The Hillsborough Recorder

The celebrated poet Dryden, who was extremely poor, was one evening in company with lord Dorset and other distinguished noblemen, when the conversation turned upon the art of composition, and it was finally agreed among them to enter into a competition who should produce the best five or six lines in a given time. Dryden was to decide. All racked their brains to out do each other, except Dorset who scribbled a line or two with the greatest despatch. On reading them Dryden discovered pleasure with all, till he come to Dorset's, when he was in absolute raptures, and immediately pronounced it altogether the best one: and who could marvel at the decision of the poverty bard? It was as follows: "I promise to pay John Dryden, or order, on demand, the sum of 500l. Dorset."