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part, my lord, I like your proud plain way better; it is at least more comic, and may give us a love for modesty.

I own, replied Phanor, when I am at home, I cannot help speaking thus undisguisedly; my language may astonish, but you will soon see, however, there is nothing really extravagant in all I have said.

The genius then began to read, and, as it was necessary to weep daring the first two acts, the courtiers took out their handkerchiefs, and hid their faces. The genius stopped almost at every line: observe, said he, how profound is that reflection! how original that thought! how philosophic this! and spoke so continually, during these interruptions, and between the acts, and praised himself so much, that his auditors had absolutely no room to say any thing. The two authors seem very attentive, and finding the device of the handkerchiefs a very happy one, they made use of the same expedient, and hid their faces. Phanor triumphed, when he beheld all their handkerchiefs in motion at the end of the second

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