUT. [5a]

Sobriety, &c. The good-humour of the poet upon occasion of this parody has been noticed in the Preface. “It’s all very well for once,” said he afterwards, in comic confidence, at his villa at Petersham, “but don’t do it again. I had been almost forgotten when you revived me; and now all the newspapers and reviews ring with this fashionable, trashy author.’” The sand and “filings of glass,” mentioned in the last stanza, are referable to the well-known verses of the poet apologising to a lady for having paid an unconscionably long morning visit; and where, alluding to Time, he says—