From “Satires,” Book III. Sat. 3.
THE COURTEOUS citizen bade me to his feast
With hollow words, and overly 1 request:
“Come, will ye dine with me this holiday?”
I yielded, though he hoped I would say nay:
For I had maidened it, as many use;
Loath for to grant, but loather to refuse.
“Alack, sir, I were loath—another day,—
I should...