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The WILD BOAR's Defence.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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The WILD BOAR's Defence.

A boar who had enjoy'd a happy Reign
For many a Year, and fed on many a Man,
Call'd to account, soft'ning his savage Eyes,
Thus suppliant, pleads his Cause before he dies.
For what am I condemn'd? My Crime's no more
To eat a Man, than yours to eat a Boar:

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We seek not you, but take what Chance provides,
Nature, and meer Necessity our Guides.
You murder us in Sport, then dish us up
For drunken Feasts, a Relish for the Cup:
We lengthen not our Meals; But you must feast,
Gorge till your Bellies burst—pray who's the Beast?
With your Humanity you keep a Fuss,
But are in truth worse Brutes than all of us:
We prey not on our Kind, but you, dear Brother,
Most beastly of all Beasts, devour each other:
Kings worry Kings, Neighbour with Neighbour strives,
Fathers and Sons, Friends, Brothers, Husbands, Wives,
By Fraud or Force, by Poison, Sword, or Gun,
Destroy each other, every Mother's Son.