The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 4

PROLOGUE

_Spoken by Mr. Elliston_

If we have sinn'd in paring down a name, All civil well-bred authors do the same. Survey the columns of our daily writers-- You'll find that some Initials are great fighters. How fierce the shock, how fatal is the jar, When Ensign W. meets Lieutenant R. With two stout seconds, just of their own gizard, Cross Captain X. and rough old ...