University of Virginia Library

previous section The Works of John Hall-Stevenson
next section
75

FABLE III.

A wolf pursu'd a Kid one day,
Left by a shepherd through mistake,
That, like a truant at a wake,
Loiter'd behind to sport and play.
So well Sir Lupus play'd his part
There was no chance in any shape
For her escape,
Unless she could escape by art.
As he press'd hard upon her rear,
The cunning jade,
Like a distress'd and injur'd maid,
Turn'd round, and dropp'd a tear.
Dread Sir, she cried, I see my ate,
Suspend your hunger and your hate,
Oh! let me hear that voice so sweet,
Charm me once more before my death,
Your humble maid shall at your feet,
With joy, resign her breath.
The Wolf set up a hideous howl;
The moment he began to sing,
76

He made the woods and valleys ring,
And frighten'd every beast and fowl.
He scarce had rung a dozen peals,
When, following as they were bid,
A hundred dogs were at his heels,
Which put the Wolf to flight, and sav'd the Kid.
Thus hunted Liberty besought
A respite for a certain season,
Begging, before he cut her throat,
To hear her learned Butcher reason.
The Butcher made so great a din,
His eloquence brought down the rabble;
Glad to escape with a whole skin,
Freedom left him and them to squabble.
Bad tenets openly maintain'd
Are not so bad as good ones feign'd;
Filmer, so far from doing harm,
Serv'd, like the Wolf, to give th' alarm.
previous section The Works of John Hall-Stevenson
next section