When dogs were fnarling for a bone,

He long'd to make the war his own,
And often found (when two contend)
To interpofe obtain'd his end;

He glory'd in his limping pace,
The scars of honour seam'd his face,
In ev'ry limb a gash appears,

And frequent fights retrench'd his ears.
As, on a time, he heard from far

Two dogs engag'd in noisy war,
Away he fcours and lays about him,

Resolv'd no fray should be without him.
Forth from his yard a tanner flies,
And to the bold intruder cries,

A cudgel shall correct your manners.
Whence fprung this cursed hate to tanners?
While on my dog you vent your spite ;
Sirrah, 'tis me you dare not bite,

Το

To see the battel thus perplext,

With equal rage a butcher vext,

Hoarse-screaming from the circled croud,
To the curft Mastiff cries aloud.
Both Hockley-hole and Mary-bone
The combats of my dog have known;
He ne'er, like bullies coward-hearted,
Attacks in publick, to be parted;
Think not, rash fool, to share his fame,

Be his the honour or the shame.

Thus faid, they swore and rav'd like thunder,

Then dragg'd their faften'd dogs afunder,

While clubs and kicks from ev'ry fide

Rebounded from the Mastiff's hide.

All reeking now with sweat and blood A-while the parted warriors flood,

Then

Then pour'd upon the meddling foe;
Who, worried, howl'd and sprawl'd below:
He rofe; and limping from the fray,
By both fides mangled, sneak'd away.

FABLE

HOW

From Temple-bar to Aldgate-fireet;

Proud rogues, who fhar'd the South-fea prey,

And sprung like mushrooms in a day!

They

They think it mean, to condefcend

To know a brother or a friend;
They blush to hear their mother's name,
And by their pride expose their shame.

As cross his yard, at early day,
A careful farmer took his way,
He stop'd, and leaning on his fork
Obferv'd the flail's inceffant work;
In thought he measur'd all his store,
His geefe, his hogs he number'd o'er,
In fancy weigh'd the fleeces fhorn,
And multiply'd the next year's corn.
A Barley-mow, which stood befide,

Thus to its mufing master cry'd.
Say, good fir, is it fit or right
To treat me with neglect and flight?