On an Artist

A shabby fellow chanc'd one day to meet
The British Roscius in the street,
Garrick, on whom our nation justly brags--
The fellow hugg'd him with a kind embrace--
"Good sir, I do not recollect your face,"
Quoth Garrick--"No!" replied the man of rags.

"The boards of Drury you and I have trod
Full many a time together, I am sure--"
"When?" with an oath, cried Garrick--"for by G--
I never saw that face of yours before!--
What characters, I pray,
Did you and I together play?"

"Lord!" quoth the fellow, "think not that I mock--
When you play'd Hamlet, sir--I play'd the cock"