A rich nobleman once opened the theater to the public without charge, and gave notice that he would handsomely reward any one who would produce a new amusement. A Buffoon¹, well known for his jokes, said that he had a kind of entertainment that had never been produced in a theater. This report, being spread about, created a great stir in the place, and the theater was crowded to see the new entertainment. The Buffoon appeared, and imitated the squeaking³ of a little pig so admirably with his voice, that the audience declared that he had a porker under his cloak, and demanded that it should be shaken out. When that was done, and yet nothing was found, they cheered the actor, with the loudest applause. A countryman in the crowd proclaimed that he would do the same thing on the next day. On the morrow a still larger crowd assembled in the theater. Both of the performers appeared on the stage. The Buffoon grunted⁴ and squeaked⁵, and obtained, as on the preceding day, the applause and cheers of the spectators. Next the Countryman commenced, and pretending that he concealed⁶ a little pig beneath his clothes (which in truth he did), contrived⁷ to lay hold of and to pull his ear, when he began to squeak². The crowd, however, cried out that the Buffoon had given a far more exact imitation. On this the Rustic⁸ produced the pig, and showed them the greatness of their mistake.

Critics are not always to be depended upon.