Streets, loitering in a Coffee House, sotting in a Tavern, or in laying
Schemes to debauch and ruin a Set of harmless ignorant Country Girls.
    As Booth was therefore what might well be called, in this Age at least, a
Man of Learning, he began to discourse our Author on Subjects of Literature. »I
think, Sir,« says he, »that Doctor Swift hath been generally allowed by the
Critics in this Kingdom, to be the greatest Master of Humour that ever wrote.
Indeed, I allow him to have possessed most admirable Talents of this Kind; and
if Rabelais was his Master, I think he proves the Truth of the common Greek
Proverb - That the Scholar is often superior to the Master. As to Cervantes, I
do not think we can make any just Comparison; for tho' Mr. Pope compliments him
with sometimes taking Cervantes' serious Air -« »I remember the Passage,« cries
the Author:
 
»Oh thou, whatever Title please thy Ear,
Dean, Drapier, Bickerstaff or Gulliver;
Whether you take Cervantes' serious Air,
Or laugh and shake in Rabelais' easy Chair.«
 
»You are right, Sir,« said Booth, »but tho' I should agree that the Doctor hath
sometimes condescended to imitate Rabelais, I do not remember to have seen in
his Works the least Attempt in the Manner of Cervantes. But there is one in his
own Way, and whom I am convinced he studied above all others - You guess, I
believe, I am going to name Lucian. This Author, I say, I am convinced he
followed; but I think he followed him at a Distance; as, to say the Truth, every
other Writer of this Kind hath done in my Opinion: For none, I think, hath yet
equalled him. I agree, indeed, entirely with Mr. Moyle in his Discourse on the
Age of the Philopatris, when he gives him the Epithet of the incomparable
Lucian; and incomparable I believe he will remain as long as the Language in
which he wrote shall endure. What an inimitable Piece of Humour is his Cock.« -
»I remember it very well,« cries the Author, »his Story of a Cock and a Bull is
excellent.« Booth stared at this, and asked the Author what he meant by the
Bull? »Nay,« answered he, »I don't know very well upon my Soul. It is a long
time since I read him. I learnt him all over at School, I have not read him much
since