Part 2 — A REPLY, BY SHERIDAN, TO DELANY

I like your collyrium, Take my eyes, sir, and clear ye 'um, 'Twill gain you a great reputation; By this you may rise, Like the doctor so wise,[1] Who open'd the eyes of the nation. And these, I must tell ye, Are bigger than its belly;— You know, theres in Livy a story Of the hands and the feet Denying of meat,— Don't I write in the dark like a Tory? Your water so far goes, 'Twould serve for an Argus, Were all his whole hundred sore; So many we read He had in his head, Or Ovid's a son of a whore. For your recipe, sir, May my lids never stir, If ever I think once to fee you; For I'd have you to know, When abroad I can go, That it's honour enough, if I see you. [Footnote 1: Probably Dr. Davenant.]