![]() | Beasts at law, or zoologian jurisprudence | ![]() |
Preliminaries being now
Adjusted, well as beasts knew how,
A motley host of evidence
For prosecution and defence,
Of beasts, and birds, and every thing
That moves a leg or spreads a wing,
(A picture true of Noah's ark)
Were ordered forward by the clerk.
These ushered in, spectators found
A station in the circle round,
Where all the curious ones convene
To hear and see, or to be seen.
What pains, ye gods! both sexes took,
At Goat or Dog to hare one look!
What winning airs the males assumed!
They strutted, prated, swore and fumed;
Tried every art, and rack'd invention,
To catch the modest Goat's attention.
And then the females—how they simpered,
Ogled, whispered, smirk'd and whimpered!
How the little birds would rummage
To adjust their glossy plumage!
Then in wanton circles fly,
And each attractive movement try
To catch the mastiff's roving eye.
“The Goat, cries one, must be a brute,
So sweet a Dog to prosecute.
Accuse the pretty cur of rudeness!
Why, the dear rogue's a lump of goodness;
I'd not believe the Dog would do it,
Although I saw, and felt, and knew it.”
Adjusted, well as beasts knew how,
A motley host of evidence
For prosecution and defence,
Of beasts, and birds, and every thing
That moves a leg or spreads a wing,
(A picture true of Noah's ark)
Were ordered forward by the clerk.
These ushered in, spectators found
A station in the circle round,
Where all the curious ones convene
To hear and see, or to be seen.
What pains, ye gods! both sexes took,
At Goat or Dog to hare one look!
What winning airs the males assumed!
They strutted, prated, swore and fumed;
14
To catch the modest Goat's attention.
And then the females—how they simpered,
Ogled, whispered, smirk'd and whimpered!
How the little birds would rummage
To adjust their glossy plumage!
Then in wanton circles fly,
And each attractive movement try
To catch the mastiff's roving eye.
“The Goat, cries one, must be a brute,
So sweet a Dog to prosecute.
Accuse the pretty cur of rudeness!
Why, the dear rogue's a lump of goodness;
I'd not believe the Dog would do it,
Although I saw, and felt, and knew it.”
![]() | Beasts at law, or zoologian jurisprudence | ![]() |