The Housemaid And The Broom

: Literary Fables Of Yriarte

A Housemaid once was sweeping out a room

With a worn-out and very dirty Broom;

"Now, hang you for a Broom!"--said she in wrath--

"For, with the filth and shreds you leave behind

Where'er you go, you 're making, to my mind,

More dirt than you clean up upon your path."



* * * * *



The botchers who, devoid of skill, pretend

The faults of others' writings to amend,

But leave them ten times fuller than before;

Let not these blockheads fear that I shall score

Their paltry backs--I leave their blundering trade

To the apt censure of the serving-maid.



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