University of Virginia Library

With horrid bray and dreadful roar,
Thus did an Ass his fate deplore,
His griefs while echoing hills reveal;
For Asses nothing can conceal;—
“These staring horns—(for horns he took
His ears when lobbing o'er a brook)
“Loudly to all the world proclaim
“Assina's falshood and my shame:
“My thirst I cannot quench when dry,
“But horns reflected meet my eye;
“Just o'er my brow erect they stand,
“And mark me cuckold thro' the land:
“Cou'd she, who all the livelong day
“Her charms and virtues heard me bray,
“She, for whose sake each shaggy maid,
“With cold disdain I still survey'd,
“Cou'd she her Dapple's brow disgrace,
“As tho' I were of two-legg'd race?
“I, than whom not a wiser Ass,
“Or fairer, ever mumbled grass;
“Have I not tenderest thistles brought?
“The youngest nettles, eager, sought?
“Rang'd all the plain to find a ditch,
“With weeds and frog-spawn over rich,
“Her hunger and her thirst to quench?
“And call'd her still my curl-hoof'd wench?—
“In that fair form can Falshood dwell?
“Can heav'n admit a guest from hell?
“Now by that black-stain'd mark I swear,
“Which on our backs we're doom'd to bear,
“Such dreadful wild revenge I'll take,
“Shall make her treach'rous bosom ake;
“I'll—(rat that Cuckoo's taunting note,
“I wish my horns were in his throat)—
“I'll do”—

A listning Goat replies,
“Thou fool!—but Asses ne'er were wise;
“What can your braying thus provoke?
“An Ass have horns! 'Tis all a joke:
“Had I been such a thing as you,
“I might have been unhappy too;
(To his own horns Sir Goat was blind,
They pointed, as they grew, behind)
“For many beasts, quite under-bred,
“Swear I have horns upon my head:
“Be wise, and learn of me this rule,
“A jealous pate betrays a fool.
“We Goats for sense are still rever'd,
“Our wisdom's pourtray'd in our beard.”