University of Virginia Library

A lusty Horse, not long ago,
Would snuffle, snort and kick,
Curvet and prance, as others do,
Was fallen wondrous sick.
'Twas far from any House or Town,
No Doctor cou'd be got;
So the poor Beast must die alone,
And without burial rot.
He restless lay upon the Ground,
And turn'd from side to side;
His Groans the neighb'ring Woods resound,
Where Birds of Prey reside.
No sooner did they hear the noise.
But from the Woods they flew,
Whole Troops of Ravens, and the Crows,
And round the Horse they drew.
At length a Raven of renown,
Strutting like Prince of Conde,
As black as any Parson's Gown
He wears upon a Sunday;
Gets on a Mole-hill, look'd around,
And thus bespoke the Crows;
We're antient Friends, and without ground
We will not now be Foes.
You know, by Contract, we're to have
The Carrion of this place;
And you the other side did crave,
Such our Agreement was.
No, quoth the Crows, this very place
To us is free as Air;
And how dare you with such a face,
Oppose such Numbers here?
Ay, quoth the Raven, then we'l try
To whom it doth belong:
But first let the poor Creature die,
Then see who's right or wrong.
Both sides resolv'd to fight it out,
Each do's advantage take;
They march, and march, and march about,
And each one whets his Beak.
They view the Ground, and mark the Camp,
And the Approaches form;
Contrive the easiest Methods how
They may the Carcase storm.
Mean time the Horse lies dangerous ill,
Yet shites, and farts, and groans;
Good signs, they say, in Physick skill,
And stretching of the Bones.
The Horse (tho helpless) by degrees
Began to gather strength;
At first he rises on his Knees,
And on his Legs at length.
The Birds of Prey were all surpris'd,
And all away they flew;
The Battel's thus on both sides lost,
And all the Carrion too.

Thus some, whom neither Peace nor Wars
Can satisfy, still hope for Jars;
That by great Princes falling out,
They may their Business bring about.
And Wonders must be done and said,
When once the King of Spain is dead;
But he, like Horse, prevents the Fight,
And is resolv'd to live in spite.