On which, at the third asking of the banns,

He started; and perceiving smiles around

Broadening to grins, he coloured more than once,

And hastily—as nothing can confound

A wise man more than laughter from a dunce—

Inflicted on the dish a deadly wound,

And with such hurry, that, ere he could curb it,

He had paid his neighbour's prayer with half a turbot.