Who to patch up his fame, or fill his purse, Still pilfers wretched plans, and makes them worse; Like gypsies, lest the stolen brat be known, Defacing first, then claiming for his own.1
ATTRIBUTION:
The Apology. Line 232.
Note 1. Steal! to be sure they may; and, egad, serve your best thoughts as gypsies do stolen children,—disguise them to make ’em pass for their own.—Richard Brinsley Sheridan: The Critic, act i. sc. i. [back]
